When people look at the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they usually see a group of men in dark suits sitting in red velvet chairs. It looks formal. Static, even. But behind that seating chart is a strict, almost mathematical system of succession that has governed the church since the mid-1800s. Honestly, if you don't understand how apostles of the lds church by seniority works, you're missing the entire mechanics of how this global organization survives leadership changes without a single vote or campaign.
It isn't about age. It’s not about who has the most charisma or who’s been a "General Authority" the longest. It’s about the date you were sustained and ordained into that specific Quorum. That’s it. That one date determines everything from where you sit to who becomes the next Prophet.
The Logic Behind the Lineup
The system is basically a "last man standing" protocol. When a President of the Church passes away, the First Presidency dissolves. The counselors—who were likely Apostles themselves—return to their place in the Quorum based on their original seniority. At that moment, the Quorum of the Twelve becomes the presiding body of the Church. The man who has been an Apostle the longest? He becomes the President of the Quorum and, historically, the next President of the Church.
This isn't just tradition; it’s a safeguard against the kind of internal politicking that tears other large organizations apart. There are no "shortlists" or "front-runners." The list is already written.
The Current Rankings
As of early 2026, the seniority list is led by President Russell M. Nelson. He’s over 100 years old. Think about that. He was a world-renowned heart surgeon before most people currently working at Google were even born. Following him is President Dallin H. Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court Justice.
The order continues down through men like Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyring, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf. The "junior" members—the guys at the end of the line like Patrick Kearon—might wait decades before they move up even a few spots. It’s a slow-motion migration toward the front of the room.
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Why Seniority Isn't Just a Number
You might think the seniority ranking is just for the history books, but it dictates the daily workflow of the Church. In their weekly meetings in the Salt Lake Temple, they sit in order of seniority. They speak in order of seniority. They vote in order of seniority—but here’s the kicker: they vote from the junior member up to the senior member.
Why? To make sure the new guys don't just "yes-man" the senior leaders. They want the fresh perspective of the person who was most recently called before the most seasoned veterans weigh in. It’s a weirdly brilliant bit of organizational psychology.
Breaking Down the Current Quorum
President Russell M. Nelson sits at the top. He was ordained in April 1984. Right alongside him on that same day was Dallin H. Oaks. Because Nelson was ordained first that day, he is senior to Oaks. That five-minute difference forty years ago determined the entire trajectory of the Church in the 21st century.
Then you have Jeffrey R. Holland (1994) and Henry B. Eyring (1995). Eyring is a fascinating case because he spent years in the First Presidency as a counselor, but his "rank" in the Twelve stayed fixed to his 1995 ordination date. Seniority doesn't pause just because you have a different job title for a while.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf and David A. Bednar were both sustained on the same day in October 2004. Again, the order of their names being read at the Tabernacle determined their permanent seniority. Uchtdorf, the former Lufthansa pilot, is senior to Bednar, the former university president.
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The list continues:
- Quentin L. Cook (2007)
- D. Todd Christofferson (2008)
- Neil L. Andersen (2009)
- Ronald A. Rasband (2015)
- Gary E. Stevenson (2015)
- Dale G. Renlund (2015)
- Gerrit W. Gong (2018)
- Ulisses Soares (2018)
- Patrick Kearon (2024)
The "Death" of the First Presidency
When the President dies, the machine kicks into gear. There is no "interim" leader. The Twelve take over immediately. The most senior Apostle—the President of the Quorum—has the authority to decide when to reorganize the First Presidency.
In the early days of the Church, after Joseph Smith died, there was a lot of confusion. It actually took years for Brigham Young to be sustained as the new President. Now? It happens in days. They meet, they pray, they sustain the senior man. It’s predictable, which is exactly the point. It provides a sense of radical stability in a world that feels like it’s vibrating apart.
Misconceptions about "Moving Up"
People often ask if an Apostle can be "promoted" out of order. The answer is a flat no. You don't get "extra points" for being a good speaker or managing a large department. The only way to move up the list of apostles of the lds church by seniority is for someone above you to pass away.
It sounds morbid, but the Apostles themselves view it through a lens of duty. You are called for life. There is no retirement. You serve until you're gone, and the next person in line steps up to carry the weight. This means the leadership is almost always composed of men in their 70s, 80s, and 90s.
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Nuance and Modern Shifts
While the seniority system is rigid, the composition of the Quorum has changed significantly. For over a century, the Twelve were almost exclusively from the "Mormon Corridor" in Utah, Idaho, or Arizona.
That’s dead now.
Look at the bottom of the list. You have Ulisses Soares from Brazil. Gerrit W. Gong, who is Asian-American. Patrick Kearon is from the United Kingdom. As the older generation passes away, the seniority system is slowly but surely moving international voices into the highest seats of power. It’s a slow-turn of the rudder, but it's happening.
The Significance of the 2015 "Triple Call"
In 2015, something rare happened. Three Apostles died in a short span. Rasband, Stevenson, and Renlund were all sustained on the same day. This created a "block" of seniority. These three men will likely move through the ranks together for the next twenty years. Because they are relatively close in age and joined the Quorum at the same moment, they represent a specific era of Church leadership that will eventually hold the senior-most positions simultaneously.
Actionable Insights for Observing LDS Leadership
Understanding the seniority of the Apostles allows you to see the "long game" of the Church. It’s not about the current news cycle; it’s about decades-long transitions.
If you want to track this more closely or understand the impact of these leaders:
- Watch the seating: During General Conference, the Apostles sit in a specific order. The President of the Church is in the middle, and the others fan out by seniority. If you see someone move a chair closer to the center, it’s because a vacancy was filled or someone passed away.
- Study the "First" Speeches: When a new Apostle is called (like Patrick Kearon in 2024), their first few talks often signal the specific "flavor" or focus they will bring to the Quorum for the next 30 years.
- Ignore the "Succession Rumors": You’ll often see social media speculation about who will be the "next" leader. Save your time. Just look at the seniority list. Unless there is a simultaneous passing of multiple leaders, the next President is always the man at the top of the list of the Twelve.
- Check the Church's Newsroom: For the most up-to-date biographical data on the junior members, the official Church Newsroom is the only source that remains factually consistent regarding ordination dates.
The system is designed to be boringly consistent. In an age of "disruption" and "pivoting," the LDS Church uses seniority to ensure that its leadership transition is the one thing that never changes. It is a slow, methodical, and predictable process that ensures the person at the helm has had decades of "apprenticeship" before taking the lead.