Ever looked at the red chairs in the Conference Center and wondered how those men keep going? It’s a valid question. Honestly, the ages of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints represent something you just don't see in the corporate world or even most other religious hierarchies. We're talking about a group where "retirement" isn't a thing. They serve until they take their last breath.
Currently, the average age of the Quorum hovers well into the late 70s and early 80s. But that number is a bit of a moving target. It shifts every time a new member is sustained or when a senior leader passes away. People get obsessed with the numbers because, in this system, seniority is everything. It determines who becomes the next prophet.
The Reality of Aging in the Quorum
You’ve got guys like President Russell M. Nelson—who, while not in the Quorum of the Twelve anymore since he's the President of the Church, set a massive precedent by hitting 100 years old in 2024. That trickles down. The men currently in the Quorum aren't exactly "young" by traditional standards. Even the "junior" members are often in their 60s.
Take Elder Patrick Kearon. When he was called in late 2023 to fill the vacancy left by President M. Russell Ballard, he was 62. In the real world, 62 is when you start looking at 401k withdrawal strategies. In the Quorum? He's the "new guy." He might serve for thirty more years. Think about that. That’s a career's worth of time spent after most people have hung it up.
The ages of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles create a specific kind of institutional memory. These men remember the world before the internet. They remember the world before the Civil Rights movement in some cases. It's a bridge between the mid-20th century and the high-tech 21st century.
Breakdown of the Current Seniority and Years
If you look at the heavy hitters, you see a lot of life experience. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf are both in their 80s. They’ve seen the church grow from a largely Intermountain West-based group to a global powerhouse.
It’s not just about birth years. It’s about "tenure." The Quorum is organized by the date you were ordained, not how old you are. This is why the ages of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles can be a bit confusing if you’re trying to predict the future. A younger man ordained earlier has more "seniority" than an older man ordained later.
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Elder David A. Bednar is a perfect example. He was called back in 2004 when he was only 52. Because he was called so young, and because he's stayed healthy, he has moved up the seniority ladder quickly. He’s currently in his early 70s, but he has more seniority than men who are older than him. This creates a fascinating dynamic where the "wisdom" of age and the "seniority" of office don't always align perfectly in terms of chronological years.
Why Does the Church Call Older Men?
You might wonder why they don't just call a 35-year-old. It’s happened before—Joseph Smith and the early apostles were basically kids by today’s standards—but the modern Church leans into the "seasoned" approach. There’s a belief that a lifetime of professional and ecclesiastical success is a prerequisite.
Most of these men had full careers first.
- Elder Gerrit W. Gong was in international relations and academia.
- Elder Dale G. Renlund was a cardiologist.
- Elder Quentin L. Cook was a healthcare attorney.
They bring those "pre-apostle" lives into the room. By the time they get the call, they’ve already navigated the complexities of the world. They aren't easily rattled. That's why the ages of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stay high; you can't really rush that kind of experience.
The Physical Toll of the Job
Let's be real for a second. Being an apostle is a brutal job physically. They aren't just sitting in salt lake city. They are on planes. Constantly. They’re flying to Manila, then to Praia, then to São Paulo. Doing that in your 80s is different than doing it in your 30s.
We’ve seen the toll. In recent years, several apostles have transitioned to "remote work" for lack of a better term. They speak at General Conference via pre-recorded video or while sitting down. The Church doesn't hide this. It’s part of the deal. The "infirmities of age" are viewed as a sacrifice they make for their calling.
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When Elder Robert D. Hales passed away in 2017, he was 85. President Ballard was 95. The stamina required is honestly mind-blowing. Most of us want to be on a golf course at 75, not reviewing the administrative needs of a 17-million-member organization.
How the Ages Impact Future Leadership
The "Succession" question. It’s the elephant in the room. Because the President of the Church is always the most senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve, the ages of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles act as a sort of crystal ball for church members.
If you have a cluster of men who are all within two or three years of each other, you might see a series of very short presidencies. If you have a significant gap—like the one between Elder Bednar and those below him—you might be looking at a decade-long era under one leader.
Currently, the Quorum has a relatively healthy spread. You have the "octogenarians" (80s) like Elder Holland, Elder Uchtdorf, and Elder Cook. Then you have the "septuagenarians" (70s) like Elder Bednar, Elder Todd Christofferson, Elder Neil L. Andersen, Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Renlund. Finally, you have the "younger" set in their 60s like Elder Gong, Elder Soares, and Elder Kearon.
What People Get Wrong About the Age Gap
A lot of critics say the leaders are "out of touch" because of the ages of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They argue that men born in the 1930s or 40s can't understand the struggles of Gen Z.
But if you talk to people who work with them, they’ll tell you the opposite. They’ll say these men are "hyper-aware." They have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who are living through these modern issues. Plus, they have a massive staff of younger experts feeding them data.
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The age gap actually provides a weird kind of stability. In a world that changes its mind every five minutes, there's something to be said for a group of leaders whose youngest member has been an adult for four decades. They don't react to trends. They take the long view.
The Historical Context of Apostolic Age
It hasn't always been this way. In the 1800s, the Quorum was young. George Q. Cannon was 33. Reed Smoot was 38. But as life expectancy increased, so did the age of the Quorum.
The transition to an "older" Quorum happened mostly in the mid-20th century. As the Church became more institutionalized and global, the "apprenticeship" period for an apostle grew. You usually serve as a Bishop, then a Stake President, then a Mission President, then a General Authority Seventy. By the time you’ve checked all those boxes, you’re usually in your 50s or 60s.
Practical Takeaways on the Quorum Structure
Understanding the ages of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles helps you understand the Church’s trajectory. It’s a slow-moving ship by design.
- Seniority over Age: Remember that a 70-year-old who has been an apostle for 20 years is "more senior" than an 80-year-old who has been there for 5 years.
- The "Junior" Apostles: Keep an eye on the men in their 60s (Gong, Soares, Kearon). They are the ones who will likely lead the Church into the mid-21st century.
- Health as a Factor: In this system, health is a form of power. The apostles who stay physically capable the longest have the greatest impact on policy and direction simply because they are "in the room" longer.
If you’re looking for a group that represents a massive cross-section of 20th and 21st-century history, this is it. The ages of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles tell a story of longevity, intense loyalty to a cause, and a specific type of leadership that prizes experience over innovation. It’s a system built to outlast any single generation.
To stay current on these changes, the best move is to check the official Church newsroom after April and October General Conferences. Vacancies are almost always filled during these windows, and the biographical data released then is the only way to get the exact "down-to-the-day" age of each leader. Pay close attention to the sustaining of the officers; it’s the only time the official seniority list is read aloud, confirming exactly where everyone stands in the hierarchy. This list is the most accurate reflection of the current leadership structure and the future path of the organization.