The Life of Jeffrey R. Holland

Jeffrey R. Holland is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On November 16, the First Presidency announced that Elder Holland had been called to serve as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and was set apart by Church President Russell M. Nelson on November 15, 2023.

Elder Holland was born on December 3, 1940, and grew up in St. George, Utah. As a boy he enjoyed sports (especially baseball) and played on every kind of team he could. He attended Dixie High School where he was on the state championship football and basketball teams and lettered in football, basketball, track, and baseball. Patricia Terry, who later became his wife, was a cheerleader there. They dated for two years before Elder Holland was called on a mission to England. While on his mission, Elder Holland realized that he wanted to pursue a profession in teaching. His parents were called on a mission to England at the same time he was serving there. His mother noted that he claimed to be the only missionary who ever said farewell to his parents at both ends of his mission.

Elder Holland returned home from his mission and married Patricia in the St. George Temple on June 7, 1963. Elder Holland graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University in 1965 and was given the opportunity to teach part-time at BYU while he worked on his master’s degree. In 1966 he completed his graduate work in religious education and was hired as an institute teacher by the Church Educational System.

In 1970, Elder Holland was accepted to a doctoral degree program at Yale. He was also called to be in the stake presidency. By this time the Hollands’ had two children, Matthew and Mary Alice. David Frank followed soon after in 1973.

In 1974 Jeffrey R. Holland was called as dean of Religious Education at BYU. This was followed by an appointment as commissioner of education for the Church, and then in 1980 he was called to be President of Brigham Young University. While president, he directed a number of projects and helped in the building of the BYU Jerusalem Center.

To read more about him: MormonWiki