Former Utah Supreme Court Justice named Latter-day Saints president

The Latter-day Saints religious organization announced Tuesday that former Utah Supreme Court Justice Dallin H. Oaks will serve as the group’s next president. Oaks, 93, received the appointment weeks after former LDS President Russell Nelson died at age 101.

Oaks is now dubbed “prophet” by the LDS community and, in the words of the group, was chosen through a divinely inspired process. In a Tuesday address, Oaks said he accepted the appointment with humility and divine responsibility. Mormons haven’t yet received the answers to all earthly problems, but are called to love all children of God, he said.

What do we know about Oaks? He served as president of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah for about a decade before joining the Utah Supreme Court in 1980. He served four years on the court, then became an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Mormons’ second-highest governing body

Were any other leaders elected? Oaks tapped active LDS leaders Henry B. Eyring and Todd Christofferson to serve as his first and second counselors. The organization’s leaders also appointed Jeffrey R. Holland to lead the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles under Oaks.

Dig deeper: Read Seth Troutt’s WORLD Opinions piece about how Christians should respond to a recent tragedy at a Mormon congregation.