Russell M. Nelson
Russell M. Nelson | |
---|---|
17thPresidentofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
January 14, 2018 | |
Predecessor | Thomas S. Monson |
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
July 3, 2015[1][2]– January 14, 2018 | |
Predecessor | Boyd K. Packer |
Successor | Dallin H. Oaks |
End reason | Became President of the Church |
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
April 7, 1984 | – January 14, 2018|
Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
End reason | Became President of the Church |
LDS ChurchApostle | |
April 12, 1984 | — present|
Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
Reason | Death ofLeGrand Richards[3] |
Military career | |
1951–1953 | |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | Army Medical Corps |
Battles/wars | Korean War |
Personal details | |
Born | Russell Marion Nelson September 9, 1924 Salt Lake City,Utah,U.S. |
Education | |
Occupation | Cardiothoracicsurgeon |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 10 (2 deceased) |
Signature | |
Russell Marion Nelson Sr.(born September 9, 1924) is an American religious leader and retired surgeon who is the17thand currentpresidentofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(LDS Church).[4]Nelson was a member of the LDS Church'sQuorum of the Twelve Apostlesfor nearly 34 years, and was thequorum presidentfrom 2015 to 2018. As church president, Nelson is recognized by the church as aprophet, seer, and revelator.[5]
A native ofSalt Lake City, Utah,Nelson attended theUniversity of Utahfor his undergraduate and medical school education. He earned abachelor of artsin basic biological sciences with high honors in 1945, and adoctor of medicinedegree in 1947, at age 22.[6]He then did hismedical residencyand earned aPh.D.at theUniversity of Minnesota,where he was a member of the research team developing theheart-lung machinethat in 1951 supported the first humanopen-heart surgeryusingcardiopulmonary bypass.After further surgical training and a two-year service in theU.S. Army Medical Corpsduring theKorean War,Nelson returned to Salt Lake City and accepted a professorship at theUniversity of Utah School of Medicine.He spent the next 29 years working in the field ofcardiothoracic surgery.Nelson became a noted heart surgeon and served as president of theSociety for Vascular Surgeryand the Utah Medical Association.[7]
Nelson served in a variety of lay LDS Church leadership positions during his surgical career, beginning locally in Salt Lake City and then as the LDS Church'sSunday SchoolGeneral President from 1971 to 1979.[8]In 1984, Nelson and juristDallin H. Oakswere selected to fill two vacancies in the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. LDSapostlesserve full-time for life, and so Nelson retired from all of his prior professional positions.
Early life and education
[edit]Nelson was born on September 9, 1924, inSalt Lake City, Utah,to Floss Edna (néeAnderson; 1893–1983) and Marion Clavar Nelson (1897–1990).[9][10]He had two sisters, Marjory E. (1920–2016) and Enid (1926–2019), and a brother, Robert H. (1931–2014). Nelson's father was a reporter for theDeseret Newsand later became general manager of Gillham Advertising, Utah's earliestadvertising agency.[11][12]His parents were not active in the Latter-day Saint faith while he was a youth, but they did send him toSunday School,[13]and he was baptized a member of the LDS Church at age 16.[14]
Nelson studied atLDS Business Collegein his mid-teens (concurrently with high school enrollment) and worked as an assistant secretary at a bank.[15]He graduated from high school at age 16 and enrolled at the University of Utah,[16][17]where he was a member of the Beta Epsilon chapter ofSigma ChiandOwl and Key.He graduated in 1945 with aBachelor of ArtsandPhi Beta Kappamembership. He then attended theUniversity of Utah School of Medicine,graduating with aDoctor of Medicinedegree in 1947 ranked first in his class.[16]Nelson began his first year of medical school while still an undergraduate, and he completed the four-year M.D. program in only three years.[4][18]
After medical school, Nelson went to the University of Minnesota for hismedical residency.While at Minnesota, he was a member of surgeonClarence Dennis's pioneering research team developing theheart-lung machinethat in April 1951 supported the first human open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. Nelson received a Ph.D. from Minnesota in 1954 for his research contributions.[19][20][21]
Medical career
