Church Update

In a closed-door session that was streamed to the world, a new First Presidency was called on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, with Dallin H. Oaks called as prophet and the 18^th president of the Church in this dispensation. Henry B. Eyring and D. Todd Christofferson were called as his first and second counselors after what President Oaks called “an extended process of fasting and prayer.”

President Jeffrey R. Holland, under a newly conferred title, is the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

With this new First Presidency, it is clear once again how seamlessly and generously organization in the Church is passed. It is a divinely-inspired process. With the death of President Russell M. Nelson on 27 September, the First Presidency was dissolved, and the Church has been under the leadership of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the past 16 days, led by President Oaks, the longest-serving apostle. Not a pause nor a distraction affected the onward march of the Church. Men who are called as presidents of the Church have in-depth training for decades before assuming this post.

President Oaks came from a stellar professional life in the law and taught at the University of Chicago Law School, was twice considered by U.S. presidents to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and was president of BYU. He has been an apostle for forty-one years, including his time as a First Counselor to President Nelson.

The meeting to reorganize the First Presidency was held the morning of the announcement.

President Dallin B. Oaks Testifies
President Oaks said, “I know beyond any certainty in my life that this is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, restored with the fullness of the gospel that God has chosen to reveal in this dispensation of the fullness of times, and led by prophets to the present day.

“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…”

“I testify that the Lord speaks to the apostles of His Church and through the apostles of His Church, according to the organization that has been revealed to serve us in these latter days.

“I am grateful for the prayers offered by so many members of the church for a new First Presidency. I have felt the effect of those prayers, and with my counselors, we will strive in all respects to press forward this great work. Most recently, we’ve been led by a magnificent prophet of the Lord, President Russell M. Nelson. We have much work to do to fulfill the challenges he has given us, and there is more yet to come, of which I testify in all humility.
“The Lord still speaks through His servants. There is much to be done, for our ministry is a ministry to all the children of God on the face of the earth. We pray for all, we seek to serve all, and we invoke the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ upon all who seek to serve Him, to do so in worthiness and commitment and optimism.

“We do not have the answers to all of the world’s problems. They’ve not been revealed. But what we do know is that we are all children of Heavenly Parents and that we are called to serve all of the children of God in this wonderful, restored church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Other members of the First Presidency and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, were asked to bear testimony.

President D. Todd Christofferson’s Surprise
President D. Todd Christofferson said, “I confess that this is not what I expected when I woke up this morning, but I am deeply honored by this calling and the trust that it carries. At the same time, I recognize that I’m not called to be honored, but called to serve.”

He spoke of slipping into a meeting where he was not invited years ago in Washington D.C. to hear Dallin Oaks “and I was impressed with his many qualities and his intellect, but most of all his spiritual depth, and I bear witness as I have been part of the process, that he is called of God in this current position, this weighty responsibility.”

He proclaimed, “It is Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church. I know that. I bear witness of it. I am more sure of it every day. I know Him. I honor Him. I pledge my life and discipleship to Him.”

President Henry B. Eyring-“I Have Seen the Power of God”
President Henry B. Eyring said, “I am equally surprised…at the wonderful opportunity to serve in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…I cannot express the gratitude that I feel for the trust, the trust from the Lord…I love Him and know Him and can testify…that He is the Head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“By inspiration. I have seen the power of God come upon him [President Oaks], and it has been a reassuring thing to me to know that just as in the days of old, when Peter and others would lead the Church, that the people would be able to recognize that he was the Lord’s servant to the Church.

He said that knows the faith and trust of the people will sustain them in this great work of the restoration and final preparation of the Lord’s Church for His coming.

“I bear my testimony that this preparation is occurring and that President Oaks is the perfect one to do the things that I know the Lord will want.”

President Jeffrey R. Holland-“We Know This is the Lord’s Will”
President Jeffrey R. Holland said, “I am thrilled to speak for the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the seven Presidents of the Seventy, the Presiding Bishopric, and organization heads, all of whom support and sustain unequivocally, President Dallin H. Oaks as the president, prophet, seer, and revelator leading this church for its next moment in time. We love him. We have known him. We’ve watched him be prepared and have had the confirmation that it is the Lord’s will this day, and that it has been unanimous and a very, very moving experience to see that mantle come fully and completely on President Oaks. We stand ready to serve him out to the newest convert and the most recently called missionary.

“I know beyond anything else I know that this is God’s church. This is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Father and the Son and the gifts of the Holy Ghost will come upon President Oaks in full measure.”
President Oaks, with his counselors in the new First Presidency, will be leading a church of 17.3 million members with a presence in 191 countries around the world.