Salt Lake City — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on 14 October 2025 that Dallin H. Oaks has been set apart as the 18th President and Prophet of the worldwide faith, succeeding Russell M. Nelson, who passed away on 27 September 2025. The announcement was made during a live broadcast from Salt Lake City, Utah.
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The 93-year-old former Utah Supreme Court justice and president of Brigham Young University will now lead a Church numbering more than 17 million members in 188 countries. President Oaks called Henry B. Eyring and D. Todd Christofferson as his First and Second Counselors in the First Presidency—the highest governing body of the faith—and confirmed Jeffrey R. Holland as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
A smooth leadership transition
Leadership succession in the Latter-day Saint Church follows a well-defined spiritual and administrative process. Upon the death of the prophet, the First Presidency is dissolved and leadership passes temporarily to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, headed by the longest-serving Apostle. After prayer and unanimous confirmation, that Apostle becomes the new President of the Church, viewed by members as a prophet, seer and revelator.
“I accept with humility the responsibility that God has placed upon me and commit my whole heart and soul to the service to which I’ve been called,” President Oaks said in his first public remarks. He expressed gratitude to his counselors and to the Apostles for “their commitment to follow the Lord’s will through His duly appointed servants.”
Profiles of the new First Presidency
President Henry B. Eyring, 92, previously served under Presidents Nelson, Monson and Hinckley, and is known for his long academic career, including at Stanford University and as president of Ricks College (now BYU–Idaho). “Preparation is occurring,” he said, “and President Oaks is the perfect one to do the things the Lord will want done.”
President D. Todd Christofferson, 80, formerly a general counsel for NationsBank (now Bank of America), emphasized the spiritual nature of the call: “I recognize that I’m not called to be honored, but called to serve… It is Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church.”
President Jeffrey R. Holland, 84, who led Brigham Young University in the 1980s, described the moment as “a very moving experience to see that mantle come fully and completely on President Oaks.”
Global vision and interfaith engagement
In his concluding remarks, President Oaks underscored the inclusive vision of the Church’s global ministry: “Our ministry is a ministry of all the children of God on the face of the earth. We pray for all. We seek to serve all.” He added that while not all answers to the world’s problems are revealed, “we are all children of heavenly parents, and we are called to serve all of the children of God.”
Under President Nelson, the Church accelerated international growth, humanitarian relief and interfaith outreach. Observers expect President Oaks—who has been active in constitutional law, religious freedom advocacy and educational leadership—to continue this outward-looking approach, strengthening the Church’s relations with governments and faith communities worldwide.
The Church operates in Europe through hundreds of congregations, including stakes in Germany, the UK, France, Spain and Italy, and maintains representation at European institutions through its office in Brussels. In 2022, the Church reported nearly 520,000 members across Europe.
Continuity rooted in tradition
The Latter-day Saint model of succession—stable, procedural and consensus-based—has often been noted by religious scholars as a key factor in the Church’s organizational continuity. “Each transition reaffirms institutional resilience and unity,” says Patrick Mason, a historian of Mormonism at Utah State University. “This ensures that leadership changes do not disrupt the faith’s global operations.”
For members worldwide, the appointment of President Oaks marks both the continuation of a familiar leadership pattern and the beginning of a new chapter guided by one of the Church’s most seasoned Apostles.
More information and official statements are available on the Church Newsroom and via the Church’s official website. Related coverage on Europe’s religious landscape can be found at The European Times.