[edit]Nelson served a two-year term of duty in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War, and was stationed atWalter Reed Army Medical CenterinWashington, D.C.While on duty, he was assigned to a research group formed by the commandant of the graduate school at Walter Reed, Col. William S. Stone and led by Fiorindo A. Simeone, a professor of surgery atCase Western Reserve Universityin Cleveland who had been a clinical investigator in theMediterranean Theaterduring World War II. This team was focused on ways to improve the treatment of the wounded, and was sent to all fiveMASHunits active in Korea along with two major evacuation hospitals, several field station hospitals, a prisoner of war camp and larger evacuation hospitals in Japan, Hawaii, and the mainland United States in order to implement such improvements. At one point, the team came close enough to the front that they received fire from enemy artillery positions, which missed them. After 20 months in service, he left active duty at the rank ofcaptain.[22]Following his military service, he did a year of work and surgical training atMassachusetts General Hospital.[23]
In 1955, Nelson returned to Salt Lake City and accepted a faculty position at theUniversity of Utah School of Medicine.There he built his own heart-lung bypass machine and employed it to support the first open-heart surgery in the United States west of theMississippi River.[24][25]That operation was performed at the Salt Lake General Hospital (SLGH, nowUniversity of Utah Hospital) on an adult with anatrial septaldefect.[21]Nelson was the third surgeon in the United States to perform an open-heart operation successfully. Nelson was also the director of the University of Utah thoracic surgery residency program.[26]
In March 1956, he performed the first successful pediatric cardiac operation at the SLGH, a total repair oftetralogy of Fallotin a four-year-old girl.[25]He was at the forefront of surgeons focusing attention on coronary artery disease,[27]and contributed to the advance of valvular surgery as well. In 1960, he performed one of the first-ever repairs of tricuspid valve regurgitation.[23]His patient was a Latter-day Saintstake patriarch.[28]He also provided the first surgical intervention for tricuspid regurgitation, a disorder that allows blood to flow backward into the right upper heart chamber.[25]In an indication of his surgical skill, a 1968 case series of his aortic valve replacements demonstrated an exceptionally low peri-operative mortality.[29]Later, he performed the same operation on futureLDS Church presidentSpencer W. Kimball,replacing his damaged aortic valve.[30]In 1985, Nelson along with his colleague, Conrad B. Jenson, performed a quadruplebypass surgeryon the Chinese opera performerFang Rongxiang (1925–1989).[24]
Nelson first operated out of the University of Utah's medical school. He later had a practice at the Salt Lake Clinic with admission privileges atLDS Hospital.In 1964, he set up his own private practice with him as the lead and Conrad Jenson as an associate. In 1966, Nelson became head of the thoracic residency program that combined resources from the University of Utah Medical School, LDS Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital and the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City.[31]
In 1965, theUniversity of Chicagooffered Nelson the position as head of their department of thoracic surgery.Dallin H. Oaks,then a law professor at Chicago and a fellow Latter-day Saint, actively worked to recruit Nelson. However, after consulting withDavid O. McKay,Nelson turned down the offer.[32]
Nelson became involved with the administrative aspects of medicine and was elected president of the Utah State Medical Association.[4]He was chair of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at LDS Hospital.[33]
In 1981, Nelson held appointments as a visiting professor of surgery at the National Institute of Cardiology in Mexico City and the Catholic University in Santiago, Chile. In May 1982 he was a visiting professor at the Hospital de Clinicas in Montevideo, Uruguay.[34]
Nelson was honored nationally by being elected president of theSociety for Vascular Surgeryfor the year 1975.[35]He was also a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.[33]Nelson traveled extensively as a medical doctor and addressed conferences in many parts of Latin America and Africa, as well as in India and China.[36]He performed a total of nearly 7,000 operations before his call to be an apostle.[25]
In 2015, the University of Utah, along with theAmerican College of Cardiology,created the Russell M. Nelson MD, PhD Visiting Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery.[37]
LDS Church service
[edit]In addition to his medical work, Nelson served frequently as a leader in the LDS Church. In Minnesota, he served as what was then known as Sunday School Superintendent in his local congregation. In Washington DC, he was a counselor in thebishopricof the ward thatEzra Taft Benson(then an apostle) regularly attended while serving as Secretary of Agriculture toDwight D. Eisenhower.In Massachusetts, Nelson was the secretary for the adultAaronic priesthoodorganization in his Boston-area branch.[38]
