ST. GEORGE — Latter-day Saint apostle Elder Jeffery R. Holland has been released from a multi-week hospital stay and is recovering at home, according to a Monday news release issued by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“After an extended hospital stay, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is now recuperating at home,” the church’s statement reads. “Elder Holland and his children are very grateful for the many prayers offered on his behalf during this health challenge and time of sorrow following the passing of Sister Holland. As his health improves, he looks forward to resuming active service in his ministry.”
Holland, 82, went to a hospital for care in early August due to ongoing health complications, according to LDS church officials.
Patricia Holland, Elder Holland’s wife, died at the age of 81 in July following a brief hospital stay. The couple had previously been excused from church assignments in April due to health issues related to contracted COVID-19.
Holland had also recently started dialysis treatment for a kidney condition, church officials said at the time.
The circumstances resulted in Holland having to step away from being the commencement speaker for Southern Utah University’s 2023 graduation ceremony and staying home for the church’s biannual General Conference where he and other top church leaders are regular speakers.
If not for his health and the prolonged hospital stay, Holland may have been present at the St. George Utah Temple’s media day last week. Instead, his son, Elder Matthew S., Holland, a General Authority Seventy of the church, attended in his place.
Matthew Holland shared that his father wished he could have been at the event and repeated thanks for the love and concern from friends and members of the church expressed for his health and the recent death of his wife.
Holland’s son expressed that the St. George Temple is important to his father and their family overall as they grew up in St. George and it is where Holland and his wife were married.
It remains to be seen if Holland will be able to attend the next LDS General Conference which is set for the end of September.
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