Walk into the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City on a Tuesday morning and you might see a group of men in suits heading toward a private elevator. They aren't corporate executives closing a merger. They aren't politicians. These are members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the second-highest governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most people see them as distant figures on a screen during General Conference, but their daily reality is a strange, intense mix of high-stakes global administration and what they believe is a literal, prophetic calling.
It's a heavy mantle.
Honestly, the way they operate is a bit of a mystery even to many church members. It isn't a democracy. It isn't a monarchy either. It's a system built on total unanimity, which sounds like a recipe for gridlock, yet they manage a global organization with over 17 million members.
What the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Really Does Every Day
You've probably wondered if they just sit in meetings all day. Mostly, yeah. But these aren't your typical HR-mandated snooze-fests. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles holds the "keys" of the priesthood, which in their theology means they have the delegated authority to lead the church worldwide.
When a vacancy opens up, like it recently did following the passing of M. Russell Ballard, the remaining members don't hold an election. There are no campaigns. The President of the Church, currently Russell M. Nelson, selects a new member through what they describe as revelation. It's a lifetime appointment. You don't retire from being an Apostle. You serve until you die, which is why the average age in the room usually skews toward the mid-80s.
They travel. A lot. One week an Apostle might be in a humid chapel in Lagos, Nigeria, and the next he’s sitting across from a head of state in the South Pacific. They aren't just there to give speeches; they oversee the church’s massive humanitarian efforts, educational systems like BYU, and the complex financial portfolio that keeps the lights on in thousands of meetinghouses.
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The Rule of Unanimity
This is the part that usually shocks outsiders. According to the church’s own scriptures (specifically Doctrine and Covenants section 107), every decision made by the quorum must be unanimous.
Think about that.
Twelve men from different professional backgrounds—we're talking former heart surgeons, university presidents, judges, and business executives—must all agree 100% before a major policy change is enacted. If one person feels uneasy, they wait. They might wait for months or even years. This is why the church often moves at what feels like a glacial pace to the outside world. It’s a feature, not a bug. They believe this "unity" is the only way to ensure they are following the will of God rather than their own personal agendas.
Why Seniority is Everything
In the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, your "rank" is determined by one thing: the date you were ordained.
It dictates where you sit. The most senior member sits closest to the President of the Church. The newest member sits at the end of the semi-circle. This isn't about ego; it’s about a predictable line of succession. When the President of the Church dies, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles automatically becomes the presiding body. The most senior Apostle—the one who has been in the quorum the longest—becomes the next President. There is no voting, no lobbying, and no "dark horse" candidates.
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This seniority system creates a specific kind of culture. It's stable. It's predictable. But it also means the leadership is often decades removed from the youngest generation of church members. This creates a tension that the Quorum has to navigate constantly. They use "area seventies" and other local leaders to bridge the gap, but the final buck always stops with the Twelve.
Common Misconceptions About Their Lives
People often think these men live in mansions or have massive personal wealth provided by the church. That’s not really the case. While they do receive a "living allowance" to cover their basic needs—since they have to quit their careers to serve—it’s modest compared to the C-suite salaries many of them left behind. For example, Russell M. Nelson was a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon. Dallin H. Oaks was a Utah Supreme Court Justice. They didn't take these jobs for the paycheck.
Another weird myth? That they have a secret tunnel system under Salt Lake City. While there are underground passages connecting some church buildings for security and convenience, it's hardly the Da Vinci Code scenario some internet forums suggest.
The Global Burden
Managing a global faith isn't just about theology; it's about logistics. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles oversees a dizzying array of departments:
- Humanitarian Services: Deciding where millions of dollars in aid go after earthquakes or famines.
- Temple Construction: They are currently in a massive building boom, with hundreds of temples announced worldwide.
- Curriculum: What is being taught to a 5-year-old in Tokyo and a 50-year-old in Brazil? They decide.
- Discipline: They handle the most sensitive and difficult cases regarding church membership and policy.
They are essentially a board of directors that believes its Chairman is Jesus Christ. That perspective changes the way they approach "business." Decisions are often made with a "long-view" that spans decades or centuries, rather than quarterly reports.
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The Weight of Being a "Special Witness"
Their primary title isn't actually "administrator." It's "Special Witness of the name of Christ in all the world." This means they spend a massive amount of time studying, praying, and teaching. They take the "witness" part literally. Whether they've had a physical visitation or a profound spiritual experience, they don't usually say. They speak about it in sacred, often veiled terms, but the conviction they hold is the engine that drives the entire church.
How to Understand Their Influence Today
If you want to track where the church is going, don't look at social media trends. Look at the talks given by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They use the semi-annual General Conference to signal shifts in focus. Recently, there’s been a massive push toward "Home-Centered, Church-Supported" worship. That didn't happen by accident. It was a calculated move by the Quorum to make the faith more resilient in parts of the world where meetinghouses are far apart or where gathering is difficult.
They are also increasingly diverse, though slowly. In recent years, we’ve seen the first Apostles from South America (Ulisses Soares) and Asia (Gerrit W. Gong). This is a huge deal for a church that was centered in the American West for over a century. It changes the "flavor" of the Quorum. It brings different cultural perspectives to that unanimous decision-making table.
Practical Insights for Observation
If you’re researching this group or trying to understand their impact, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the seniority: The next leader of the church is always the person at the top of that list. There are no surprises.
- Listen for "The Brethren": This is the colloquial term used by members to refer to the First Presidency and the Twelve. It signifies a collective authority.
- Check the "Liahona" or "Ensign" archives: To see the evolution of their teachings, looking at their published discourses over 20 years shows how they pivot on social issues while maintaining core doctrines.
- Understand the "Keys": Everything in the church revolves around the idea that these twelve men hold specific spiritual "keys" to perform ordinances like baptism or marriage. Without the Quorum, the church believes its authority would cease to exist.
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles remains one of the most unique leadership structures in the modern world. It is a group that blends 19th-century tradition with 21st-century global reach, all while maintaining a rigid internal structure that prioritizes unity over individual ego. Whether you view them as divinely called or simply the stewards of a massive cultural institution, their influence on millions of lives is undeniable.
To stay informed on their latest assignments or changes in the quorum structure, the official Church Newsroom is the only source for verified updates on callings and health statuses. Reviewing the biographies of the current members provides a clearer picture of the professional expertise they bring to their ecclesiastical roles.