Jeffrey R. Holland, the senior apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints and the next in line to become its president, passed away at the age of 85 on Saturday morning. The church announced that he died in Salt Lake City from complications related to kidney disease.
Holland had been a key leader in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the body that sets church policy and oversees its extensive business divisions. Prior to his death, he was the second-longest‑tenured member of the Quorum after President Dallin H. Oaks, placing him next in the established succession plan. With Holland’s passing, Henry B. Eyring, the 92‑year‑old senior counselor to Oaks, is now the next successor.
He was hospitalized over the Christmas holidays for ongoing health issues. In October, when Oaks chose his next counselor, Holland’s declining health was noted; he attended several church events in a wheelchair that month. After his death, the Quorum will need to appoint a new apostle, a process that typically involves selecting someone from a lower‑tier leadership council. As with all apostles, the position is held by a man, in line with the church’s all‑male priesthood.
A native of St. George, Utah, Holland spent much of his early career in educational administration. He served as the ninth president of Brigham Young University from 1980 to 1989 and later became a commissioner for the church’s global education system. During his tenure at BYU, the university worked to strengthen interfaith dialogue and established a satellite campus in Jerusalem. The Anti‑Defamation League honored him with its Torch of Liberty Award for helping to foster greater understanding between Christian and Jewish communities.
Holland is perhaps best known for a 2021 address in which he urged church members to metaphorically “take up muskets” to defend the faith’s teachings against same‑sex marriage. Colloquially dubbed “the musket fire speech,” the remarks were made a required reading item for BYU freshmen in 2024, sparking concern among LGBTQ+ students and advocates.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Terry Holland. He leaves behind their three children, 13 grandchildren, and several great‑grandchildren.
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