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Jeffrey R. Holland, a high-ranking official within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was subsequent in line to change into the religion’s president, has died. He was 85.
Holland died early Saturday morning from issues related to kidney illness, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints introduced on its web site.
Holland, who died in Salt Lake Metropolis, led a governing physique referred to as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which helps set church coverage whereas overseeing the numerous enterprise pursuits of what’s identified extensively because the Mormon church.
He was the subsequent longest-tenured member of the Quorum of the Twelve after President Dallin H. Oaks, making him subsequent in line to steer the church beneath a long-established succession plan.
Henry B. Eyring, who’s 92 and one in all Oaks’ two high counsellors, is now subsequent in line for the presidency.
Holland had been hospitalized throughout the Christmas vacation for remedy associated to ongoing well being issues, the church mentioned. Specialists on the religion pointed to his declining well being in October when Oaks didn’t choose Holland as a counsellor. He attended a number of church occasions that month in a wheelchair.
His dying leaves a emptiness within the Quorum of the Twelve that Oaks will fill in coming months, doubtless by calling a brand new apostle from a lower-tier management council. Apostles are all males in accordance with the church’s all-male priesthood.
Holland grew up in St. George, Utah, and labored for a few years in training administration earlier than his name to hitch the ranks of church management. He served because the ninth president of Brigham Younger College, the Utah-based religion’s flagship faculty, from 1980 to 1989 and was a commissioner of the church’s world training system.
Beneath his management, the Provo college labored to enhance interfaith relations and established a satellite tv for pc campus in Jerusalem. The Anti-Defamation League later honoured Holland with its Torch of Liberty Award for serving to foster higher understanding between Christian and Jewish communities.
Holland is extensively remembered for a 2021 speech by which he referred to as on church members to take up metaphorical muskets in defence of the religion’s teachings in opposition to same-sex marriage. The speak, identified colloquially as “the musket fireplace speech,” grew to become required studying for BYU freshmen in 2024, elevating concern amongst LGBTQ+ college students and advocates.
Holland was preceded in dying by his spouse, Patricia Terry Holland. He’s survived by their three kids, 13 grandchildren and a number of other great-grandchildren.
