President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:52:35 PM Wikipedia source
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Normally, the president of the Quorum of the Twelve is the most senior apostle in the church, aside from its president. When the church president dies, the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles succeeds him. There have been 28 men who have served as President of the Twelve (one of whom served two non-consecutive terms). Of these, 17 subsequently become the church president. Since October 14, 2025, Jeffrey R. Holland has been the president of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Tables
· List of presidents of the Quorum of the Twelve
Thomas B. Marsh
1835
1835–1840
Thomas B. Marsh
No.
1
Name
Thomas B. Marsh
Tenure(reason for end)
14 February 1835 –14 April 1840(excommunicated)
Notes
He was excommunicated for apostasy.
Brigham Young
1840
1840–1847
Brigham Young
No.
2
Name
Brigham Young
Tenure(reason for end)
14 April 1840 –27 December 1847(became church president)
Notes
Young was not formally set apart as Quorum president until 14 April 1840. He assumed church leadership in 1844 and formally became church president in 1847.
Orson Hyde
1847
1847–1875
Orson Hyde
No.
3
Name
Orson Hyde
Tenure(reason for end)
27 December 1847 –10 April 1875(change in seniority)
Notes
Hyde was Quorum president because the more senior apostle, Heber C. Kimball, was a member of the First Presidency. (Under current practice, Hyde would have served as Acting President until Kimball's death in 1868 and succeeded as Quorum President after that.)In 1875 church president Brigham Young changed the rule of seniority in the Quorum: the senior member was to be the person with the longest uninterrupted service in the Quorum, as opposed to the person who entered the Quorum at the earliest date. Hyde's seniority in the Quorum was reduced as he had been disfellowshipped for a brief period of time in 1839.
John Taylor
1875
1875–1880
John Taylor
No.
4
Name
John Taylor
Tenure(reason for end)
10 April 1875 –10 October 1880(became church president)
Notes
He became Quorum President when church president Brigham Young changed the rule of seniority in the Quorum. Taylor was not formally set apart until 6 October 1877, about a month after the death of Brigham Young. His tenure as Quorum president ended when he formally assumed the church presidency in 1880.
Wilford Woodruff
1880
1880–1889
Wilford Woodruff
No.
5
Name
Wilford Woodruff
Tenure(reason for end)
10 October 1880 –7 April 1889(became church president)
Notes
It is unclear if he was ever formally set apart as Quorum president.
Lorenzo Snow
1889
1889–1898
Lorenzo Snow
No.
6
Name
Lorenzo Snow
Tenure(reason for end)
7 April 1889 –13 September 1898(became church president)
Franklin D. Richards
1898
1898–1899
Franklin D. Richards
No.
7
Name
Franklin D. Richards
Tenure(reason for end)
13 September 1898 –9 December 1899(died)
Brigham Young, Jr.
1899
1899–1901
Brigham Young, Jr.
No.
8
Name
Brigham Young, Jr.
Tenure(reason for end)
9 December 1899 –10 October 1901
Notes
He served as Quorum President because the more senior apostles, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith, were members of the First Presidency (1898–1901). (Under current practice, Young would have served as Acting President.) When church president Lorenzo Snow died in 1901, Joseph F. Smith returned to the Quorum of the Twelve as its President.
Joseph F. Smith
1901
1901–1901
Joseph F. Smith
No.
9
Name
Joseph F. Smith
Tenure(reason for end)
10 October 1901 –17 October 1901(became church president)
Notes
Smith had the shortest tenure as Quorum President. It is unclear whether he was formally set apart as such.
Brigham Young, Jr.
1901
1901–1903
Brigham Young, Jr.
No.
10
Name
Brigham Young, Jr.
Tenure(reason for end)
17 October 1901 –11 April 1903(died)
Notes
Young had previously been Quorum President (1898–1901) until Joseph F. Smith returned to the Quorum. When Smith became church president, Young resumed his position as Quorum president and was set apart on the same day. He is the only Quorum President to serve non-consecutive terms.
Francis M. Lyman
1903
1903–1916
Francis M. Lyman
No.
11
Name
Francis M. Lyman
Tenure(reason for end)
11 April 1903 –18 November 1916(died)
Notes
Lyman was not officially set apart as Quorum President until 6 October 1903.
