Current 15 Latter-day Saint apostles are sixth-longest tenured

In the five-plus years President Russell M. Nelson has led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the presiding council — the Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — has been one of familiarity and consistency.

In fact, the 15 apostles who comprise that council have combined for one of its longest serving in nearly 200 years of Church history.

A number of previous First Presidencies have served for longer periods than the tenure so far of President Nelson and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring. Those include presidencies of President Nelson’s predecessors, President Thomas S. Monson and President Gordon B. Hinckley.

The difference now is the longevity of service of the currently constituted Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Read more about the blessings of age in Church leadership here. Read more about the current four nonagenarian apostles here.

When Presidents Nelson, Oaks and Eyring were sustained and set apart in their current calls on Jan. 14, 2018, the quorum had two vacancies following the Jan. 2, 2018, death of President Monson and the October 2017 death of Elder Robert D. Hales.

Those vacancies were filled in April 2018 general conference with the sustaining of Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares as new apostles and quorum members — March 31, 2018, to be exact.

In addition to their assignments in Church and area oversight and participation in conferences, devotionals and instruction worldwide, the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have been increasingly involved by President Nelson in joining him on ministries across the globe and presiding at most temple dedications and rededications.

As a testament to the sustained health and long life of the 15 apostles, the council has remained the same since April 2018 general conference — or more than five full years. On June 1, 2023, the current members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will have served together for 1,889 days — or five years, two months and two days.

That’s the sixth-longest time for a quorum to serve together since 1835, when the first calls to the latter-day apostleship were made and the quorum was formed. In the nearly 190 years since, more than 100 have been called as Apostles in that time, with the quorum’s membership being reconstituted many times over.

Following is a list of the current members of the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The official portrait of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: President Russell M. Nelson, seated; President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, left; and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor, right.