The next president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is already known: Dallin H. Oaks became the 18th president and prophet of the Church in October 2025, succeeding Russell M. Nelson after his passing in September 2025.

What has already happened

  • In late September 2025, President Russell M. Nelson passed away, triggering the Church’s usual leadership transition process.
  • On October 14, 2025, Dallin H. Oaks was officially announced and set apart as the new president and prophet of the Church in a live broadcast from Salt Lake City.
  • This makes your question less about prediction and more about recognizing that the “next” president is already in place as of late 2025.

Why it was Dallin H. Oaks

In the LDS Church, the new president is not chosen by popular vote or speculation but follows a long‑established pattern:

  • The president is almost always the longest‑serving member (by continuous seniority) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the time of the previous president’s death.
  • Before President Nelson’s passing, Dallin H. Oaks was the senior apostle and had served in that role since the 1980s, which meant he was next in line under the standard seniority practice.
  • After President Nelson’s death, the Quorum of the Twelve met, dissolved the previous First Presidency, and then reorganized it with President Oaks at the head, consistent with this pattern.

Current leadership lineup (2026)

As of early 2026, the top leadership of the Church looks like this:

  • President of the Church : Dallin H. Oaks (18th president and prophet).
  • First Presidency counselors : Henry B. Eyring (First Counselor) and D. Todd Christofferson (Second Counselor).
  • President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles : Jeffrey R. Holland, who is now next in line by seniority if and when a future succession occurs.

These roles reflect the Church’s standard succession order rather than forum speculation or “who people want next.”

What about “who will be next” after Oaks?

If the question is looking further ahead—beyond President Oaks—the answer becomes more speculative:

  • By seniority, Jeffrey R. Holland is currently next in line, since he is now president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the most senior apostle after President Oaks.
  • However, no one is guaranteed to become president; succession always depends on who is alive and serving, and decisions are formally made by the Quorum of the Twelve at the time of transition.
  • The Church does not publish any official list of “future presidents,” and any ranking beyond the known seniority line is effectively informed speculation rather than a fixed plan.

How forums and “trending discussions” talk about this

Online discussions and forum threads about “who will be the next president of the LDS Church” usually revolve around a few recurring themes:

  • Many users explain the seniority system and point out that it has produced very few surprises in modern times, making Oaks, and then Holland, the obvious names in recent years.
  • Some posts debate the implications of an older president (both Oaks and Nelson have served at advanced ages), discussing stamina, travel, and the pace of institutional change.
  • Others focus on what each leader is known for—Oaks’ background as a jurist and his talks on religious freedom, family, and doctrine, and Holland’s reputation for emotional, pastoral sermons—and speculate how those emphases might shape the Church if and when each leads.

“Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.”