SALT LAKE CITY — President Jeffrey R. Holland, a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints known for his soaring oratory and academic leadership, died Saturday. He was 85.
The Church announced that Holland, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, passed away at approximately 3:15 a.m. MST due to complications from kidney disease. He was surrounded by family at the time of his death.
“My total responsibility is to bear witness of the Lord Jesus Christ,” Holland said upon his call to the apostleship in 1994, a mantra that defined three decades of global ministry.
A native of St. George, Holland was a standout athlete in his youth before serving a mission to England that he frequently cited as the “turning point” of his life. It was there he served alongside a lifelong friend and future colleague in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Quentin L. Cook.
“There was nobody better in the Church at teaching,” Cook said in a tribute, noting Holland’s “enormous spiritual depth” and unique way with words that emerged even as a young man.
Holland’s professional life was as distinguished as his ecclesiastical service. A graduate of Brigham Young University, he later earned master’s and doctoral degrees in American Studies from Yale University. In 1980, he was named the ninth president of BYU, where he led a major fundraising campaign and oversaw the controversial development of the BYU Jerusalem Center.
He was sustained as an Apostle on June 23, 1994. In the ensuing decades, Holland became one of the most recognizable figures in the faith, known for a preaching style that combined intellectual rigor with intense emotional vulnerability. He famously spoke out about his own bouts with depression to provide hope for those struggling with mental illness.
His ministry was also marked by a commitment to interfaith diplomacy. For his efforts in improving relations between Christians and Jews, he was awarded the “Torch of Liberty” by the Anti-Defamation League of B’Nai B’rith. In later years, he worked closely with members of the U.K. House of Lords to address the global refugee crisis.
Holland’s personal life was centered on his marriage to Patricia Terry, whom he wed in 1963. The couple often spoke together at Church events, presenting a unified front of faith and humor. Patricia preceded him in death in July 2023.
In his final years, Holland served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve following the death of M. Russell Ballard, and later as President of the Quorum. Despite failing health, he continued to urge Church members to maintain a “perfect brightness of hope.”
He is survived by three children, 13 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. In accordance with Church tradition, the vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be filled at a later date.