The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the death of one of its most senior leaders, Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, at the age of 85. He passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning from complications related to kidney disease.
A Life of Service and Leadership
Jeffrey R. Holland died at approximately 3:15am MST on Saturday, surrounded by his family. The church confirmed his passing came after a prolonged struggle with health issues, including kidney disease for which he was undergoing dialysis. His public duties had been significantly reduced in recent years due to these ongoing challenges.
Holland had served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since June 1994, making his tenure one of the longest in the faith's modern history. At the time of his death, he was the president of that quorum and its second most senior member, placing him next in line in the church's succession hierarchy behind President Dallin H. Oaks. With his passing, Henry B. Eyring, a counselor in the First Presidency, is now next in line to assume the church presidency.
Educator, President, and Controversial Figure
Born in St. George, Utah, Holland's early career was deeply rooted in education, a facet of his life frequently highlighted by colleagues. He earned degrees from Brigham Young University (BYU) and Yale University before dedicating nearly a decade, from 1980 to 1989, to serving as the ninth president of BYU, the church's flagship university.
During his tenure, he focused on strengthening interfaith dialogue, notably overseeing the establishment of the Jerusalem Center, efforts which earned him the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Award. Former leader Marion D. Hanks once described Holland's defining trait, saying, “Jeffrey Holland is by nature a teacher. He is a gentleman, a scholar, and a diplomat - but in all those things he is a teacher.”
However, in later years, Holland also became a polarising figure following a 2021 address often referred to as the ‘musket fire’ speech. In it, he urged members to defend the church's traditional teachings on marriage, making strong remarks against same-sex relationships. This speech was later assigned as required reading for BYU freshmen in 2024, drawing criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates.
Declining Health and Personal Loss
Signs of Holland's failing health had been apparent to church observers for months. In October, he was seen using a wheelchair at church functions, and President Oaks did not name him as a counselor, signalling his reduced capacity. He was hospitalised in April 2023 while recovering from coronavirus and receiving dialysis, and again in August for further treatment.
The church confirmed he was hospitalised once more during the recent Christmas holiday. This period also followed the profound personal loss of his wife, Patricia Terry Holland, who died in July 2023. She once spoke of her husband's profound faith, stating, “Nobody but [me] knows the kind of faith that this man has. It is pure.”
Jeffrey R. Holland is survived by his three children, 13 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. Tributes have begun pouring in, with Apostle Quentin L. Cook paying homage, saying, “There [was] nobody better in the Church at teaching.” His death marks the end of an era for a leader who shaped Mormon education and doctrine for nearly three decades.