Heber J. Grant
1916
1916–1918
Heber J. Grant
No.
12
Name
Heber J. Grant
Tenure(reason for end)
18 November 1916 –23 November 1918(became church president)
Anthon H. Lund
1918
1918–1921
Anthon H. Lund
No.
13
Name
Anthon H. Lund
Tenure(reason for end)
23 November 1918 –2 March 1921(died)
Notes
Lund was a member of the First Presidency during his entire tenure as Quorum President. Rudger Clawson served as Acting President during that time.
Rudger Clawson
1921
1921–1943
Rudger Clawson
No.
14
Name
Rudger Clawson
Tenure(reason for end)
2 March 1921 –21 June 1943(died)
Notes
Longest tenure as Quorum President. He previously served as Acting President while Anthon H. Lund was a member of the First Presidency (1918–1921).
George Albert Smith
1943
1943–1945
George Albert Smith
No.
15
Name
George Albert Smith
Tenure(reason for end)
21 June 1943 –21 May 1945(became church president)
George F. Richards
1945
1945–1950
George F. Richards
No.
16
Name
George F. Richards
Tenure(reason for end)
21 May 1945 –8 August 1950(died)
David O. McKay
1950
1950–1951
David O. McKay
No.
17
Name
David O. McKay
Tenure(reason for end)
8 August 1950 –9 April 1951(became church president)
Notes
He was a member of the First Presidency until 4 April 1951. Joseph Fielding Smith served as Acting President during that time.
Joseph Fielding Smith
1951
1951–1970
Joseph Fielding Smith
No.
18
Name
Joseph Fielding Smith
Tenure(reason for end)
9 April 1951 –23 January 1970(became church president)
Notes
He was a member of the First Presidency until 8 January 1970, but remained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve during this time. He previously served as Acting President while David O. McKay was a member of the First Presidency (1950–1951).
Harold B. Lee
1970
1970–1972
Harold B. Lee
No.
19
Name
Harold B. Lee
Tenure(reason for end)
23 January 1970 –7 July 1972(became church president)
Notes
He was a member of the First Presidency until 2 July 1972. Spencer W. Kimball served as Acting President during that time.
Spencer W. Kimball
1972
1972–1973
Spencer W. Kimball
No.
20
Name
Spencer W. Kimball
Tenure(reason for end)
7 July 1972 –30 December 1973(became church president)
Notes
He previously served as Acting President while Harold B. Lee was a member of the First Presidency (1970–1972).
Ezra Taft Benson
1973
1973–1985
Ezra Taft Benson
No.
21
Name
Ezra Taft Benson
Tenure(reason for end)
30 December 1973 –10 November 1985(became church president)
Marion G. Romney
1985
1985–1988
Marion G. Romney
No.
22
Name
Marion G. Romney
Tenure(reason for end)
10 November 1985 –20 May 1988(died)
Notes
Due to Romney's ill health, Howard W. Hunter served as Acting President for the entirety of Romney's tenure as Quorum President.
Howard W. Hunter
1988
1988–1994
Howard W. Hunter
No.
23
Name
Howard W. Hunter
Tenure(reason for end)
20 May 1988 –5 June 1994(became church president)
Notes
He previously served as Acting President due to Marion G. Romney's failing health and became Quorum President upon Romney's death. Hunter was officially set apart two weeks later, on 2 June 1988.
Gordon B. Hinckley
1994
1994–1995
Gordon B. Hinckley
No.
24
Name
Gordon B. Hinckley
Tenure(reason for end)
5 June 1994 –12 March 1995(became church president)
Notes
He was a member of the First Presidency until 3 March 1995. Boyd K. Packer served as Acting President during that time.
Thomas S. Monson
1995
1995–2008
Thomas S. Monson
No.
25
Name
Thomas S. Monson
Tenure(reason for end)
12 March 1995 –3 February 2008(became church president)
Notes
He was a member of the First Presidency until 27 January 2008. Boyd K. Packer served as Acting President during that time.
Boyd K. Packer
2008
2008–2015
Boyd K. Packer
No.
26
Name
Boyd K. Packer
Tenure(reason for end)
3 February 2008 –3 July 2015(died)
Notes
He previously served as Acting President when the more senior apostles, Gordon B. Hinckley (1994–1995) and Thomas S. Monson (1994–1995 and 1995–2008), were members of the First Presidency.