After returning to Salt Lake City, he was called as priest quorum advisor in the Garden Park Ward, working with over 50 boys ages 16 to 18. He next served as member of the Bonneville Stake YMMIA superintendency (a position that is roughly equivalent to a modern counselor in the stake young men's presidency) and then as a counselor in the bishopric of the Garden Park Ward. He wasset apartas a counselor in the bishopric byJoseph Fielding Smith,whose son-in-law was the bishop. Nelson served in that bishopric for over five years at a time when the ward had over 1,000 members. He then moved to the Yale Second Ward, still in the Bonneville Stake, and was called as a member of thestakehigh council.[39][40]He later served as astake presidentin Salt Lake City from 1964 to 1971, with fellow future apostleJoseph B. Wirthlinserving as his second counselor. From 1955 to 1965, Nelson served as a missionary onTemple Squareevery Thursday afternoon for about two hours giving tours to visitors. The call to serve in this position had been extended to Nelson byRichard L. Evans,an apostle and the lead figure over publicity efforts on Temple Square.[41]
Nelson also served for eight years as the church's Sunday School General President. During his tenure the Sunday School developed a unified 8-year-cycle of covering the LDS Church's scriptures in its curriculum. There was also a shift from having members of the Sunday School general board do all the training for new teachers to providing materials which developed into the bookTeaching: No Greater Call.The hymn practice time in Sunday School was also renamed to worship through music.[40]
Nelson later served for four and a half years as aregional representative.For approximately half of this time, he was assigned to oversee the fourteen stakes at BYU, while he worked with the stakes inKearns, Utah,for the rest of his tenure.[40][4]
Apostle
[edit]Nelson was called as an apostle by church president Spencer W. Kimball, whom he had served as a personal physician for many years. Nelson was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 7, 1984, during the church'sgeneral conference.He was ordained an apostle on April 12, 1984, byGordon B. Hinckley.At the same conference, Dallin H. Oaks was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Nelson and Oaks filled the vacancies in the Quorum created by the deaths ofLeGrand RichardsandMark E. Petersen.[42]Early in his service as an apostle, Nelson was an adviser to the church'sYoung Womenorganization and was supportive of the developing of the Young Women values andPersonal Progressprogram.[43]
In 1991, Nelson served as the negotiator for the LDS Church with theInternal Revenue Serviceover whether contributions to supportmissionariesserving would be tax deductible. In 1992, it was identified he was on the Strengthening Church Members Committee, alongside fellow apostleJames E. Faust.[44]In 1993, he was the church's lead delegate to theParliament on World Religions.[45]For a time he was also the church's representative to a US State Department committee on international religious freedom.[46][47]
Nelson's assignments as an apostle have included supervisory responsibility for the LDS Church inAfrica.In 2009, he, along with his wife and others, were attacked while inMozambique.[48]He also made several other visits to that continent, including one to Kenya in 2011.[49]
From 2007 to 2015, Nelson was a member of theChurch Boards of Trustees/Education,the governing body of theChurch Educational System,and the chairman of its executive committee.[50]He was succeeded as chairman of the executive committee by Oaks.[51]
Following the death ofBoyd K. Packer[52]on July 3, 2015, Nelson became the most senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve and the quorum's president. Nelson wasset apartas the quorum president on July 15, 2015, by Thomas S. Monson.[53]
Nelson made his first international trip as quorum president to Central America from August 20–31, 2015.[54]The following month, Nelson dedicated the renovatedAaronic Priesthood Restoration Sitein Pennsylvania, where LDS Church members believe theAaronicandMelchizedekpriesthoodswere restored.[55]
In 2016, as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Nelson declared that the church's governing council had received a revelation from God requiring First Presidency approval before the baptism of minor children of same-sex couples.[56]"It was our privilege as apostles to sustain what had been revealed to President Monson," Nelson said.[57][58]Citing "continuing revelation" and a changing global context, this policy was adjusted in 2019, such that First Presidency approval was no longer required for the children to be baptized.[59][60]
Eastern Europe
[edit]After Monson's call to the First Presidency in 1985, Nelson was assigned as the apostle to oversee the work of the church in Eastern Europe. In this assignment, he worked closely with Dennis B. Neuenschwander and Hans B. Ringger.[61][62]Nelson was involved in the first meetings between LDS Church leaders and government officials ofBulgaria,[63]Romania, and the Soviet Union, and worked to continue LDS expansion and recognition efforts inCzechoslovakia,Hungary,andPoland.[64]
