They are some of the most influential men you’ve probably never met, yet their average age often sparks more debate than their actual policies. If you follow the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you know the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles isn't just a board of directors. It’s a group that believers view as literal witnesses of Christ. But let’s be real for a second. When you look at the quorum of twelve apostles ages, the first thing that hits you is the sheer number of candles on those birthday cakes. It is an old group. There's no getting around that.
Age isn't just a number here; it is the entire system.
The seniority model used by the Church means that these men stay in their positions until they pass away. There are no retirement parties. No gold watches at 65. You serve until your heart stops beating. Because of that, the leadership usually skews toward the "Greatest Generation" and the early "Baby Boomers." As of early 2026, the leadership includes men who remember World War II and others who were just starting their careers when the internet was a distant dream. This creates a specific kind of institutional memory that you just don't find in Silicon Valley or even in the halls of Congress.
The reality of the quorum of twelve apostles ages right now
If you’re looking for a 40-year-old apostle, you’re going to be looking for a long time. It hasn't happened in decades. Currently, the age range is pretty staggering, stretching from the late 60s all the way into the late 90s. President Russell M. Nelson, who leads the Church, recently crossed the 100-year mark, which is objectively incredible regardless of your religious leanings. The man was a world-renowned heart surgeon before most of us were born.
Within the Quorum itself, the "youngsters" are men like Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares. Even they are in their 60s and 70s. It’s a bit of a trip to think that in any other profession, these guys would have been playing pickleball in Florida for ten years already. Instead, they’re hopping on planes to Manila, Accra, and São Paulo.
People often wonder if the quorum of twelve apostles ages hinder the Church's ability to keep up with a fast-moving world. It's a fair question. You've got a group of men who largely grew up before the sexual revolution, before the civil rights movement reached its peak, and certainly before TikTok. But the Church's argument is that this "slowness" is actually a feature, not a bug. They call it stability. You might call it a lag. Honestly, it’s probably a bit of both.
Why the seniority system never changes
The succession plan is dead simple. When the President of the Church dies, the most senior member of the Quorum—the guy who has been an apostle the longest—becomes the new President. It’s not an election. There’s no campaigning. There are no "young guns" shaking things up. This means the quorum of twelve apostles ages directly dictate the future "vibe" of the Church for the next twenty years.
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Consider Elder David A. Bednar. He was ordained back in 2004 at the relatively young age of 52. Because he started so young, he is statistically likely to become the President of the Church one day and hold that spot for a long time. His age at the time of his call is a huge deal. It’s a game of longevity. If you get called in your 70s, you’re likely there to provide wisdom for a decade. If you get called in your 50s, you are being groomed to lead the entire organization in the 2030s or 2040s.
The physical toll of the job
We should talk about the health aspect because it's wild. These guys don't just sit in a boardroom in Salt Lake City. They travel. A lot. Imagine being 85 years old and flying 14 hours to meet with members in Japan. It’s brutal.
We’ve seen a shift lately in how the Church handles this. They use technology more. More Zoom, less 20-hour flights. But the expectation of "serving to the end" remains. It’s a heavy burden. You see it in their faces during General Conference. Some years they look vibrant; other years, you can see the weight of the world on them. When an apostle reaches his 90s, the "quorum of twelve apostles ages" discussion moves from policy to simple human endurance.
Does a younger Quorum change the doctrine?
Probably not. But it definitely changes the emphasis.
When Elder Soares and Elder Gong were called in 2018, it was a massive shift. Not just because of their ages, but because they brought a more international perspective. However, they were still in their 60s. The "youth movement" in Church leadership is really just a "slightly less elderly movement."
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (born 1940)
- Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born 1940)
- Elder Quentin L. Cook (born 1940)
Look at those dates. A huge chunk of the Quorum was born in the same year. This creates a "clump" in the quorum of twelve apostles ages that means we might see a lot of turnover in a very short window. When that happens, the average age might drop significantly all at once, which usually results in a surge of new energy and slightly different administrative priorities.
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The "Grandpa" Factor in Church Culture
There is something to be said for the "Grandpa" factor. For many Latter-day Saints, the age of these men is comforting. In a world where everything is "disrupted" every five minutes, having a leader who has seen it all is a vibe. They aren't trying to be influencers. They aren't chasing trends. They're just... there.
But for the younger generation? It can be a struggle. When you're 19 and trying to navigate a world of AI and complex social identity, hearing from a 92-year-old can sometimes feel like a disconnect. The Church tries to bridge this by having the apostles' younger staff and family members keep them "hip," but let's be honest—it's a massive generational gap.
The quorum of twelve apostles ages create a culture of "long-view" thinking. They aren't worried about the next fiscal quarter. They’re worried about the next century. That’s the benefit of being 80; you’ve realized that most "emergencies" actually aren't.
Breaking down the current roster (roughly)
If you look at the names today, you see a spectrum of experience that covers nearly a century of human history.
President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring are both in their 90s. They are the anchors. Then you have the "middle" group—Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, and Elder Dale G. Renlund. These guys are in their late 60s and 70s. They are the ones doing the heavy lifting on the administrative side of the Church’s massive global operations.
Then you have the newest additions, like Elder Patrick Kearon. Even "new" guys are seasoned. Kearon, for example, brought a very European sensibility to the group, but his age still fits the mold of "mature professional."
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The quorum of twelve apostles ages stay high because the Church values "tempered" wisdom. They want people who have had full careers, raised families, and faced personal tragedies. They want people who have been through the fire. You don't get that at 30. You just don't.
The impact on global membership
As the Church grows in Africa and South America, the age gap becomes even more visible. The membership in those areas is incredibly young. The leaders are... not. This creates an interesting dynamic where the "old world" leadership is trying to direct a "new world" congregation.
Surprisingly, it works better than you’d think. There is a deep respect for elders in many of the cultures where the Church is growing fastest. In places like West Africa, the age of an apostle isn't seen as a liability; it's seen as a badge of authority. The quorum of twelve apostles ages might actually be an asset in a global context, even if it feels "out of touch" to a college student in Provo or Mesa.
What you can actually do with this info
Understanding the quorum of twelve apostles ages helps you predict the pace of change within the Church. If you're expecting radical shifts overnight, you’re looking at the wrong organization. These men are built for the marathon, not the sprint.
If you want to keep a pulse on where the Church is headed, watch the men called in their early 50s. They are the ones who will eventually hold the reins for decades.
- Track the "Call Age": Note how old an apostle is when they are first sustained. Anything under 55 is a "young" call and suggests a long-term influence.
- Study the Careers: Most of these men were high-level professionals (CEOs, University Presidents, Heart Surgeons). Their age reflects a "second career" in ministry.
- Watch the Health Reports: The Church is becoming more transparent about health. When an apostle stops attending meetings, it's a sign of a looming leadership transition.
- Observe the "Seniority Jump": When a President passes away, the entire line moves up one spot. This is the most stable succession in the world.
The quorum of twelve apostles ages will always be a point of fascination. It’s a living bridge to the past. Whether that bridge is too long or just right depends entirely on your perspective, but it’s definitely not changing anytime soon. Focus on the longevity, and you'll understand the strategy. Look at the birth years of the next few men called to the quorum. If the age starts to dip into the mid-50s consistently, you're looking at a deliberate effort to modernize the administrative core. Keep an eye on the upcoming General Conference sessions to see who is assigned the most "global" tasks, as this often signals which of the "younger" elders are being fast-tracked for major committee leadership.