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Who Will Be the Next LDS Prophet? (After President Nelson)

President Nelson

Updated Status of Church Leadership

On September 28, 2025, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that President Russell M. Nelson passed away at the age of 101.

As of now, the Church is in transition as it follows its established procedures for naming a new prophet and president.

About Russell M. Nelson (1924 – 2025)

  • Born September 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

  • Sustained as the 17th President and Prophet of the Church on January 14, 2018.

  • The oldest person ever to serve as President of the Church.

  • Faced health challenges in his later years, including a fall in 2023 that injured his back. Even then, he continued to lead with vigor, addressing members remotely while recovering.

The Most Likely Successor: Dallin H. Oaks
Most senior LDS apostle, Dallin H Oaks

With President Nelson’s passing, the question of succession naturally arises.

  • Seniority in the Quorum: Leadership succession in the LDS Church is based on apostolic seniority, determined by the date of ordination into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

  • Dallin H. Oaks: Ordained an apostle in 1984, just after Nelson, Oaks is now the most senior living apostle. At 93 years old, he is broadly expected to become the next prophet and President of the Church.

The Process of Selection

In the LDS Church, typically,  the most senior apostle is chosen to be the next prophet following the death of the current prophet. However, this succession is not just a matter of seniority. The selection of the prophet is a spiritual process, guided by the Holy Ghost. It involves the remaining members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in making this significant decision.

The Role of Tradition and the Holy Ghost

It’s important to note that seniority does not guarantee that the next most senior apostle will take on the role of prophet. The belief within the church is that the Holy Ghost plays a pivotal role in this decision, ensuring that the chosen leader is not only aligned with the church’s needs but also with a higher divine will.

That said, the most senior apostle has always been selected as the next prophet. This consistent pattern lends a fair amount of certainty to the prediction that Dallin H. Oaks would likely be the next prophet, barring any unforeseen circumstances.