Russell M. Nelson
2015
2015–2018
Russell M. Nelson
No.
27
Name
Russell M. Nelson
Tenure(reason for end)
3 July 2015 –14 January 2018(became church president)
Notes
The second most senior apostle upon Boyd K. Packer's death, Nelson became Quorum President. He was formally set apart on 15 July 2015.
Dallin H. Oaks
2018
2018–2025
Dallin H. Oaks
No.
28
Name
Dallin H. Oaks
Tenure(reason for end)
14 January 2018 –14 October 2025(became church president)
Notes
He was a member of the First Presidency until 27 September 2025. M. Russell Ballard served as Acting President from January 14, 2018 until his death on November 12, 2023. Jeffrey R. Holland served as Acting President from November 15, 2023 until the First Presidency was dissolved on September 27, 2025.
Jeffrey R. Holland
Jeffrey R. Holland
No.
29
Name
Jeffrey R. Holland
Tenure(reason for end)
14 October 2025 –present
Notes
He previously served as Acting President while Dallin H. Oaks was a member of the First Presidency (2023–2025).
| No. | Portrait | Name | Tenure(reason for end) | Notes |
| 1 | Thomas B. Marsh | 14 February 1835 –14 April 1840(excommunicated) | He was excommunicated for apostasy. | |
| 2 | | Brigham Young | 14 April 1840 –27 December 1847(became church president) | Young was not formally set apart as Quorum president until 14 April 1840. He assumed church leadership in 1844 and formally became church president in 1847. |
| 3 | | Orson Hyde | 27 December 1847 –10 April 1875(change in seniority) | Hyde was Quorum president because the more senior apostle, Heber C. Kimball, was a member of the First Presidency. (Under current practice, Hyde would have served as Acting President until Kimball's death in 1868 and succeeded as Quorum President after that.)In 1875 church president Brigham Young changed the rule of seniority in the Quorum: the senior member was to be the person with the longest uninterrupted service in the Quorum, as opposed to the person who entered the Quorum at the earliest date. Hyde's seniority in the Quorum was reduced as he had been disfellowshipped for a brief period of time in 1839. |
| 4 | | John Taylor | 10 April 1875 –10 October 1880(became church president) | He became Quorum President when church president Brigham Young changed the rule of seniority in the Quorum. Taylor was not formally set apart until 6 October 1877, about a month after the death of Brigham Young. His tenure as Quorum president ended when he formally assumed the church presidency in 1880. |
| 5 | | Wilford Woodruff | 10 October 1880 –7 April 1889(became church president) | It is unclear if he was ever formally set apart as Quorum president. |
| 6 | | Lorenzo Snow | 7 April 1889 –13 September 1898(became church president) | |
| 7 | | Franklin D. Richards | 13 September 1898 –9 December 1899(died) | |
| 8 | | Brigham Young, Jr. | 9 December 1899 –10 October 1901 | He served as Quorum President because the more senior apostles, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith, were members of the First Presidency (1898–1901). (Under current practice, Young would have served as Acting President.) When church president Lorenzo Snow died in 1901, Joseph F. Smith returned to the Quorum of the Twelve as its President. |
| 9 | | Joseph F. Smith | 10 October 1901 –17 October 1901(became church president) | Smith had the shortest tenure as Quorum President. It is unclear whether he was formally set apart as such. |
| 10 | | Brigham Young, Jr. | 17 October 1901 –11 April 1903(died) | Young had previously been Quorum President (1898–1901) until Joseph F. Smith returned to the Quorum. When Smith became church president, Young resumed his position as Quorum president and was set apart on the same day. He is the only Quorum President to serve non-consecutive terms. |
| 11 | | Francis M. Lyman | 11 April 1903 –18 November 1916(died) | Lyman was not officially set apart as Quorum President until 6 October 1903. |
| 12 | | Heber J. Grant | 18 November 1916 –23 November 1918(became church president) | |
| 13 | | Anthon H. Lund | 23 November 1918 –2 March 1921(died) | Lund was a member of the First Presidency during his entire tenure as Quorum President. Rudger Clawson served as Acting President during that time. |
| 14 | | Rudger Clawson | 2 March 1921 –21 June 1943(died) | Longest tenure as Quorum President. He previously served as Acting President while Anthon H. Lund was a member of the First Presidency (1918–1921). |
