Lead: Jeffrey R. Holland, an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints known for powerful sermons and pastoral care, died early Saturday at age 85. The church said he died of “complications associated with kidney disease” while surrounded by family; he had been hospitalized on Christmas Eve. Holland, a former president of Brigham Young University and a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was widely admired for his teaching, writing and international service. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Key takeaways
- Jeffrey R. Holland was 85 at his death and died from complications associated with kidney disease; he was hospitalized on Christmas Eve, the church announced.
- Holland served as BYU president (named in 1980) and was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in June 1994; he rose to president of the Quorum and was next in line to lead the church.
- He and his wife, Patricia, were married in 1963; Pat Holland died July 20, 2023, at age 81 after a brief hospitalization; Holland is survived by three children, 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
- Health setbacks included a June 2020 hospitalization for diagnostic tests, mobility issues in 2021 that required a walker, a COVID-19 infection in April 2023 and the start of kidney dialysis in 2023.
- Holland authored more than a dozen religious books, championed missionary work globally (notably in Chile and sub-Saharan Africa) and helped found the BYU Jerusalem Center, negotiated under a 49-year lease agreement with special non-missionary assurances.
Background
Born Dec. 3, 1940, in St. George, Utah, Holland was raised in a family with Mormon pioneer roots and a father who encouraged his educational ambitions. He served a two-year mission in Great Britain beginning in 1960, an experience he later called decisive in shaping his life and vocation. After returning he completed undergraduate and graduate work at Brigham Young University, later earning a doctorate in American studies at Yale in 1969; his dissertation examined Mark Twain’s religious sensibility.
Holland moved into church education and administration: he taught at Latter-day Saint institutes, became dean of Religious Education at BYU in 1974 and served as the church’s commissioner of education before being named BYU president in 1980. His tenure at BYU emphasized a blend of academic rigor and religious mission, and he was instrumental in advancing the BYU Jerusalem Center project amid local political sensitivities in Israel.
Main event
The church announced Holland’s death early Saturday, attributing it to complications related to kidney disease and noting he died surrounded by family. He had been hospitalized on Christmas Eve. The announcement confirmed his long illness trajectory in recent years but did not provide a detailed medical timeline beyond dialysis beginning in 2023.
Holland’s public decline was gradual and punctuated by recoveries: diagnostic testing and hospitalization in June 2020, limited mobility and use of a walker in 2021, and a COVID-19 infection in spring 2023 that led to an excusal from duties for at least two months. Despite these setbacks he returned to public appearances for significant events, including rededicating the renovated St. George Temple in December 2023.
At the time of his death Holland held senior leadership roles within the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and had been widely regarded as a teacher to multiple generations of Latter-day Saints. The church has not yet published details about funeral services, memorial plans or any public commemorations beyond the initial release.
Analysis & implications
Holland’s death removes a highly visible pastoral and rhetorical presence at a moment when the church faces cultural and policy debates at home and abroad. As an influential educator and communicator, he often functioned as a bridge between institutional leadership and rank-and-file members, using narrative and personal appeal to sustain unity. His loss creates both an emotional void for congregants who followed his talks and a practical vacancy among the senior apostles.
Institutionally, the Quorum of the Twelve will follow established protocols for succession and assignment of duties; Holland’s position in seniority meant he was widely identified as the natural successor to the church presidency had the prophet’s office changed hands while he lived. Administrative adjustments — reassigning portfolios, public-event roles, and international visitation schedules — will follow in coming weeks.
Doctrinally and culturally, Holland’s voice shaped conversations about academic freedom, pastoral care for marginalized church members and international growth strategies. His 2021 address at BYU — urging faculty to defend certain doctrinal positions while also expressing love for those with same-sex attraction — exemplifies his complex legacy: a mix of firm doctrinal lines and personal compassion. That blend will influence how future leaders address theological disputes, campus culture and outreach.
Comparison & data
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1940 | Born Dec. 3 in St. George, Utah |
| 1960–1962 | Mission to Great Britain |
| 1969 | Earned doctorate at Yale |
| 1980 | Named BYU president |
| 1994 | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| 2023 | Patricia Holland died July 20; he began dialysis and missed some duties |
| 2025 | Died Dec. 27 at age 85 |
The timeline above highlights Holland’s arc from local youth to global church statesman. His decades-long service combined education, international mission work and senior ecclesiastical leadership; the table underscores how his roles overlapped with key moments in church institutional development, such as the Jerusalem Center negotiations and expanded missionary focus in Africa and Latin America.
Reactions & quotes
Church leaders, scholars and members responded immediately with memories of Holland’s teaching and pastoral care. Several colleagues emphasized his role as a teacher and his personal warmth when meeting individuals.
“He is a gentleman, a scholar and a diplomat — but in all those things he is a teacher.”
Marion D. Hanks (mission president and fellow general authority)
This reflection from Marion Hanks, who mentored Holland early in his ministry, has been frequently cited to capture Holland’s combination of erudition and pastoral focus. Colleagues said that description shaped how Holland approached scripture, scholarship and church governance.
“He was the most significant mentor in my career.”
Spencer Fluhman (former Maxwell Institute director)
Scholars and former staff at BYU pointed to Holland’s intellectual influence on campus life and on the church’s educational programs. Many recalled both private acts of kindness and public addresses that shaped students and faculty.
“He lifted the weary, encouraged the faithful, and bore a powerful witness of the Savior — even through seasons of significant personal trials.”
President Russell M. Nelson (church president, public statement)
Official statements from the church emphasized Holland’s spiritual witness and long service, echoing tributes from former colleagues and members worldwide.
Unconfirmed
- Specific dates and locations for Holland’s funeral services and public memorials have not been released and remain unconfirmed.
- Detailed, private medical records beyond the church’s statement (other diagnoses or treatment timelines) have not been disclosed publicly.
- The internal deliberations and votes among senior leaders about reassigning Holland’s administrative responsibilities have not been publicly detailed.
Bottom line
Jeffrey R. Holland’s death marks the passing of a prominent educator and pastor whose sermons, books and personal outreach shaped multiple generations within the Latter-day Saint community. He combined intellectual engagement with a pastoral style that many members found life-sustaining, and his leadership roles at BYU and in the Quorum of the Twelve positioned him as a bridge between institutional authority and individual experience.
In the weeks ahead the church will move through established processes to reassign duties and plan public remembrances while members and institutions reckon with Holland’s mixed legacy of doctrinal firmness and pastoral tenderness. For many, his voice will remain part of the church’s living memory: a teacher whose lessons will continue to influence discussions about faith, scholarship and care for the vulnerable.