Oaks Sustained as Church President at Saturday’s General Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

Dallin H. Oaks has led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as its 18th president since mid-October, but Saturday’s General Conference in Salt Lake City was the first occasion for members to formally endorse the 93-year-old in that role. Members gathered in the Conference Center or watched the livestreamed proceedings around the world.

In a ritual the church calls a solemn assembly, members offered a “sustaining vote” for Oaks and his two counselors in the First Presidency, Henry B. Eyring and D. Todd Christofferson. Oaks said in his opening remarks that leaders and members would vote “by quorums and groups,” and that the church does this only at the first conference after a new president and prophet has been called.

D. Todd Christofferson conducted the assembly. It began with the First Presidency and moved to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, other general authorities, adult male priesthood members, adult women of the Relief Society, Young Men and Young Women, and finally the entire membership. Oaks thanked members for their participation, saying he appreciated “our members’ sustaining vote, prayers and support.”

Oaks succeeded Russell M. Nelson as president after Nelson died in late September at age 101, about a week before the fall General Conference. Oaks had presided over those sessions as the senior apostle but not as church president.

Other changes were also sustained. Dieter F. Uchtdorf was sustained as acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The 85-year-old German stands second in line to lead the church, behind the 92-year-old Eyring. Clark G. Gilbert delivered his first conference sermon as a recently named apostle on Saturday morning, and Gérald Caussé did the same in the afternoon session.

The conference includes four sessions over two days. In one afternoon address, apostle Ulisses Soares spoke of Christ as the “true vine,” which he described as “the essential source of spiritual nourishment for our souls.” Honoring those who lead, as members did in the solemn assembly, reflects a steady commitment to faithful remembrance (Hebrews 13:7).

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