SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dallin H. Oaks, a former justice on the Utah Supreme Court recognized for his judicial approach andtraditionalist convictions on marriageand freedom of religion, is anticipated to become the next president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving more than 17 million members around the globe.
The change in leadership comes after the recent passing ofPresident Russell M. Nelsonand arrives as many of the church’s U.S. members are recovering from a fatalattack on a Michigan church group and a high-profile assassination in Utahwhere the religious group commonly referred to as the Mormon church is based.
Oaks has been a part of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a leading group of leaders, for the longest duration. This positions him as the next in line to become president undera traditionFounded over a hundred years ago to facilitate a seamless transition and avoid any internal or public influence. The official announcement is expected to be made at some point following Nelson’s funeral on October 7th. He was 101 years old when he passed away on Saturday.
At 93, Oaks will be one of the oldest presidents. Seven out of the last nine have remained in office into their nineties, with five surpassing Oaks’ current age.
An inclusive chapel addresses aggression
A faith that emphasizes being inclusive—particularly at local churches on Sundays—found last weekend’s assault during a worship service in Michigan to be unexpected.
Services in Grand Blanc Township had just begun when a former Marine drove his pickup truck into the church and started firing. Four individuals lost their lives and eight others were injured in the attack on Sunday, located approximately 60 miles (96 kilometers) north of Detroit. The perpetrator set a fire before being pursued and killed during a confrontation with law enforcement.
“In the aftermath of trauma, surprise, and sorrow, each of us looks for explanations and clarity. We appreciate everyone offering assistance, prayers, and comforting words during this challenging period,” Oaks stated, also honoring Nelson.
Nelson’s “eternal lessons” offer individuals solace during times of hardship, Oaks stated.
Utah is also still recovering from theSept. 10 shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. The individual accused of shooting him, Tyler Robinson, was raised as a churchgoer.
Violence might become a topic of discussion this weekend during the church’s biannual general conference in Salt Lake City, according to Matthew Bowman, a professor at Claremont Graduate University who focuses on U.S. religious history. Church leaders typically tackle significant current issues while allowing the approximately 100,000 people attending in person and the numerous others watching online to draw their own interpretations of religious teachings.
The church’s policy permits only law enforcement personnel to carry firearms and other deadly weapons within the church premises. It remains uncertain if additional regulations will be implemented.
Experts remain doubtful that an Oaks presidency will lead to significant changes.
A well-known and influential figure within the church, Oaks became part of the Quorum of the Twelve in 1984, at the same time as Nelson.
When Nelson assumed the presidency, he appointed Oaks to the First Presidency, the highest leadership council.
I believe Oaks has played a significant role in leadership during Nelson’s presidency,” Bowman stated. “I don’t think we’ll witness a major shift.
From the beginning of his time as an apostle, Oaks participated in efforts against far-right extremism, which led to a few excommunications. In 2020, he delivered a speech emphasizing faith in elections without turning to radicalism or violence.
While Nelson emphasized the faith’s worldwide presence, including selecting apostles from international and immigrant backgrounds, Oaks might shift attention back to the U.S. and its political landscape, according to Bowman.
Following Nelson’s passing, a spot has opened up in the Quorum of the Twelve, which Oaks will take over as president — one method church leaders can shape the organization’s direction. Some speculate whether he might appoint the church’s education commissioner, Clark Gilbert, who has been responsible for upholding church doctrine at the church-affiliated Brigham Young University campuses, according to Bowman.
A leadership role at An Oaks causes concern among LGBTQ+ individuals and their supporters.
Oaks has been a key figure opposing same-sex marriage and supporting the belief that homosexuality is a sin, causing worry and distress among LGBTQ+ individuals who are part of the faith community.
He frequently gave speeches that supported the faith’s position, including one where he stated that the intended meaning of “gender” in church teachings is “biological sex at birth.” Church policies implemented in 2024significantly restrictedparticipation of individuals who have undergone physical or social transitions, such as altering their name or pronouns.
Some recall the surveillance and a crackdown on gay students at Brigham Young University during Oaks’ tenure as president in the 1970s. A church representative admitted in 1979 that BYU security had been monitoring gay bars, but stated that Oaks ended the practice once he became aware of it.
However, in recent years, Oaks has been involved in several significant church initiatives that indicate he may not prioritize this issue during his leadership, according to analysts.
Oaks was Nelson’s most trusted advisor in 2019 when Nelsonrescinded a policyThe policy prohibited baptisms for children of same-sex parents and referred to homosexual couples as sinners who could be expelled. This action overturned a previous decision that was deeply upsetting and perplexing for gay and lesbian church members, who had previously felt encouraged by church leaders’ messages promoting greater love and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals.
“It’s highly improbable that he would, you know, reverse that decision, considering he was among those who helped eliminate the restriction,” said Paul Reeve, Simmons Chair of Mormon Studies at the University of Utah.
Oaks also assisted the church in reaching an agreement in 2022, where the religion supported a proposed federal law to protect same-sex marriages as long as these laws did not violate religious freedom or compel the faith to conduct same-sex marriages or provide them official recognition within the church.
Noah Hanson, who identifies as gay and was raised in the religion, is concerned that Oaks’ promotion may create a larger divide between LGBTQ+ individuals and their faithful family members. According to Hanson, under Nelson’s leadership, the church largely stopped discussing homosexuality, allowing his parents to “make some progress.”
“They’ve begun expressing their love for my husband,” said the 27-year-old woman from Logan, Utah.
If Oaks speaks out about LGBTQ+ individuals in the same manner as he has done previously, Hanson fears that advancements will be set back. His parents hold church leaders in high regard, viewing them as prophets by followers, even when their policies negatively affect their own children, he mentioned.
“If Dallin H. Oaks doesn’t become more flexible about his views that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman, or that homosexual behavior is a sin, then if he removes that stance, I think it could damage my relationship with my parents,” Hanson said.
Oaks’ leadership might have a distinct style
Famous for his dry sermons and speeches that resonate more with logic than feelings, Oaks approaches his work with a judge’s perspective. In contrast to Nelson’s sentimentality, Oaks is more composed, exact, and legalistic, according to Bowman.
Becoming president, however, might encourage him to take a more individualized approach, according to Patrick Mason, a professor of religious studies and history at Utah State University.
“It’s quite different to serve as the church’s president and to understand that you are now expected to be everything to everyone within the church,” Mason stated.
Oaks has publicly expressed his views onmaintaining civil public discourse, encouraging individuals just before the 2024 presidential election to “steer clear of what is severe and venomous” and act as mediators within their local areas.
After facing opposition from church members following their social media celebration of the COVID-19 vaccines, Nelson and Oaks started emphasizing the importance of balance, political discussion, and steering clear of conspiracy theories and prejudice.
That truly, I believe, worried Nelson, and it also worried Oaks,” Bowman stated. “I think this has returned to Oaks’ attention, that political extremism within the church is an issue. And he might be, I believe, due to his education and background, more inclined than Nelson was to take practical actions.
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Gruver covered events from Fort Collins, Colorado, while Meyer reported from Nashville. Sarit Hand, an archivist at AP headquarters in New York City, assisted with this report.
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Associated Press religious reporting is backed by the AP’scollaborationwith The Conversation US, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is entirely responsible for this material.