In August 2010, Nelson journeyed to the dedication of theKyiv Ukraine Temple.Afterwards, in September, he traveled to church meetings in several European countries. He pronounced blessings uponCroatia,Slovenia,Macedonia,Bosnia and Herzegovina,andKosovowhile visiting each of those countries; these serve as addendums to Monson's 1985 dedication ofYugoslaviafor the preaching of the gospel.[65]
Nelson's only son, Russell M. Nelson Jr., served as anLDS missionaryin Russia. In 2011, Nelson Sr. returned to Russia to organize the first churchstakein that country, headquartered in Moscow.[62]
Central Asia
[edit]In August 2003, Nelson became the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve to visitKazakhstan.[66]While there, Nelson visited government officials, was interviewed by Yuzhnaya Stalitsa television, and dedicated that country for the preaching of the gospel.[66]
China
[edit]When he was Sunday School General President, Nelson attended a meeting where Kimball urged those present to learn Chinese. Nelson took up this challenge and developed elementary proficiency inMandarin.[67]He developed ties with the medical community in China and made several trips there to train surgeons. In 1985, Nelson was the first person ever to be made an honorary professor ofShandong Medical College.[68]In 1995, Nelson went to Beijing, along withNeal A. Maxwelland other LDS Church leaders, on an official invitation ofLi Lanqing,the Vice Premier of China.[69]
President of the Church
[edit]With the death of Monson on January 2, 2018, Nelson became the anticipatedsuccessorto the church's presidency. Nelson signed 1,150missioncalls as the presiding apostle.[70]After being ordained and set apart as church president on January 14, 2018, Nelson was introduced to church members and the media two days later, along with Oaks as his First Counselor andHenry B. Eyringas Second Counselor.[71]Nelson chose not to retainDieter F. Uchtdorf,who had served as Monson's Second Counselor, in the newFirst Presidency.This marked the first time since 1985 that a new church president had not retained a previously-serving counselor.
On April 14, 2022, Nelson surpassedGordon B. Hinckleyto become the oldest president in the history of the church.[72]On August 8, 2022, Nelson became the church's oldest apostle ever, surpassingDavid B. Haight.[73]
Nelsonturned 100on September 9, 2024.[74]The LDS Church commemorated his birthday with a globally broadcast livestream showcasing his life and church service.[75]
Worldwide ministry
[edit]Since becoming church president, Nelson has visited members of the LDS Church in various areas of the world. Up through August 2019, he had visited sixteen countries, addressing thousands of members of the faith.[76]
The first trip, called a global ministry tour by the church, occurred in April 2018, when Nelson along with his wife, andJeffrey R. Hollandand his wife, met with Latter-day Saints inLondon,England;Jerusalem;Nairobi,Kenya;Harare,Zimbabwe;Bengaluru,India;Bangkok,Thailand;Hong Kong;andLaie, Hawaii.[77]
In June 2018, Nelson traveled toAlberta, Canada,where his second wife was born and raised, and gave three devotional addresses in three consecutive evenings.[78]
In September 2018, Nelson visited theDominican Republic,where he gave an entire talk in Spanish, which was believed to be the first time a church president had given an extended talk in a formal setting in a language other than English.[79]On the same trip, he visited Puerto Rico.[80][81]
On February 10, 2019, Nelson spoke to church members in Arizona atState Farm Stadiumin Glendale. In addition to the large crowd in attendance, the devotional was broadcast across the state.[82]
On March 9, 2019, Nelson met withPope Francisat the Vatican. The event marked the first time in history that a pope and an LDS Church president met face-to-face. The meeting took place the day before the church'sRome Italy Templewas dedicated.[83][84][85]
In August 2019, Nelson visited Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil.[86][87]
Organizational and policy changes
[edit]The first few months of Nelson's leadership of the LDS Church saw many significant changes to church policy, although many had at least been heavily discussed before he became church president, and some were continuations of policies instituted by his predecessors. Nelson began his presidency two days after his ordination with a short broadcast to church members in January 2018 before then holding a press conference. This broadcast ahead of the press conference was unprecedented and provided the new leaders an opportunity to briefly address the entire church immediately.[88]
In March 2018, the First Presidency issued a letter on preventing and responding to abuse. This letter reiterated existing policies, but also explicitly stated that no one should ever be counseled against reporting abuse to legal authorities. The guidance also had a clear emphasis on using counseling to assist in healing from abuse. It also provided more clear policies mandating all interviews with women and youth be done with another person in the general area, and made it clear that youth and women could have a parent or other adult present for an interview. It also adjusted previous policies forbidding adult males to teach classes of children or youth alone to apply to all adults.[89]
