Dallin H. Oaks was born in Provo, Utah, in 1932 and is an American attorney, jurist, author, and religious leader. After graduating from BYU and the University of Chicago Law School, he clerked for the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, practiced law, and taught at the University of Chicago. He later served as president of Brigham Young University (1971–1980) and a justice on the Utah Supreme Court (1980–1984). In 1984, he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in 2018, he was sustained as the First Counselor in the First Presidency.
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Early life and education:Born in Provo, Utah, in 1932, he was named Dallin to honor artist Cyrus Dallin. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1954 and the University of Chicago Law School in 1957.
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Legal and academic career:He worked as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren and then practiced law in Chicago. From 1961 to 1970, he taught law at the University of Chicago Law School.
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Leadership roles:Oaks served as the president of Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1980. He then became a justice on the Utah Supreme Court from 1980 to 1984.
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Service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:He was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. In 2018, he was sustained as the First Counselor in the First Presidency.
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Family:His first wife, June Dixon Oaks, passed away in 1998, and they had six children. He married Kristen M. McMain in 2000.
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