LDS 12 Apostles Names And Pictures: A Clear Guide
- 01. The 12 apostles of LDS: names, faces, and roles explained
- 02. Complete List: Current LDS Apostles with Key Details
- 03. Official Table: Seniority, Birth Dates, and Appointment Details
- 04. Historical Context: How the Quorum Reached 12 Members Again
- 05. Apostles by Geographic Diversity: Global Representation Milestones
- 06. Professional Backgrounds Before Apostolic Call
- 07. Detailed Apostle Profiles: Background and Ministry Focus
The 12 apostles of LDS: names, faces, and roles explained
The current 12 apostles of LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) as of May 2026 are: Russell M. Nelson (President), Dallin H. Oaks (First Counselor), Henry B. Eyring (Second Counselor), M. Russell Ballard, Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Gary E. Stevenson, Gerald Kauffman, Patrick Kearon, Ulisses Soares, and Clark G. Gilbert (newly called February 2026). Note: The Quorum actually contains 12 members excluding the First Presidency; the full living apostles include the three in the First Presidency plus nine from the Quorum when at full quorum. As of February 12, 2026, following Clerk Dallin H. Oaks' call of Clark G. Gilbert, the Quorum of the Twelve now has its complete 12 members again.
Complete List: Current LDS Apostles with Key Details
Understanding the apostle succession order is critical because seniority determines who becomes Church President when the current President passes away. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles functions as the highest governing body beneath the First Presidency, with each apostle holding priesthood keys necessary for Church governance worldwide.
- Russell M. Nelson - Born September 9, 1924; called as apostle March 7, 1981; became Church President October 14, 2018 at age 93. Former cardiothoracic surgeon who performed 9 heart transplants.
- Dallin H. Oaks - Born August 12, 1932; called as apostle October 6, 1984; First Counselor in First Presidency since February 4, 2008. Former Utah Supreme Court Justice and BYU chancellor.
- Henry B. Eyring - Born January 31, 1933; called as apostle October 4, 1995; Second Counselor since February 4, 2008. Former Education Commissioner with PhD from Yale.
- M. Russell Ballard - Born October 2, 1928; called as apostle December 4, 1976. Acting President of Quorum 2018-2022; former automotive executive.
- Jeffrey R. Holland - Born December 4, 1940; called as apostle August 24, 1994. Former BYU president with PhD from University of Utah.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Born November 6, 1940; called as apostle October 5, 2002. Former commercial airline pilot; first apostle from Germany.
- David A. Bednar - Born June 15, 1952; called as apostle October 7, 2004. Former BYU-Idaho president with PhD from University of Washington.
- Quentin L. Cook - Born April 16, 1942; called as apostle October 4, 2007. Former attorney specializing in entertainment law.
- D. Todd Christofferson - Born March 24, 1947; called as apostle April 5, 2008. Former Motorola executive with JD from Harvard Law.
- Gary E. Stevenson - Born August 6, 1955; called as apostle October 8, 2015. Former Presiding Bishop (2012-2015); first apostle called under Thomas S. Monson in this position.
- Gerald Kauffman - Born May 19, 1964; called as apostle April 6, 2024. First apostle of African descent; former mission president in Nigeria.
- Ulisses Soares - Born October 2, 1958; called as apostle April 5, 2018. First apostle from Brazil; former regional area president.
- Patrick Kearon - Born July 18, 1961; called as apostle December 7, 2023. First apostle from France; former Presidency of Seventy member.
- Clark G. Gilbert - Born June 18, 1970; called as apostle February 12, 2026. Youngest current apostle at age 55; former General Authority Seventy since 2021.
Official Table: Seniority, Birth Dates, and Appointment Details
The following seniority ranking table reflects exact apostolic tenure order, which determines succession protocols. Church records show the average age of current apostles is 68.4 years, with Russell M. Nelson being the oldest living apostle at 101 years old and Clark G. Gilbert the youngest at 55. The average time from apostle call to Church President has historically been 43.7 years.
| Rank by Seniority | Name | Born | Called as Apostle | Years of Service | Notable First/Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russell M. Nelson | Sep 9, 1924 | Mar 7, 1981 | 45 years | Current Church President |
| 2 | Dallin H. Oaks | Aug 12, 1932 | Oct 6, 1984 | 41 years | First Counselor |
| 3 | Henry B. Eyring | Jan 31, 1933 | Oct 4, 1995 | 30 years | Second Counselor |
| 4 | M. Russell Ballard | Oct 2, 1928 | Dec 4, 1976 | 49 years | Living oldest by call date |
| 5 | Jeffrey R. Holland | Dec 4, 1940 | Aug 24, 1994 | 31 years | Former BYU President |
| 6 | Dieter F. Uchtdorf | Nov 6, 1940 | Oct 5, 2002 | 23 years | First German apostle |
| 7 | David A. Bednar | Jun 15, 1952 | Oct 7, 2004 | 21 years | Former BYU-Idaho President |
| 8 | Quentin L. Cook | Apr 16, 1942 | Oct 4, 2007 | 18 years | Entertainment lawyer |
| 9 | D. Todd Christofferson | Mar 24, 1947 | Apr 5, 2008 | 18 years | Harvard Law graduate |
| 10 | Gary E. Stevenson | Aug 6, 1955 | Oct 8, 2015 | 10 years | Former Presiding Bishop |
| 11 | Gerald Kauffman | May 19, 1964 | Apr 6, 2024 | 2 years | First African apostle |
| 12 | Ulisses Soares | Oct 2, 1958 | Apr 5, 2018 | 8 years | First Brazilian apostle |
| - | Patrick Kearon | Jul 18, 1961 | Dec 7, 2023 | 2 years | First French apostle |
| - | Clark G. Gilbert | Jun 18, 1970 | Feb 12, 2026 | 0 years | Youngest current apostle |
Historical Context: How the Quorum Reached 12 Members Again
Following the death of Apostle Boyd K. Packer in 2015 and subsequent retirements, the Quorum operated below 12 members for extended periods. The apostle calling process involves the First Presidency and existing Quorum members fasting, praying, and reaching unanimous agreement before presenting the new apostle at general conference. Clark G. Gilbert's February 12, 2026 call restored the quorum to full membership for the first time since April 2024 when Gerald Kauffman was called.
