President Dallin H. Oaks

The scriptures show us that throughout history, God has called prophets to lead and guide His children. In the Bible, prophets such as Moses taught God’s commandments, warned of the consequences of sin, helped people prepare for upcoming hardships, shared God’s love for all of His children, and brought hope as they testified of Jesus Christ’s role as our Savior. Prophets in the Book of Mormon helped God’s people in the Americas in similar ways.

Today, God still speaks to us through a living prophet who teaches eternal truths and provides divine guidance specific for our day. A prophet holds the sacred priesthood keys to administer the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. Through those ordinances, we can make and keep essential covenants with God that allow us to return and live with our Heavenly Father again. When we follow the teachings of the living prophet, we can find greater peace and happiness, draw closer to Jesus Christ, and know how to prepare spiritually for eternal life with God and our families.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by a Prophet who also acts as President of the Church. He is assisted by two counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

When the Prophet dies, the most senior Apostle (by length of service, not age) becomes the new Prophet. When there is a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Prophet chooses a new person to serve, through inspiration from God.

Read more about succession in the presidency of the Church.

The Prophet and President leads the Church in many ways. Together with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he bears a special witness of Jesus Christ to the world. He also helps guide the day-to-day work of the Church that includes, but is not limited to, missionary work, building temples, providing humanitarian aid and welfare, updating curriculum for Church classes, making sure Church facilities are maintained, guiding Church-run universities such as Brigham Young University, and building positive relationships between the Church and governments around the world.

The Prophet also spends a great deal of time directly ministering to people around the world. He visits with young and old from all walks of life as well as speaks to congregations of thousands across six continents.

The Prophet of the Church shares God’s guidance for us in many ways, including speaking to the entire membership of the Church and other interested friends every April and October during general conference.

Before his call as an Apostle and later as Prophet and President of the Church, President Dallin H. Oaks had a long and distinguished career in law and higher education. He was serving as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court when he received his call to serve as an Apostle.

His appointment to the court capped a legal career that also included clerking for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, working at a private practice in Chicago, teaching law at University of Chicago, serving as president of Brigham Young University, and serving as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Broadcasting Service.

President Oaks is also the author or coauthor of many books and articles. He has served on various boards for business, educational, and charitable organizations. In 2013, he received the Canterbury Medal for courage in the defense of religious liberty.

President Oaks was married to June Dixon Oaks for 42 years, and they raised six children together. After she died of cancer in 1998, he married Kristen M. McMain two years later.

The Prophet, Apostles, and other global church leaders speak to the world every six months during general conference, a worldwide gathering of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other interested friends.  

Sermons given at general conference can be found by browsing the general conference archives. You can stay current on what Church leaders are saying outside of general conference—such as at temple dedications or interfaith conferences—by visiting Church Newsroom. You can also use the search function on ChurchofJesusChrist.org to browse general conference talks, magazine articles, and other resources by subject or author. 

If you would like to have your questions about apostles and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints answered on a more personal level, missionaries in your area would love to meet with you and teach you more. Sign up for a visit.