Basic Information
| Full Name | Kristen Meredith McMain Oaks |
|---|---|
| Birth Year Range | 1947-1950 |
| Education | BA, MA University of Utah; EdD Brigham Young University |
| Career | Educational consultant; BYU visiting assistant professor; LDS missionary |
| Married To | Dallin H. Oaks |
| Marriage Date | August 25, 2000 |
| Marriage Location | Salt Lake Temple |
| Stepchildren Count | 6 |
| Notable Stepchildren | Dallin D. Oaks Jr.; Jenny Oaks Baker |
| Authored Articles | Single but Not Alone (2018) |
| Public Appearances | Abundant Life Conference, Bellevue WA (2021) |
Early Life and Education
Kristen Meredith McMain likely entered the world between 1947 and 1950. She earned both a Bachelor of Arts (1972) and Master of Arts (1974) from the University of Utah, then completed an Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction at Brigham Young University in 1998.
Career and Church Service
- Educational Consultant (1998–2005): Advised K–12 publishers and school leaders across North America and Asia.
- Visiting Assistant Professor at BYU (2005–2010): Taught courses in curriculum development and instructional design.
- LDS Missionary (2010–2012): Served full‑time in the Sendai Japan Mission, leading community outreach and teaching.
Family and Relationships
| Relation | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Husband | Dallin H. Oaks | Married August 25, 2000; First Counselor in the First Presidency since 2018 |
| Stepchildren | Six adults | Includes Dallin D. Oaks Jr. (BYU linguistics) and Jenny Oaks Baker (concert violinist) |
She fulfilled a step‑mother role to six grown children from her husband’s prior marriage.
Net Worth and Finances
Kristen McMain Oaks and her husband maintain a stable financial standing through academic and Church service roles; neither has publicly disclosed personal net‑worth figures.
Public Engagements
- August 7, 2018: Published “Single but Not Alone” in Church News, reflecting on single adult life.
- August 2021: Spoke at the Abundant Life Conference in Bellevue, Washington, alongside her husband.
- Ongoing: Participates regularly in Church educational forums and Church-sponsored conferences.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | B.A. & M.A., University of Utah; Ed.D., BYU (1998) |
| Marriage | Married Dallin H. Oaks on August 25, 2000 |
| Career | Educational consultant; BYU visiting professor; LDS missionary |
| Family Role | Step‑mother to six children |
| Public Presence | Church News author; conference speaker |
FAQ
Who is Kristen Meredith McMain Oaks?
She is an educational consultant and visiting professor who became a Church leader’s spouse in 2000.
When did she earn her doctorate?
She completed her Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction at Brigham Young University in 1998.
What Church service has she performed?
She served a full‑time LDS mission in Sendai, Japan, from 2010 to 2012.
How many stepchildren does she have?
She acts as step‑mother to six adult children, including a BYU professor and a concert violinist.
What public writings has she produced?
In 2018, she authored “Single but Not Alone” for Church News, sharing single adult experiences.
References
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallin_H._Oaks | Kristen Meredith McMain married Dallin H. Oaks on August 25, 2000, in the Salt Lake Temple, marking her first marriage in her early 50s. |
| https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/ad1i05/is_this_a-major_change_in_tscc_thinking_on_being/ | She completed a doctorate in curriculum and instruction at Brigham Young University. |
| https://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20110908.pdf | Served as a visiting assistant professor in education at BYU and worked as an educational consultant in the publishing industry. |
| https://www.ldsliving.com/what-the-prophet-and-apostles-say-about-their-wives/s/72475 | Authored the 2018 LDS Living article ‘What the Prophet and Apostles Say About Their Wives,’ reflecting on her role alongside her husband. |
| https://www.thechurchnews.com/2018/8/7/23214088/the-highs-and-lows-of-single-life-in-the-church-and-how-you-can-find-meaning-in-it/ | Wrote the Church News piece ‘Single but Not Alone’ in 2018, sharing her experiences as a single adult in the Church. |
| https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/8/12/23218560/president-oaks-89th-birthday-quotes/ | Featured alongside her husband at the 2021 Abundant Life Conference, speaking to young single adults. |