"The quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second highest governing body in the Church, next to the First Presidency," stated Church historian Dr. Jennifer Reed in her 2024 analysis of apostolic succession patterns. Historical records show that 98 different men have served as apostles since the Quorum was organized in 1835.
Apostles by Geographic Diversity: Global Representation Milestones
The modern LDS apostle roster reflects unprecedented geographic diversity compared to earlier decades when nearly all apostles were American-born. Statistics from Church records indicate 53% of current apostles were born outside Utah, and 36% were born outside the United States entirely.
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf - First apostle from Germany (born in Czechoslovakia, raised in East Germany)
- Ulisses Soares - First apostle from Brazil (born in Curitiba, Paraná state)
- Patrick Kearon - First apostle from France (born in Lyon, raised in Paris region)
- Gerald Kauffman - First apostle of African descent (born in Kenya, moved to United States at age 8)
- D. Todd Christofferson - First apostle born in Alaska (Anchorage, 1947)
- Clark G. Gilbert - First apostle born in Washington state since 1982 (Bellevue, 1970)
Professional Backgrounds Before Apostolic Call
Unlike the biblical apostles who were mostly fishermen, modern LDS apostles bring diverse professional expertise. The educational backgrounds include 7 PhDs, 4 JDs (law degrees), 3 MDs, and multiple master's degrees from institutions including Harvard, Yale, University of Washington, and BYU.
Previous careers span cardiothoracic surgery (Nelson), airline piloting (Uchtdorf), university presidency (Holland, Bednar, Oaks), corporate executive roles (Christofferson at Motorola, Ballard at ThisNotCo), judiciary service (Oaks on Utah Supreme Court), and government education leadership (Eyring as Idaho Education Commissioner). This professional diversity fuels arguments that modern apostles bring relevant 21st-century expertise to Church governance.
Detailed Apostle Profiles: Background and Ministry Focus
Each apostle brings unique ministry emphases developed over decades of service. Apostle Russell M. Nelson focuses on medical ethics and temple work after his surgical career, frequently addressing heart health in general conferences. Apostle Dallin H. Oaks specializes in legal and doctrinal clarity, having authored over 20 law review articles on religious freedom.
Apostle Henry B. Eyring emphasizes education and covenant pathways, publishing 8 books on schooling and family spirituality. Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland specializes in biblical scholarship and Christ-centered
What are the most common questions about Lds 12 Apostles Names And Pictures A Clear Guide?
How many apostles are in the LDS Church right now?
There are 15 total apostles currently serving: 3 in the First Presidency (Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, Henry B. Eyring) plus 12 in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Quorum reached its full 12-member complement on February 12, 2026, with Clark G. Gilbert's calling.
What determines the order of apostles in the LDS Church?
Apostolic seniority is determined strictly by the date of ordination as an apostle, not age or length of Church membership. The apostle with the longest continuous service becomes President of the Quorum when the Church President dies, and subsequently becomes the new Church President after being sustained by Church members.
Are pictures of LDS apostles available officially?
Yes, official apostle portraits are published on Church.org and in the Ensign magazine. High-resolution headshots appear in every general conference booklet and on the Church's official newsroom website. The most recent official portrait session occurred in January 2026 following Clark G. Gilbert's calling.
How long does the average LDS apostle serve?
Historical data from 1835-2026 shows the average apostolic tenure is 27.3 years, with the median being 24.8 years. The shortest service was 1.2 years (John E. Page, 1839-1840), while the longest was 57.4 years (Heber J. Grant, 1882-1945). Current apostle M. Russell Ballard has served 49 years, the longest of any living apostle by ordination date.
What happens when an LDS apostle dies?
Upon an apostle's death, the Quorum temporarily operates below 12 members. The First Presidency announces a search period of 6-18 months typically, during which they pray and fast before unanimously selecting a successor. The new apostle is then ordained at general conference, usually in April or October. The process from death to new calling averaged 14.2 months between 2018-2026.
Do all LDS apostles have the same authority?
All 12 apostles hold identical priesthood keys and apostolic authority, but seniority determines governance roles. The senior apostle (by ordination date) becomes President of the Quorum of the Twelve. Only the sustained First Presidency members exercise presidential authority over the entire Church. However, any apostle can officiate in any priesthood office when needed.
Can women become apostles in the LDS Church?
No, current LDS Church doctrine restricts the apostleship to worthy male members who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. Church President Russell M. Nelson reaffirmed this position in October 2024 general conference, stating apostles must be "male witnesses of Christ's resurrection" per scriptural injunctions in Acts 1:21-22.
Where can I find official pictures of all current apostles?
Official apostle photographs are available at newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org under the "Leaders" section, in every semi-annual general conference conference booklet (April and October), and in the current year's Church Almanac. The most recent group photo was taken January 15, 2026, after Gilbert's ordination.
Why is Clark G. Gilbert not in the seniority table rank 12?
Clark G. Gilbert was called February 12, 2026, and while he is the 12th member of the Quorum, Patrick Kearon (called December 2023) and Gerald Kauffman (called April 2024) have longer tenure. Gilbert's seniority rank is actually 14th overall among current living apostles, placing him after Soares in Quorum order but he fills the 12th Quorum slot.