If you’ve been scrolling through your news feed lately or just live anywhere near a temple, you probably noticed the shift. After 101 years of a life that frankly defied the laws of biology, Russell M. Nelson passed away in September 2025. It felt like the end of an era because, well, it was. But in the world of the Salt Lake City-based faith, there isn't really a "campaign" or a "primary" to find a replacement. The question of who is the new prophet of the lds church was answered almost instantly by a system that has been running like clockwork for over a century.
Dallin H. Oaks is the 18th President and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He was officially sustained on October 14, 2025. Honestly, for those who follow the internal gears of the church, this wasn't a shocker. It was a matter of seniority. When a prophet dies, the First Presidency dissolves, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles takes the wheel. The guy who has been an apostle the longest becomes the new guy in charge. Oaks has been in the Quorum since 1984.
The legal mind now leading the faith
One thing people often miss is just how much the "day job" of these men influences how they run things. President Oaks wasn't just a career clergyman. He was a justice on the Utah Supreme Court. He was the president of Brigham Young University. He was even considered for the U.S. Supreme Court—twice.
You can see that legal training in every talk he gives. While President Nelson was known for his "heart surgeon" metaphors—lots of talk about "heart-healing" and spiritual vitality—Oaks is precise. He’s about the law. He’s about definitions. He’s basically the ultimate "rule of law" guy in a religious context.
A surprising inner circle
When Oaks took over, he had to pick two counselors to form the new First Presidency. Most people expected he’d keep things exactly as they were under Nelson, but he threw a bit of a curveball.
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- Henry B. Eyring: He stayed on as the First Counselor. He’s 92 now and has served in the First Presidency for years. He provides that "constancy" that the church loves.
- D. Todd Christofferson: This was the surprise. He was called as the Second Counselor, jumping over others with more seniority. Like Oaks, Christofferson has a law background (he was a high-level attorney for NationsBank).
It’s interesting. You now have two lawyers and a former college president at the very top. This tells you a lot about the direction the church is headed. It’s likely going to be an administration focused on clarity, institutional stability, and protecting religious freedom.
Recent shakeups in the leadership
The transition hasn't been entirely smooth, mostly because of the sheer age of the leaders involved. Just a few months after Oaks took the mantle, another major figure passed away. Jeffrey R. Holland, who was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, died in late December 2025.
That death triggered more movement. On January 8, 2026, Dieter F. Uchtdorf was set apart as the new Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve. If you know anything about LDS culture, you know Uchtdorf is a fan favorite. He’s the former Lufthansa pilot from Germany who usually talks about "flying high" and "hope."
Seeing Oaks and Uchtdorf in these top roles creates a fascinating dynamic. You have Oaks, the strict constitutionalist and defender of traditional marriage, and Uchtdorf, who is often seen as the more "progressive" or "empathetic" voice by the rank-and-file members.
What is actually changing?
Don't expect a radical 180-degree turn. That’s just not how this organization works.
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President Nelson spent his years building temples at a record-breaking pace and rebranding the church to move away from the word "Mormon." Oaks is expected to double down on that. However, experts like Matthew Bowman have pointed out that Oaks might pivot slightly from Nelson's heavy focus on "global footprint" to more "domestic concerns."
Religious freedom is his hill to die on. He has given dozens of speeches about the intersection of law and faith. If you're wondering who is the new prophet of the lds church and what he cares about, look at his record on the bench. He cares about the right of religious institutions to operate according to their own conscience without government interference.
Dealing with the LGBTQ+ tension
It’s the elephant in the room. Oaks has been one of the most vocal critics of same-sex marriage within the church's hierarchy. This has made a lot of younger members and LGBTQ+ allies pretty nervous.
But it’s not all black and white. Oaks was also a key player in the "Utah Compromise," a piece of legislation that tried to balance LGBTQ+ non-discrimination with religious liberty. He’s complex. He’ll hold the line on doctrine—don't expect gay sealings in the temple anytime soon—but he’s also been the one pushing for "civil public discourse."
He once said that even when we disagree, we shouldn't be "disagreeable."
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Why the seniority system matters
People ask all the time: "Why don't they just vote for the youngest, most energetic guy?"
It’s about preventing "electioneering." In the LDS church, you don't campaign for the job. You don't "run" for prophet. By the time someone becomes the president, they’ve usually been an apostle for 30 or 40 years. They’ve traveled to every corner of the globe. They know the books. They know the people.
The downside? You end up with a leadership that is significantly older than the average member. At 93, Oaks is one of the oldest men to ever take the office.
The New Apostle: Gérald Caussé
To fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve, the church called Gérald Caussé in November 2025. He was previously the Presiding Bishop. He’s French, which continues the trend of trying to make the top leadership look a little more like the global membership and a little less like a Utah country club.
What to watch for in 2026
If you’re looking for actionable insights on where the church is going under President Oaks, keep an eye on these specific areas:
- Temple Dedications: Oaks just dedicated the Burley Idaho Temple in January 2026. Watch how he talks about these buildings. For him, they aren't just landmarks; they are legal and spiritual bastions of the faith.
- Youth Outreach: There is a big "Walk with Me" worldwide discussion for youth coming up on January 18. This is a massive effort to stop the "bleeding" of younger members who are leaving organized religion in general.
- Legal Challenges: Given his background, expect the church to become more active in filing "friend of the court" briefs in cases involving religious schools or tax-exempt status.
Honestly, the "Oaks Era" is going to be one of precision. If the Nelson era was about "the heart," the Oaks era is going to be about "the head." He wants the church to be an organized, legally protected, and doctrinally clear institution.
If you want to keep up with the specific changes, the best move is to watch the upcoming April 2026 General Conference. That’s where the "rubber meets the road" for new policy. You can also follow the official Church Newsroom, which has become much more aggressive about "fact-checking" rumors that fly around social media. Understanding the hierarchy—from Oaks at the top to the new Quorum of the Twelve members like Caussé—is the only way to make sense of the headlines you'll see this year.