Dallin H. Oaks Expected to Lead LDS Church
Dallin H. Oaks, a 93‑year‑old former Utah Supreme Court justice and the longest‑tenured member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is expected to become the next president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints following the death of President Russell M. Nelson. The formal succession tradition makes Oaks next in line; the article says a formal announcement will likely follow Nelson’s funeral on Oct. 7, 2025. The piece also situates the transition amid recent violent incidents affecting the faith, including a deadly Michigan church attack and the Utah killing of activist Charlie Kirk.
Religion
Public Safety
🔍 Key Facts
- Dallin H. Oaks (93) is expected to succeed Russell M. Nelson as president of the LDS Church under the church's seniority tradition.
- Russell M. Nelson died at age 101; a formal announcement is likely after Nelson’s funeral on Oct. 7, 2025.
- The article cites recent U.S. violent incidents relevant to the church: the Grand Blanc Township, Michigan attack (4 dead, 8 wounded) and the Sept. 10 Utah killing of Charlie Kirk.
📍 Contextual Background
- As of 2025-09-29 at least four people were killed and eight were wounded in the attack on the Grand Blanc Township church.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, described the incident as an act of targeted violence, and sent about 100 federal agents to Grand Blanc Township.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported that it has nearly 47,000 members in Michigan and almost 7 million members in the United States.
- Officers were on scene within 30 seconds of a 911 call, and two officers pursued the attacker after he left the church and fatally shot him about eight minutes later in an exchange of gunfire.
- Grand Blanc Township is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Detroit and is located just south of Flint, Michigan.