Jeffrey R. Holland, a prominent leader within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has passed away at the age of 85, according to the Associated Press. Holland, who was poised to potentially become the president of the church, succumbed to complications related to kidney disease early Saturday morning.

The church announced Holland’s passing on its official website, reporting that he died in Salt Lake City. As a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Holland played a significant role in shaping church policies and managing its extensive business operations. The Quorum is a key governing body within the church, commonly known as the Mormon church.

Holland was the most senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles after President Dallin H. Oaks, positioning him as the likely successor to lead the church according to its traditional succession procedures.

With Holland’s passing, Henry B. Eyring, who is 92 years old and serves as one of Oaks’ principal counselors, now becomes the next in line for the church’s presidency.

Henry B. Eyring, who is 92 and one of Oaks’ two top counselors, is now next in line for the presidency.

Holland had been hospitalized during the Christmas holiday for treatment related to ongoing health complications, the church said. Experts on the faith pointed to his declining health in October when Oaks did not select Holland as a counselor. He attended several church events that month in a wheelchair.

His death leaves a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve that Oaks will fill in coming months, likely by calling a new apostle from a lower-tier leadership council. Apostles are all men in accordance with the church’s all-male priesthood.

Holland grew up in St. George, Utah, and worked for many years in education administration before his call to join the ranks of church leadership. He served as the ninth president of Brigham Young University, the Utah-based faith’s flagship school, from 1980 to 1989 and was a commissioner of the church’s global education system.

Under his leadership, the Provo university worked to improve interfaith relations and established a satellite campus in Jerusalem. The Anti-Defamation League later honored Holland with its Torch of Liberty Award for helping foster greater understanding between Christian and Jewish communities.

Holland is widely remembered for a 2021 speech in which he called on church members to take up metaphorical muskets in defense of the faith’s teachings against same-sex marriage. The talk, known colloquially as “the musket fire speech,” became required reading for BYU freshmen in 2024, raising concern among LGBTQ+ students and advocates.

Holland was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Terry Holland. He is survived by their three children, 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

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This story has been corrected to show that Holland was preceded in death by his wife.

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