Jeffrey R. Holland, an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was next in line under the church’s seniority-based succession, died early Saturday morning on Dec. 27, 2025, in Salt Lake City. He was 85. The church said his death followed complications related to kidney disease; Holland had been hospitalized during the Christmas holiday for ongoing health issues. His passing creates a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and moves other senior leaders forward in the line to the presidency.
Key Takeaways
- Jeffrey R. Holland, 85, died in Salt Lake City on Dec. 27, 2025, from complications associated with kidney disease, according to the church.
- Holland was the longest-tenured member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles after President Dallin H. Oaks, making him next in line under the church’s seniority system.
- President Dallin H. Oaks, 93, leads the church of more than 17 million members; Henry B. Eyring, 92, is now next in line for the presidency.
- The death leaves one apostolic vacancy that Oaks is expected to fill in the coming months, likely by calling a leader from a higher-tier council.
- Holland served as BYU’s ninth president from 1980 to 1989, promoted interfaith work, and received the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty award.
- He was known as a powerful speaker; his 2021 address urging defense of church teachings became controversial when assigned as required reading for BYU freshmen in 2024.
- Holland is survived by three children, 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; he was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Terry Holland.
Background
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows a long-standing seniority system for leadership succession: when the sitting president dies, the most senior apostle ordinarily becomes president. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the church’s second-highest governing body and helps determine policy and oversee church operations and affiliated businesses.
Jeffrey R. Holland joined the Quorum of the Twelve in 1994 and over decades earned a reputation for scholarly sermons and pastoral outreach. Before his full-time church service he worked in education administration and served as the ninth president of Brigham Young University from 1980 to 1989, where he championed interfaith ties and international program development.
The church has a global membership exceeding 17 million, with leadership roles historically occupied by men under the church’s all-male priesthood structure. Apostolic vacancies are filled by presidential selection and sustaining votes by general membership at a later general conference or by official announcement.
Main Event
The church announced Holland’s death on its official website, reporting that he died in Salt Lake City early on Saturday. Medical details released by the church attributed the cause to complications of kidney disease; officials earlier confirmed he had been hospitalized over the Christmas period for health issues related to that condition.
As the second-most senior apostle after President Oaks, Holland’s death alters the immediate succession order. Oaks, who became president in October, is 93; Henry B. Eyring, 92 and one of Oaks’s counselors, now becomes the next in line. Church procedure places the next longest-serving apostle as president when a sitting president dies.
The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve will be filled by the president in the months ahead, church sources say, most likely by selecting a leader from the church’s higher councils who has served in regional or area leadership. All apostles are male, reflecting the church’s current priesthood policy, and the selection typically considers years of service, administrative experience and ecclesiastical standing.
Members and observers are closely watching both the timing of the new apostolic call and any statements from church leadership about Holland’s life and legacy. Holland’s funeral arrangements and the timeline for naming a new apostle were not specified in the initial announcement.
Analysis & Implications
Holland’s death has immediate procedural implications inside the church: it reshuffles the line of succession and creates a single open seat in the Quorum of the Twelve. Under the church’s customary practice, President Oaks will name a replacement; that appointment will be presented to the worldwide membership for sustaining. The decision is administrative but carries symbolic weight for direction in doctrinal emphasis and institutional priorities.
Beyond internal governance, Holland’s record and recent controversies shape how different constituencies will interpret this transition. As a former BYU president who promoted interfaith initiatives and expanded international programs, Holland had supporters in academic and interreligious circles. Conversely, his 2021 “musket fire” metaphor — later assigned to BYU freshmen — stirred unease among LGBTQ+ students and advocacy groups, creating contested memories that will influence public discussion of his legacy.
Internationally, the church’s leadership changes matter because the institution manages extensive humanitarian, educational and business operations worldwide. A new apostle’s administrative focus or theological emphasis can affect those programs’ priorities, funding decisions and public engagement, especially as the church navigates demographic shifts and sociopolitical scrutiny in several countries.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Church global membership | More than 17 million |
| Age of President Dallin H. Oaks | 93 |
| Age of Henry B. Eyring | 92 |
| Age of Jeffrey R. Holland (at death) | 85 |
| Size of Quorum | 12 apostles |
These figures show an older leadership cohort at the top of the church hierarchy, which makes succession events particularly consequential. The church’s governance relies on established seniority, so changes among the oldest leaders ripple through institutional roles and public perceptions. Observers note that advanced ages of top leaders increase the frequency of transitions and the importance of clear succession planning.
Reactions & Quotes
President Dallin H. Oaks, who has served alongside Holland for many years, issued a public remembrance that highlighted their long friendship and Holland’s pastoral work. Oaks’s comments framed Holland’s contributions to ministry and service over decades.
“Our relationship has been long and loving,”
Dallin H. Oaks (President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Oaks also noted Holland’s ministry through trials and his efforts to support members facing hardship. The brief public tribute emphasized Holland’s role in lifting and encouraging fellow members over more than three decades in the Quorum.
The church’s initial announcement provided medical context and confirmed Holland had been hospitalized before his death. That official statement framed the passing as resulting from complications tied to chronic kidney disease and asked for prayers and support for the family.
“He died from complications associated with kidney disease,”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (official announcement)
Outside religious circles, scholars and analysts reflected on how Holland’s death might influence the church’s public posture. Some noted his role in education and interfaith outreach, while others pointed to recent controversies as factors that will shape debates about the church’s future tone and policies.
Unconfirmed
- Exact date for the formal calling of a new apostle has not been announced; timing and candidate names remain unconfirmed.
- Internal deliberations about Holland’s health and whether those influenced leadership assignments earlier this year have not been disclosed publicly.
- Specific funeral arrangements and the details of any public memorial services had not been published at the time of the church’s initial announcement.
Bottom Line
Jeffrey R. Holland’s death at 85 closes a chapter in the church’s recent leadership history and triggers an expected, rule-based realignment at the top of the institution. The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve will be filled by the president, and Henry B. Eyring moves into the immediate position behind President Oaks in the line of succession.
Beyond personnel changes, Holland’s legacy is mixed: he is remembered for educational leadership and interfaith outreach as well as speeches that provoked controversy. How the church frames his life in coming official statements and who is chosen as the new apostle will shape both internal morale and external perceptions of the church’s direction heading into the next decade.
Sources
- NPR (news organization) — original reporting summarizing the announcement and context.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — Newsroom (official announcement) — church statement on Holland’s death and brief biographical details.