The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has ordained longtime church elder Dallin H. Oaks as its new president.

Oaks has a formidable legacy to live up to, succeeding influential leader Russell M. Nelson , who died Sept. 27 at the age of 101 after seven years as church president.

"I accept with humility the responsibility that God has placed upon me and commit my whole heart and soul to the service to which I’ve been called," Oaks said at a live press briefing from the church's conference center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Oaks now becomes the 18th leader of the LDC Church, which according to its website has 6.9 million members in the United States and 17.5 million members worldwide .

Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court justice, served as one of two counselors in Nelson's Firs

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