Mormon leader Jeffrey R. Holland, a senior apostle and president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has died aged 85, the church announced.

Holland died at about 3.15am MST on Saturday from complications linked to kidney disease, the Church confirmed in a statement. He was surrounded by his family at the time.

Paying tribute, Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: ‘There [was] nobody better in the Church at teaching.’

The church said on Christmas Eve that Holland had recently been hospitalized, prompting prayers from members around the world.

Holland had served as an apostle since June 1994, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the faith. Before that, he was a member of the church’s First Quorum of the Seventy, which oversees operations across geographic regions.

At the time of his death, Holland was the second most senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, behind church president Dallin H. Oaks, placing him next in line under the church’s long-established succession system.

Henry B. Eyring, one of Oaks’ two counselors in the First Presidency, is now next in line to assume the church presidency.

A respected figure in the church, Holland stoked controversy a few years ago with fiery remarks against same sex marriage. 

Jeffrey R. Holland, a senior apostle and president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died early Saturday aged 85

Holland is survived by their three children, 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren

Holland’s public duties had been scaled back in recent years due to ongoing health problems. 

In April 2023, church leaders announced that Holland would step away from meetings for at least two months while recovering from coronavirus and undergoing dialysis for a kidney condition. He was hospitalized again in August for further observation and treatment.

The church confirmed that Holland was hospitalized again during the Christmas holiday to receive care for persistent health challenges.

Signs of his declining health had been apparent to church observers since October, when Oaks did not name him as a counselor. 

That same month, Holland was seen using a wheelchair while attending church functions.

Born in St. George, Utah, Holland devoted much of his early career to education and teaching, a role church leaders repeatedly cited as central to his legacy.

He served as commissioner of the church’s global education system and spent nearly a decade, from 1980 to 1989, as the ninth president of Brigham Young University, the faith’s flagship institution. 

He also previously served as dean of BYU’s College of Religious Education.

Holland earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from BYU before obtaining master’s and doctoral degrees in American studies from Yale University.