Dallin H. Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court justice whose reputation for legal rigor and traditionalist values precedes him, is poised to become the next president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This leadership transition follows the recent passing of President Russell M. Nelson, who led the church until his death at age 101 on September 27, 2025. With more than 17 million members worldwide, the church—widely known as the Mormon church—now faces a pivotal moment as it navigates both internal uncertainties and external crises.
The formal announcement of Oaks’ presidency is expected after Nelson’s funeral, scheduled for October 7, 2025, according to the Associated Press. Oaks, currently 93, is the longest-tenured member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, making him next in line under a tradition established over a century ago to ensure orderly succession and prevent internal politicking. If confirmed, he will be among the oldest presidents in church history—a fact that is not unusual for the faith, since seven of the past nine leaders have served well into their nineties.
This transition comes at a time of heightened anxiety and sorrow among U.S. church members. On September 28, 2025, a former Marine drove his pickup truck into a church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, and began shooting during Sunday services. The attack left four people dead and eight wounded. The perpetrator also set a fire before being killed in a gunfight with police. "We all seek answers and understanding in the wake of trauma, shock, and grief. We are grateful to all who are reaching out with service, prayers, and words of support during this difficult time," Oaks said in a statement, which also paid tribute to Nelson’s legacy. He added that Nelson’s "timeless teachings" offer comfort in times of suffering, as reported by the AP.
Utah, the church’s headquarters, is still grappling with the aftermath of another tragedy: the September 10, 2025, shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. The alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, was raised in the church, adding to the community’s sense of loss and confusion. These violent episodes are expected to be a major topic at the church’s twice-annual general conference in Salt Lake City, which draws nearly 100,000 attendees and countless more virtual participants worldwide. Church leaders traditionally address current events and pressing issues at these gatherings, though they often leave space for individual interpretation of doctrine.
Church policy is clear: only law enforcement officers are permitted to bring guns or other lethal weapons onto church property. Whether these policies will be revisited in light of recent violence remains to be seen. As Matthew Bowman, a professor specializing in U.S. religious history at Claremont Graduate University, told the AP, "Violence could be a talking point this weekend at the church's conference."
Oaks’ anticipated ascension comes after a long career in church leadership. He joined the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984, around the same time as Nelson, and was elevated to the First Presidency—the top governing body—by Nelson himself. Bowman observed, "I suspect that Oaks has had a fairly strong hand in leadership through Nelson’s presidency. I think we’re not going to see a very tremendous pivot." Early in his tenure, Oaks participated in efforts to root out far-right extremism, resulting in some excommunications. In 2020, he delivered a speech urging faith in elections and discouraging radicalism or violence.
While Nelson’s presidency was marked by a focus on expanding the church’s global footprint, including the appointment of apostles with international backgrounds, experts suggest that Oaks may shift the church’s attention back toward the U.S. and its domestic political landscape. The vacancy Oaks will leave in the Quorum of the Twelve as he becomes president is one way a new leader can shape the church’s future. Some observers speculate he might appoint Clark Gilbert, the church’s commissioner of education, known for enforcing church orthodoxy at Brigham Young University campuses. As reported by Main Line Media News, such appointments could signal Oaks’ priorities moving forward.
Oaks’ record on LGBTQ issues is both well-documented and complex. He has long been a driving force behind the church’s opposition to same-sex marriage and upholding the doctrine that homosexuality is a sin—stances that have caused anxiety among LGBTQ members and their families. He has frequently reiterated that, in church doctrine, "gender" means "biological sex at birth." In 2024, new policies further restricted the involvement of members who have transitioned physically or socially, including those who have changed their names or pronouns. These moves have sparked concern and, in some cases, fear among LGBTQ churchgoers.
However, Oaks’ history is not without nuance. In the 1970s, while president of Brigham Young University, he halted a controversial practice where campus security staked out gay bars to surveil students, after learning about it. More recently, Oaks played a key role in reversing a 2015 policy that banned baptisms for children of gay parents and labeled same-sex couples as apostates. This 2019 reversal was seen as a significant step toward healing for many LGBTQ members. "It would be really unlikely that he would, you know, go back on that when he was one of the decision-makers in removing that restriction," said Paul Reeve, Simmons Chair of Mormon Studies at the University of Utah, in comments to the AP.
In 2022, Oaks also helped the church strike a compromise in which it supported federal legislation safeguarding same-sex marriages, provided those laws did not infringe upon religious liberty or require the church to perform or officially recognize such unions. This balancing act—protecting religious freedom while acknowledging legal realities—underscores Oaks’ legalistic approach to leadership.
For some, Oaks’ potential presidency is a source of apprehension. Noah Hanson, a 27-year-old gay man from Logan, Utah, told the AP that under Nelson, his family had "made a little progress" in accepting his marriage. "They’ve started telling my husband that they love him," Hanson said. But he worries that if Oaks returns to outspoken opposition to LGBTQ rights, "that’s gonna ruin my relationship with my parents." Church presidents are revered as prophets, and their words carry enormous weight—even when their policies are painful for some families.
Stylistically, Oaks is known for his dry, reasoned sermons, which often appeal more to logic than to emotion. Bowman described him as "cooler, more precise and lawyerly" than his predecessor Nelson, who was known for his sentimentalism. But Patrick Mason, a religious studies professor at Utah State University, suggested that the mantle of church president could inspire a more personal approach: "It’s a very different thing to be president of the church and to recognize that now you are meant to be all things to all people within the church."
Oaks has also been vocal about the need for civil discourse, especially in the face of rising political polarization. Shortly before the 2024 presidential election, he urged members to "avoid what is harsh and hateful" and to act as peacemakers in their communities. In the wake of anti-vaccine backlash from some church members after Nelson and Oaks publicly celebrated COVID-19 vaccines, both leaders began speaking more about the importance of moderation, dialogue, and resisting conspiracy theories. "That really, I think, alarmed Nelson, and it alarmed Oaks," Bowman noted. "I think this is back on Oaks’ radar, that political extremism in the church is a problem. And he may be, I think because of his training and because of his background, perhaps more willing than Nelson was to take concrete steps."
As the church prepares to bid farewell to Nelson and welcome Oaks, its members face a period of reflection and uncertainty. With violence shaking its congregations and debates over doctrine and inclusion simmering, all eyes will be on Oaks to see how he navigates the challenges—and whether he can unite a diverse and global faith community in a time of profound change.
