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When I was a freshman at BYU in 1985, I bought a new book called, “The Acts of the Modern Apostles.”
One of its best features is in the back, where there is a data-rich list of each of what then was the 87 apostles in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Better yet, the publisher left empty spaces for the next 20 apostles. Since then, 17 apostles have been called, and I have added their names to my book in my own scribbled penmanship.
I noticed something Wednesday as I was adding more data under many of those apostles. I had always overlooked a category called “Prophet(s) during apostleship.”
Only one at the time of publication, Elder Mark E. Petersen, had served as an apostle for six different church presidents. I suspected others had reached that number since the book went to press, so I started to update the information by hand.
I found that eight other apostles have now joined Elder Petersen.
But there was a twist. How should apostles who became prophets themselves be counted?
It turns out that four apostles who had served in six prophetic administrations like Elder Petersen then became the prophet themselves.
One of them, President Thomas S. Monson, served with seven prophets before he became the church president himself during his 54-year apostolic ministry.
The church’s leader today, President Dallin H. Oaks, is in the 42nd year of his lifetime calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He has served through the presidencies of Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, Russell M. Nelson and now his own.
Here’s the full list of those who have served as apostles across six or more presidencies:
| Apostle | Prophets during apostleship |
|---|---|
| President Thomas S. Monson | 8 (David O. McKay, Smith, Lee, Kimball, Benson, Hunter, Hinckley, Monson) |
| President Dallin H. Oaks | 7 (Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, Russell M. Nelson, Oaks) |
| President Boyd K. Packer | 7 (Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Kimball, Benson, Hunter, Hinckley, Monson) |
| President Gordon B. Hinckley | 7 (McKay, Smith, Lee, Kimball, Benson, Hunter, Hinckley) |
| President Ezra Taft Benson | 7 (Heber J. Grant, George A. Smith, McKay, Smith, Lee, Kimball, Benson) |
| Elder Mark E. Petersen | 6 (Grant, G.A. Smith, McKay, Smith, Lee, Kimball) |
| President Spencer W. Kimball | 6 (Grant, G.A. Smith, McKay, Smith, Lee, Kimball) |
| President Russell M. Nelson | 6 (Kimball, Benson, Hunter, Hinckley, Monson, Nelson) |
| President M. Russell Ballard | 6 (Kimball, Benson, Hunter, Hinckley, Monson, Nelson) |
Several other apostles served through five presidencies.
The list includes five church presidents — Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and Howard W. Hunter.
Others who served through five presidencies are Brigham Young Jr., Delbert L. Stapley, Marion G. Romney and Jeffrey R. Holland.
My recent stories
- Astrid Tuminez to step down as UVU president after a year of grief (Jan. 14)
- BYU president asks students to emulate Presidents Oaks, Holland and Kalani Sitake (Jan. 13)
- Tom Holmoe has been called as a mission president. Here’s where he’ll serve (Jan. 9)
- Man killed outside Latter-day Saint church had embraced faith and nonviolence, community leader says (Jan. 8)
About the church
- President Oaks dedicated the Burley Idaho Temple on Sunday.
- In a must-read interview with Deseret News editor Sarah Jane Weaver, he talked about his experience with the heavy, continuous and holy mantle of prophet. He confirmed that future temple announcements will be made in the place where the temple will be built. He also talked about the reason for the missionary age change for women.
- A shooting outside a funeral at a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in Salt Lake City left two dead. One was a father of 12 who has a son serving a mission. The other victim was using his faith in the gospel to seek nonviolence and redemption.
- The First Presidency released the exact locations for the Spanish Fork Utah Temple.
- The leaders also released the locations of the Huehuetenango Guatemala Temple and the Beira Mozambique Temple as well as the open house and dedication dates for the Yorba Linda California Temple. Read about those here.
- Don’t miss the announcement of all the new mission presidents.
What I’m reading
- Our Brigham Tomco wrote about the mysterious Latter-day Saint youth vote.
- Young adults are joining institute in record numbers as Latter-day Saint program hits 100 year. Here’s why.
- I love watching this YouTube account that visualizes sports through data. This one shows what America watched on TV in 2025. Hint: It’s dominated by American football.
Behind the scenes
