Longtime apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, who died early Saturday, was known as a poet, philosopher and preacher in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Here are some reactions to his death at after 85:
“Struggling for the words this morning at the loss of this great man. No church leader has had a more profound impact on my faith than Elder Holland. Like millions of others mourning today, his words had a way of penetrating my soul like no others. In times of trial or darkness, I would return to them over and over again and feel the light and peace I needed. He tended the flock with devoted attention, but never hesitated to leave the ninety-and-nine in search of the one. Sometimes I was the one.”
— Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, on social media.
[Read more about Jeffrey Holland’s life of love, faith, family and service.]
“For decades, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has felt like our apostle here in Southern Utah, someone whose voice and testimony were shaped by his stories of growing up in Washington County. I was fortunate to have a few interactions with him over the years, and those moments left a lasting mark on my life and faith.”
— Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, on social media.
“He was a very bighearted person, which certainly showed in his language. He was the most scholarly general authority we had, earning his degree from Yale — that’s top-level academic work. Once I was walking with him, going to an event where his son was going to speak, and we were a little late. Then some young woman called out to him, and, instead of ignoring her, he stopped, asked her what she was studying, and chatted for a few minutes. Then we were really late, but he chose to be kind to that girl rather than brushing by her. That’s always stayed with me.”
— Historian Richard Bushman, premier biographer of church founder Joseph Smith.
“On a personal note, his kindness, friendship, and mentorship were life-changing for me. I will always treasure the moments I spent with him.”
— BYU President C. Shane Reese, on social media.
“I met Elder Holland in 2009 on my LDS mission in Australia. We shook hands briefly but he also met hundreds of missionaries that day. I figured there is no way he remembered me. Fast forward to 2013, when I broke my wrist playing for @Utah_Football. I received a random, handwritten letter from him a few days later. He wished me a speedy recovery and cracked jokes about how the Utes need to take it easy on his Cougars. A small gesture of kindness by him but it was something that lifted my spirits and motivated me deeply.”
— Jake Murphy, on social media.
“His powerful testimony, deep compassion, and tireless service blessed countless lives in Southern Utah, at BYU, throughout the United States, and around the world.”
— Sen. Mike Lee. R-Utah, on social media.
“It’s fitting that this happened at a time when we celebrate the Savior’s birth. No one’s words have brought me closer to Christ than Elder Holland’s.”
— Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, on social media.
“When I was called as a bishop, his counsel changed my life:
‘Decide how many hours you’ll give to your calling — then go home and be a great dad and husband.’ He taught me that you can serve the Lord with power without ever sacrificing your highest calling.”
— Travis Hansen, on social media.
“There was no one like Elder Holland. He combined a fierce defense of his faith with a genuinely compassionate approach to ordinary people and the complexities of life. He was the 21st-century church’s best orator while always having his feet firmly on the ground of real-life experience. The church will move on without him, but no one will be able to replace his combination of zeal, intelligence, humor, empathy and relatability.”
— Patrick Mason, chair of Mormon history and culture at Utah State University.
“I won’t try to find all the words to describe the remarkable influence of Jeffrey R. Holland on my life, but three of the many things I’m thinking of this morning:
We can always learn and study more — learning is an unequivocal good. The world, people, history — the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s all important.
We always need more jokes and more laughter. Joy matters.
And we can always rely on Jesus as our ‘High Priest of Good Things to Come.’”
— Janiece Johnson, historian of American religion.
“I used to lead the menswear division of the downtown Meier & Frank. Leading into [General Conference] weekend, we misplaced a new suit that ‘Dr. Holland’ had purchased for the occasion. On that Friday, after what he referred to as ‘Herculean efforts,’ we found his suit in a pile of alterations. I ran over to the [Church Administration Building] and, as he pulls me into his office, he turns to Randi [his secretary] and with a wink and a smile remarks, ‘Excuse us, Randi. Boys’ business in here.’ He then proceeds to change into the suit so I can mark it up for alterations and, while in the process of changing, glances out his big bay window overlooking the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and comments, ‘I wonder how many people are watching me undress right now?’”
— Marino Martin, on social media.
“Few other LDS leaders, Joseph Smith surely first among them, have interpreted scripture with more intelligence, heart and humanity than this man brought to the sacred word. I will dearly miss his sermons.”
— Rosalynde Frandson Welch, research fellow and associate director at BYU’s Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship.
“In my freshman year at BYU in 1988, President Holland was my assigned Book of Mormon 101 instructor…[T]he very choice to be listed as a teacher for freshmen revealed his character. He cared about each person as an individual and wanted us to thrive.…As you surely know, Elder Holland quoted C.S. Lewis often and in great depth.…Holland also quoted many other Christian and Jewish thinkers. In fact, he could be credited with opening our somewhat insular community to the wisdom and counsel of others who worship the Almighty God. He helped us see that other religions did not threaten our faith, but helped us to build upon it.”
– Michelle Lehnardt, in a substack essay.
“His capacity to use language elevated gospel principles and gave them new life, while reminding us always that noble words and high ideals must be accompanied by action and sacrifice.
As president of BYU, he led with joy and invited students to conceptualize a life in which they could balance professional and scholarly excellence with faith and gospel learning. During his tenure, he and his wife, Patricia, offered a visible example of a loving and equal partnership, and their spiritual, relational and intellectual leadership had a profound and lasting impact on students. …By regularly calling on the saints to remember those who struggle and are in need, he invited us to open our eyes to the pain experienced by others, encouraging us to act on their behalf.”
— Mormon Women for Ethical Government, on its website.