SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Jeffrey R. Holland, a high-ranking official within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was subsequent in line to change into the religion’s president, has died. He was 85.
Holland died early Saturday morning from problems related to kidney illness, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced on its web site.
Holland, who died in Salt Lake Metropolis, led a governing physique referred to as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which helps set church coverage whereas overseeing the numerous enterprise pursuits of what’s identified extensively because the Mormon church.
He was the following longest-tenured member of the Quorum of the Twelve after President Dallin H. Oaks, making him subsequent in line to guide the church beneath a long-established succession plan.
Henry B. Eyring, who’s 92 and certainly one of Oaks’ two prime counselors, is now subsequent in line for the presidency.
George Frey by way of Getty Pictures
Holland had been hospitalized through the Christmas vacation for therapy associated to ongoing well being problems, the church stated. Specialists on the religion pointed to his declining well being in October when Oaks didn’t choose Holland as a counselor. He attended a number of church occasions that month in a wheelchair.
His dying leaves a emptiness within the Quorum of the Twelve that Oaks will fill in coming months, doubtless by calling a brand new apostle from a lower-tier management council. Apostles are all males in accordance with the church’s all-male priesthood.
Holland grew up in St. George, Utah, and labored for a few years in training administration earlier than his name to affix the ranks of church management. He served because the ninth president of Brigham Younger College, the Utah-based religion’s flagship college, from 1980 to 1989 and was a commissioner of the church’s world training system.
Beneath his management, the Provo college labored to enhance interfaith relations and established a satellite tv for pc campus in Jerusalem. The Anti-Defamation League later honored Holland with its Torch of Liberty Award for serving to foster better understanding between Christian and Jewish communities.
Holland is extensively remembered for a 2021 speech through which he referred to as on church members to take up metaphorical muskets in protection of the religion’s teachings towards same-sex marriage. The speak, identified colloquially as “the musket hearth speech,” turned required studying for BYU freshmen in 2024, elevating concern amongst LGBTQ+ college students and advocates.
Holland was preceded in dying by his spouse, Patricia Terry Holland. He’s survived by their three kids, 13 grandchildren and several other great-grandchildren.
This story has been corrected to point out that Holland was preceded in dying by his spouse.
Related Press Author Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed.