LDS Church announces Dallin H. Oaks as new President

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has called President Dallin H. Oaks as the next Prophet of the Church.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Church announced that President Oaks will be their new Prophet, following the passing of Prophet Russell M. Nelson on Sept. 27. President Oaks has called President Henry B. Eyring and President D. Todd Christofferson as his two counselors in the First Presidency.

As explained by The Church, “The Church is led by the First Presidency, which includes the Prophet and two counselors. The First Presidency is supported by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Together, these leaders supervise the entire work of the Church.”

Oaks said that he knows that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and that he is ready to serve the Lord.

“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,” President Oaks said.

President Oaks calls First Presidency

President Oaks has called President Henry B. Eyring as his First Counselor and President D. Todd Christofferson as his Second Counselor.

The Church newsroom shared that President Eyring served as a counselor to President Russell M. Nelson from 2018 to 2025, to President Thomas S. Monson from 2008 to 2018, and to President Gordon B. Hinckley from 2007 to 2008.

The Church also shared that President Christofferson was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 5, 2008, and previously served in the Presidency of the Seventy.

“I’m grateful to President Eyring and President Christofferson for accepting their responsibilities,” President Oaks said.

Who is Dallin H. Oaks?

President Oaks is 93 years old and was previously the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Church shared that President Oaks is a Provo, Utah native. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and the University of Chicago Law School. He practiced and taught law in Chicago before he became the president of Brigham Young University. Shortly after his time as president of the university, President Oaks became a justice of the Utah Supreme Court until his resignation in 1984 to accept his calling to the apostleship.

President Oaks and his late wife, June Dixon Oaks, have six children. He has since remarried Kristen M. McMain.