In the heart of Salt Lake City, there’s a boardroom that functions unlike any other on the planet. It’s not about stock options or quarterly earnings. It’s about a line of succession that is remarkably predictable yet shrouded in deep tradition. If you’ve ever looked at the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you’ve probably noticed something: the leaders are almost always quite old. That isn't an accident. It’s the direct result of how Mormon apostles by seniority are ranked, a system that has remained virtually untouched for over a century.
Seniority isn't about your age. It’s about the date you were "sustained" and "ordained" into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Think of it like a permanent, holy waiting list. When a President of the Church passes away, the most senior apostle—the one who has been in the room the longest—automatically becomes the next prophet. No campaigning. No backroom lobbying. Just a simple, chronological progression that ensures the guy at the top has seen it all.
Why the Order of Seniority Actually Matters
Most people assume the "seniority" thing is just a respectful nod to the elderly. Honestly, it’s much more functional than that. This system prevents the kind of power struggles that tear other massive organizations apart. You don’t have different factions of the Church fighting for "their guy" to take the lead. The "guy" is already decided by the calendar.
Currently, the line starts with Russell M. Nelson. He’s the President. Behind him, you have a specific order of men who have spent decades working together. Following the death of M. Russell Ballard and more recently Jeffrey R. Holland’s wife, Patricia, and other shifts in the Quorum, the list has seen some movement, but the core remains.
As of early 2026, the seniority follows this specific, unbroken line:
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- Russell M. Nelson (President of the Church) - Ordained April 1984.
- Dallin H. Oaks (First Counselor and President of the Quorum) - Ordained April 1984. (Note: Nelson is senior by a few minutes of ordination time).
- Jeffrey R. Holland (Acting President of the Quorum) - Ordained June 1994.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Ordained October 2004.
- David A. Bednar - Ordained October 2004.
- Quentin L. Cook - Ordained October 2007.
- D. Todd Christofferson - Ordained April 2008.
- Neil L. Andersen - Ordained April 2009.
- Ronald A. Rasband - Ordained October 2015.
- Gary E. Stevenson - Ordained October 2015.
- Dale G. Renlund - Ordained October 2015.
- Gerrit W. Gong - Ordained March 2018.
- Ulisses Soares - Ordained March 2018.
- Patrick Kearon - Ordained December 2023.
Wait. Did you see that?
Three men were ordained on the same day in 2015. Rasband, Stevenson, and Renlund. In cases like this, seniority is determined by age among those ordained on the same day. It’s those tiny details that keep the gears of the Church turning without friction.
The "Death of the Prophet" Protocol
What happens when the President dies? This is where the seniority system really shines. The moment a prophet passes away, the First Presidency (the President and his two counselors) is immediately dissolved. The counselors, if they were already apostles, take their respective spots back in the Quorum based on their original seniority.
Then, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles takes the reins. They lead as a body. They don't rush. They wait until the funeral is over and the dust has settled. Then, they meet in the Salt Lake Temple. They sit in a circle. They sustain the senior-most apostle as the new President.
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It’s predictable. Some critics say it’s too predictable. They argue that it prevents younger, "more relevant" voices from reaching the top until they are in their 80s or 90s. But for the millions of members, this system is a feature, not a bug. It guarantees stability. You’ll never get a "wild card" leader who hasn't been thoroughly vetted by 30 years of high-level service.
Misconceptions About the "Promotion" Process
One thing most people get wrong is the idea that apostles "move up" through merit. It’s not a corporate ladder where you get a promotion for hitting your KPIs. You move up because the people in front of you die. It sounds a bit morbid, but that’s the reality.
Take Dieter F. Uchtdorf, for example. He was in the First Presidency for years under Thomas S. Monson. When Monson died and Russell M. Nelson became President, Nelson chose new counselors. Uchtdorf didn't "lose his job"—he simply returned to his place in the seniority line within the Quorum. He’s still an apostle. He’s still a high-ranking leader. He just shifted seats at the table.
The Impact of a Younger Apostle
When Patrick Kearon was called in late 2023 to fill the vacancy left by M. Russell Ballard, the average age of the Quorum dipped slightly. Kearon, being younger than many of his peers, represents the "long game" of the Church. If he lives as long as President Nelson (who hit 100 in 2024), he could potentially serve as an apostle for 40 years.
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This longevity matters. These men aren't just religious leaders; they are the board of directors for a multibillion-dollar organization with global reach. Their decisions on everything from temple construction in Africa to social policies on marriage are shaped by the decade they entered the Quorum.
Does Seniority Ever Change?
Basically, no. Once your date of ordination is set, that is your "rank" for life. The only way it changes is if an apostle is removed from office—which is incredibly rare and has only happened a handful of times in the Church’s nearly 200-year history—or if they die.
The history of Mormon apostles by seniority actually had some drama in the early days. Back in the 1800s, there was some confusion about whether seniority was based on age, the date you joined the Church, or the date you were ordained an apostle. Brigham Young eventually clarified that it is strictly the date of ordination to the Quorum of the Twelve. This settled a lot of arguments and probably saved the Church from a major schism after his death.
Actionable Insights for Observing Church Leadership
If you’re trying to track where the Church is heading, don’t just look at the President. Look at the three or four men right behind him. Those are the individuals who will likely lead for the next 15 to 20 years.
- Watch the Counselors: While seniority determines the President, the President gets to choose his counselors. These counselors often hold the most day-to-day administrative power.
- The 100-Year Milestone: With leaders living longer due to better healthcare, the "seniority gap" is stretching. We are seeing more leaders serve well into their late 90s, which means the transition between generations is slowing down.
- Global Diversity: Keep an eye on the bottom of the seniority list. That’s where the diversity is. Men like Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares represent a shift toward a more international leadership, but because of the seniority system, it will be decades before an international apostle becomes the President.
Understanding this hierarchy is the key to understanding the LDS Church. It’s a mix of deep faith and rigid, almost bureaucratic, chronological order. It’s a system designed to outlast any single personality, ensuring that no matter who is at the helm, the ship stays on the same course.
To stay updated on the current status of the Quorum, you should regularly check the official Church Newsroom or the General Authorities page. These sources provide the most immediate updates if a vacancy occurs or a new leader is called. Monitoring the ages and health of the top three senior apostles—Nelson, Oaks, and Holland—gives the clearest picture of potential leadership transitions in the next 24 to 48 months.