He was the youngest Apostle by years at that time,and the first one younger than Thomas S. Monson who had been ordained over twenty years before.Since the senior living Apostle becomes President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,this has led to speculation that Oaks may one day lead the Church,but at present this would be far in the future.In 2002 he was sent to personally preside over the Church in the Philippines,normally the task of a member of the Quorums of the Seventy,a lesser rank of Church General Authority.At the same time Jeffrey R. Holland,who had followed Oaks as BYU president and later become the youngest Apostle,was sent to lead the Church in Chile.
At 71 Oaks would be retired from most forms of organized activity,but the LDS Church being organized the way it is,if he survives his time of greatest prominence lies years in the future.