This past Saturday the president and prophet of my Church passed away. President Russel M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924. He passed away on September 27, 2025 at 101 years old. He was best known to the world as a world renowned heart surgeon, but most beloved as a prophet, seer, and revelator for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as an apostle from April 1984 – January 2018 when his predecessor, Thomas S. Monson passed away and he was sustained and ordained as the President of the Church.

Our new prophet, Dallin H. Oaks, was also called as an apostle in April 1984. A few facts about President Oaks:

• He was born in Provo, Utah on August 12, 1932, and grew up in both Idaho and Utah.
• He attended college at BYU and then the University of Chicago where he became a lawyer
• He served in the Utah National Guard
• He served as the Justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 1980-1984
• He was called to serve as an apostle at the same time as President Nelson, but was not set apart until May 1984 as he was finishing his term as Supreme Court Justice.
• He served as President of BYU from 1971-1980
• He has been an apostle of the Lord from May 1984 until this past Sunday.

In my Church the acting prophet and president of the Church does not come by happenstance or campaigning. The Lord has dictated the order through the seniority of callings. As soon as one prophet passes on, the next senior apostle become the acting prophet and president of the Church. It is done in an orderly manner, as God’s house is a house of order.

As members, we aren’t expected to just fall in line with whomever is next in line. We are expected to pray about it, and to receive our own personal witness that the prophet who has been called is the person that God would have in that position. I have taken that opportunity with each of the prophets in my teen and adult life, and I witness that I have received that witness to my soul each and every time.

I have prayed about President Oaks and have received that same confirming answer: yes, he is the one that God has set apart for this calling at this time. He has been trained for many years by the Lord to act in this capacity today, and I offer my support and sustain him as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.