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W. Christopher Waddell has been appointed as the new Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to an announcement from the First Presidency. L. Todd Budge will serve as First Counselor and Sean Douglas as Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.
This change follows Elder Gérald Caussé’s call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on November 6, 2025, after serving more than a decade as Presiding Bishop. Both Bishop Waddell and Bishop Budge previously served as counselors to Elder Caussé.
The Presiding Bishopric operates under the direction of the First Presidency and oversees responsibilities such as humanitarian aid, welfare programs, tithing and fast offerings, physical facilities, and membership records management. They also travel globally to minister to members.
Bishop Waddell was first called to the Presiding Bishopric in 2016. Reflecting on his role, he said, “If we do everything thinking ultimately of exalting God’s children, whether we are starting from a temporal standpoint or an ecclesiastical standpoint, it still all goes to the same place in the end. That’s what we are building towards.”
He has highlighted environmental sustainability among Church priorities and spoke about water conservation efforts related to the Great Salt Lake in 2023: “We should acknowledge God’s hands in providing us this blessing [of water] and that our work is not done yet,” said Bishop Waddell. “We must continue with all diligence if we are to make the difference that is needed. May the Lord grant us all the faith and perseverance to be wise stewards of our water, our land, and the resources that flow through them.”
In his October 2023 general conference address, he stated: “No leader has ever shown more courage, no humanitarian has shown more kindness, no physician has cured more disease, and no artist has been more creative than Jesus Christ. In a world of heroes, with monuments and museums devoted to the exploits of mortal men and women, there is One who stands above all others.”
Bishop Waddell was born in Los Angeles in 1959 and holds a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. His professional background includes several roles at Merrill Lynch.
L. Todd Budge became a General Authority Seventy in 2019 before being called as a counselor in 2020. He explained during a general conference address: “Among many other things, the Presiding Bishopric oversees the welfare and humanitarian work of the Church,” he said. “This work now spans the entire globe and blesses more of God’s children than ever before.”
In 2022, Bishop Budge presented a $32 million donation from the Church to the World Food Programme for hunger relief efforts worldwide. He remarked: “We are so grateful to collaborate with the World Food Programme because we know they will get food to those who need it most,” adding thanks for contributions from members and friends: “Such giving makes God’s children a little happier and all of us a little holier.”
Budge was born in Pittsburg, California; he graduated from Brigham Young University with an economics degree and held executive positions at Tokyo Star Bank Limited.
Sean Douglas joined as a General Authority Seventy in 2021 and most recently served as President of the Mexico Area prior to this appointment. Speaking at a religious freedom congress in León on August 28, 2025, he said: “Religious freedom dignifies the human being and, when respected and protected, becomes a powerful tool for building peace.” He continued by emphasizing cooperation among faiths for those most vulnerable.
Douglas earned an accounting degree from University of Utah before working at Price Waterhouse and later Huntsman Corporation where he held various executive roles.
In his sermons Douglas has emphasized faith amid challenges: “Our belief and obedience link us to power beyond our own to overcome ‘[whatever] is happening — or not happening — in our lives,’” quoting President Russell M. Nelson.
The new leadership team continues longstanding responsibilities overseeing global operations related to humanitarian aid programs while also highlighting themes such as environmental stewardship and interfaith collaboration.
