CEDAR CITY — Due to health issues, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland will not be speaking at Southern Utah University’s commencement later this month.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday that Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has recently started dialysis for a kidney condition.
“Consequently, the First Presidency has excused him from all Church assignments and meetings for at least two months to allow his medical treatments and recovery to take full effect,” the church said in a statement, which also was shared via its social media accounts.
Holland also did not speak during the faith’s general conference last weekend (April 1-2), as he and his wife Patricia had reportedly both tested positive for COVID-19.
“Elder and Sister Holland note that they are very grateful for all the prayers and outpouring of support offered in their behalf at this time,” the church’s statement added.
The announcement also means that Holland will not be appearing at SUU’s Class of 2023 commencement program, scheduled for April 28.
“In light of the church’s recent announcement regarding Dr. Jeffrey R. Holland’s health conditions, he has been excused from all assignments for at least two months, which means he will no longer be attending or speaking at SUU’s commencement ceremony,” Nikki Koontz, SUU assistant vice president of marketing communication, told Cedar City News on Thursday afternoon.
As previously reported, the university’s invitation to have Holland deliver the keynote commencement address attracted both criticism and praise, much of it centered on Holland’s leadership role in the church and previous statements he’d made regarding those in the LGBTQ+ community.
On March 20, SUU President Mindy Benson and two members of the SUU Board of Trustees listened to dozens of students, staff members and other commenters sound off about the issue during an open forum “listening session” held in the student center ballroom. Hundreds of people attended the event, which lasted 8 1/2 hours. Most of those who commented during the forum said they were against having Holland speak at the commencement.
Then, on March 30, in a campus-wide message emailed to students and staff, an excerpt of which was posted on SUU’s social media accounts, the university expressed its appreciation to those who had voiced their opinions on the issue but said it would be standing behind its invitation to have Holland speak.
That statement, which was made before Holland’s health concerns became publicized, also noted that the scheduled commencement program would also “include remarks from our community, including honorary degree recipient Joan Woodbury, our student speaker, and national alumni council president.”
As of early Friday morning, there had not yet been any official word from the university regarding a replacement keynote speaker. However, shortly after 10 a.m., SUU posted a statement saying that two additional student speakers will be giving speeches at commencement, instead of the usual one. All three individuals had previously been chosen as top finalists by a selection committee, the statement said.
The three student commencement speakers, all of whom will be receiving degrees, are as follows:
- Aspen English, a communication and English double major and College of Humanities and Social Sciences valedictorian.
- Kalli Ostermiller, a political science major.
- Sarah J. Penner, a psychology major with a double minor in German and theatre arts.
“We can’t wait to celebrate our graduates at Commencement three weeks from today,” the statement added.
Updated April 7, 11 a.m. to include new information about commencement speakers.
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