Ever looked at the guys sitting on those red velvet chairs in Salt Lake City and wondered how they keep going? Seriously. Most people are well into their retirement by 65, maybe picking up pickleball or finally organized that garage. But for the men in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, that’s often when the "real" job actually begins.
When we talk about lds church apostles ages, we aren't just talking about a number on a birthday card. We're talking about a seniority system that is literally baked into the DNA of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s a system where the "new guy" is usually in his 60s and the "boss" is pushing 94.
As of January 2026, the landscape has shifted quite a bit. We’ve seen the passing of President Russell M. Nelson at the incredible age of 101 back in late 2025. Now, President Dallin H. Oaks leads the faith, and with the recent passing of Jeffrey R. Holland in December 2025, the age brackets and seniority lines look a lot different than they did even two years ago.
The Seniority Hierarchy: Age vs. Experience
Basically, in this church, your age matters less than your "date of hire." Well, "date of call," to be precise. You could be 90 years old, but if you were ordained yesterday, you’re at the bottom of the list.
Right now, President Dallin H. Oaks is the man at the helm. Born in 1932, he's currently 93. He’s sharp, he’s a former Utah Supreme Court Justice, and he’s been an apostle since 1984. That's over four decades of high-level administration.
Then you’ve got his counselors. Henry B. Eyring is 92. D. Todd Christofferson, the newest addition to the First Presidency as of late 2025, is 80. You see a pattern? These aren't exactly "young guns." But that’s kinda the point. The church values the "wisdom of years" over the "energy of youth" at the very top.
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Why the High Average Age?
Honestly, it’s about the "life call." Unlike a CEO who retires with a golden parachute at 65, an LDS Apostle is in it until the day they die. There is no emeritus status for the Twelve. Because of this, the quorum naturally trends older.
Let's look at the current breakdown of the Quorum of the Twelve as we hit the start of 2026:
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf (85): He’s now the Acting President of the Quorum. He’s the guy everyone loves for his aviation metaphors.
- Quentin L. Cook (85): A former healthcare attorney, still going strong.
- David A. Bednar (73): In this group, 73 is practically middle-aged. He was called in 2004, so he’s got a lot of seniority for his "younger" age.
- Neil L. Andersen (74): Often seen as one of the more traveled apostles.
- Ronald A. Rasband (74): Former CEO of Huntsman Chemical.
- Gary E. Stevenson (70): He co-founded Icon Health & Fitness. He’s one of the "younger" ones.
- Dale G. Renlund (73): A former cardiologist. He literally knows how hearts work, both spiritually and physically.
- Gerrit W. Gong (72): The first Asian-American apostle.
- Ulisses Soares (67): The first South American apostle.
- Patrick Kearon (64): Called in late 2023, he’s currently the "junior" member of the Twelve.
- Gérald Caussé (62): One of the newest additions to the leadership circles.
Does Age Impact Church Policy?
This is where things get interesting. Some people worry that a leadership with an average age in the late 70s or early 80s might be "out of touch." But if you watch the 2025 and 2026 updates, the church has actually been moving pretty fast.
They’ve announced 55 new missions for 2026. They are building temples at a rate that would make a Starbucks developer blush. They are leaning heavily into digital communication and social media.
It turns out, being 90 doesn't mean you don't know how to use an iPad. President Oaks, for example, is known for his legalistic precision and his focus on religious freedom. His age hasn't slowed down the "operational" side of the church; if anything, his experience in the legal system has made the church more institutionalized and organized.
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The "Longevity" Factor
We have to talk about how these guys stay so healthy. It’s likely a mix of the "Word of Wisdom" (no smoking or drinking) and world-class healthcare. When you’re an apostle, you’re on a plane every other week. You’re meeting thousands of people. You’re giving speeches. It’s a grueling schedule.
President Nelson was a world-famous heart surgeon who literally operated on his own successor's heart (well, not Oaks, but he worked on Spencer W. Kimball). He advocated for healthy living until he was 101. That culture of health persists in the quorum today.
The Transition of 2025-2026
The passing of Russell M. Nelson was a massive milestone. He was the oldest president in the history of the church. When he died, the First Presidency dissolved, and Dallin H. Oaks—as the senior apostle—took over.
But then, just weeks later, Jeffrey R. Holland passed away at 85. He had been struggling with health issues for a couple of years. This double-hit of losing two "heavyweights" in late 2025 created a vacuum that led to some surprising shifts.
The call of D. Todd Christofferson to the First Presidency was a bit of a "wait, what?" moment for some observers. Usually, the senior-most apostles are chosen. But Oaks went with someone he has a deep legal and professional history with. It shows that while age and seniority are the "rules," the Prophet still has the leeway to pick who he works best with.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Apostle Ages
You’ve probably heard people say the church is a "gerontocracy." And, okay, on paper, it looks like that. But here is what's actually happening:
- Distributed Power: The Twelve aren't just a board of directors. They oversee specific committees. The "younger" guys like Soares and Kearon are often the ones on the ground in the Pacific, Africa, or Europe, doing the heavy lifting while the more senior leaders handle the headquarters' strategy.
- The "Slow" Filter: Because it takes so long to reach the top, radical changes don't happen overnight. Some see this as a flaw; others see it as a feature. It prevents the church from swinging wildly with every cultural fad.
- The Training Period: By the time someone like David A. Bednar (currently 73) becomes the President of the Church—which, looking at the math, is quite likely in the next decade or so—he will have been an apostle for nearly 30 years. That’s a 30-year internship.
Why This Matters to You
If you're a member of the church, the lds church apostles ages tell you who is going to be leading you for the next 20 years. If you're an outsider or a researcher, it gives you a roadmap for the church's stability.
Next steps for those following this:
Keep an eye on the April 2026 General Conference. With the current vacancies and shifts, we are likely to see more "younger" men (in their late 50s or early 60s) called to fill the gaps. The demographics are shifting toward a more international, slightly "younger" (relatively speaking) quorum.
Pay attention to Elder Patrick Kearon. As one of the youngest and the most junior, his influence is growing rapidly, especially among the younger generation of members who appreciate his more modern, European-influenced delivery.
The church isn't just a relic of the 20th century. Even with leaders born in the 1930s, the 2026 version of the LDS Church is leaner and more global than it’s ever been.