Direct answer: The LDS Church, officially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, calls a group known as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as its core body of governing apostles. These men are ordained apostles who serve as senior leaders and, together with the First Presidency, help guide church doctrine, administration, and missionary work. The current organization and roles of apostles are publicly described by church leadership materials and historical records, showing that the Quorum operates alongside the First Presidency in church governance, with members often serving as senior advisers and special witnesses of Jesus Christ. Context on key concepts
- Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: A standing council of senior apostles in the LDS Church. They are considered prophets, seers, and revelators in counsel with the church presidency and play a central role in church governance and worldwide outreach. The quorum has existed since the church’s early 1830s history and continues as a principal authority structure today.
- Apostles in LDS practice: Apostles are chosen and ordained by current church leaders, typically by the President of the Church, and they hold priesthood authority and responsibility to lead, teach, and testify of Jesus Christ. They are distinct from general authorities and from local lay leadership, serving in a global, church-wide capacity.
- Relationship to First Presidency: The Quorum works in close coordination with the First Presidency; when a church president passes away, a new quorum and presidency emerge, and members may rotate in and out of the First Presidency. This structure is described in church materials and historical summaries.
- Notable recent developments: The composition of the Quorum can change with new callings or retirements, and new apostles are announced by church leadership. Up-to-date announcements are published by the church newsroom and official sites.
If you’d like, I can pull the latest official roster of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and provide brief bios for each current member, along with dates of their ordination and major responsibilities.