| 15 | | George Albert Smith | 21 June 1943 –21 May 1945(became church president) | |
| 16 | | George F. Richards | 21 May 1945 –8 August 1950(died) | |
| 17 | | David O. McKay | 8 August 1950 –9 April 1951(became church president) | He was a member of the First Presidency until 4 April 1951. Joseph Fielding Smith served as Acting President during that time. |
| 18 | | Joseph Fielding Smith | 9 April 1951 –23 January 1970(became church president) | He was a member of the First Presidency until 8 January 1970, but remained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve during this time. He previously served as Acting President while David O. McKay was a member of the First Presidency (1950–1951). |
| 19 | | Harold B. Lee | 23 January 1970 –7 July 1972(became church president) | He was a member of the First Presidency until 2 July 1972. Spencer W. Kimball served as Acting President during that time. |
| 20 | | Spencer W. Kimball | 7 July 1972 –30 December 1973(became church president) | He previously served as Acting President while Harold B. Lee was a member of the First Presidency (1970–1972). |
| 21 | | Ezra Taft Benson | 30 December 1973 –10 November 1985(became church president) | |
| 22 | | Marion G. Romney | 10 November 1985 –20 May 1988(died) | Due to Romney's ill health, Howard W. Hunter served as Acting President for the entirety of Romney's tenure as Quorum President. |
| 23 | | Howard W. Hunter | 20 May 1988 –5 June 1994(became church president) | He previously served as Acting President due to Marion G. Romney's failing health and became Quorum President upon Romney's death. Hunter was officially set apart two weeks later, on 2 June 1988. |
| 24 | | Gordon B. Hinckley | 5 June 1994 –12 March 1995(became church president) | He was a member of the First Presidency until 3 March 1995. Boyd K. Packer served as Acting President during that time. |
| 25 | | Thomas S. Monson | 12 March 1995 –3 February 2008(became church president) | He was a member of the First Presidency until 27 January 2008. Boyd K. Packer served as Acting President during that time. |
| 26 | | Boyd K. Packer | 3 February 2008 –3 July 2015(died) | He previously served as Acting President when the more senior apostles, Gordon B. Hinckley (1994–1995) and Thomas S. Monson (1994–1995 and 1995–2008), were members of the First Presidency. |
| 27 | | Russell M. Nelson | 3 July 2015 –14 January 2018(became church president) | The second most senior apostle upon Boyd K. Packer's death, Nelson became Quorum President. He was formally set apart on 15 July 2015. |
| 28 | | Dallin H. Oaks | 14 January 2018 –14 October 2025(became church president) | He was a member of the First Presidency until 27 September 2025. M. Russell Ballard served as Acting President from January 14, 2018 until his death on November 12, 2023. Jeffrey R. Holland served as Acting President from November 15, 2023 until the First Presidency was dissolved on September 27, 2025. |
| 29 | | Jeffrey R. Holland | 14 October 2025 –present | He previously served as Acting President while Dallin H. Oaks was a member of the First Presidency (2023–2025). |
References
- As verified here.https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/10/14/new-lds-church-prophet-first/
- Joseph Smith, B.H. Roberts (ed.), History of the Church, 2:374 (16 January 1836); Joseph Smith, Jr., Joseph Fielding Smi
- Millennial Star, vol. 63, p. 787.https://books.google.com/books?id=vppJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA787&lpg=PA787
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Templeshttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/russell-m-nelson-17th-church-president
- Jeffrey R. Holland: New Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org, 16 Novhttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/jeffrey-r-holland-acting-president-quorum-of-the-twelve-apostles
- He was later rebaptized into the church on July 16, 1857.
- Russell M. Nelson: New President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Mormon Newsroom, 15 July 2015.https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/russell-m-nelson-new-president-of-the-quorum-of-the-twelve-apostles
- President M. Russell Ballard Dies at Age 95, Newsroom, churchofjesuschrist.org, 13 November 2023. Retrieved 15 Novemberhttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-m-russell-ballard-dies