During the church's April general conference, Nelson appointed Asian-AmericanGerrit W. Gongand BrazilianUlisses Soaresto the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, both of whom had been serving in thePresidency of the Seventy.[90]
Nelson also introduced major changes in church organization during the April general conference. First, thehigh priestsgroups at thewardlevel were dissolved, making allMelchizedek priesthoodholders in wards and branches part of theeldersquorum.A stake's high priest quorum now consists of current members of stake presidencies, high councils, bishoprics and functioningpatriarchs.Next, Nelson ended home teaching and visiting teaching, replacing the programs with a focus onministering,and shifting both the focus and methods of tracking them. As part of this change, young women ages 14–18 may be assigned as ministering sisters, similar to the-long standing policies of young men ages 14–18 serving as home teachers.[91]
June 2018 began with a First Presidency-sponsored celebration of the 40th anniversary ofthe revelationextendingpriesthoodand temple blessings to all worthy members without regard to race, in which Nelson gave concluding remarks.[92]A few days before this, Nelson and his counselors met with the national leaders of theNAACP.[93]That same weekend Nelson gave a devotional to LDS youth in which he urged them to more fully commit to the church. He encouraged them to collectively choose a period of seven days in which to abstain from the use of social media.[94]On June 18, the First Presidency created committees assigned to form a unifiedhymnbookandchildren's songbookfor the worldwide church membership, with each language edition having the same hymns (and other songs) in the same order, and that these committees would be taking submissions and collecting surveys until July 2019. It is anticipated that the process of creating the new unified hymnbook and children's songbook will take several years.[95]
In August 2018, Nelson issued a statement urging the use of the church's full name.[96]At the church's general conference in October 2018, he reiterated his position, declaring, "It is a correction" and "It is the command of the Lord." Nelson told members, "To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan."[97][98][99]
In the October 2018 general conference, Nelson shortened the length of Sunday church meetings to 2 hours, from the previous standard of 3.[100]At the end of the month, Nelson toured five South American countries, during which he met with Peru's president,Martín Vizcarra,gave a major address in Peru in Spanish, and dedicated theConcepción Chile Temple.[101]
In December 2018, the church's First Presidency changed the process of youth class progression and priesthood ordination. Beginning in 2019, youth began moving between classes and priesthood quorums at the beginning of the year in which they turn 12, 14, or 16, rather than when their birthday occurs during the year.[102]
In April 2019, the church's First Presidency published a revelation reversing a controversial November 2015 policy that classified same-sex marriage couples as apostates and required parental and First Presidency approval before minor children of same-sex marriages could be baptized or receive baby blessings.[103]Nelson had previously characterized the 2015 policy as direction from God, stating "Each of us during that sacred moment felt a spiritual confirmation.... It was our privilege as apostles to sustain what had been revealed to President Monson."[104]Shortly after the change, Nelson said in a press release that the reversal was, "revelation upon revelation"[105]and intended to "help affected families" and "reduce the hate and contention so common today."[103]
On April 5, 2020, Nelson issued a new proclamation, "The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World".The proclamation coincided with the 200th anniversary ofJoseph Smith'sFirst Visionand is the sixth proclamation issued by the church in its history.[106][107]
Temples
[edit]Nelson's tenure as church president has been defined by an increased focus on worship in the church's temples. As of October 2024, Nelson has announced a total of 185 new temples to be built in many countries around the world.[108]His travels have been punctuated by several temple dedications, most notably theRome Italy Templein March 2019, which was attended by all current members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
In 2018, Nelson announced 19 new temples, seven in April and 12 in October, among which were the first inIndia,Nicaragua,Russia,andCambodia.During his April 2018 visit to India, Nelson explained to church members that the Lord had instructed him to announce the temple the night before general conference, though he had not originally planned to do so.[109]With the temple in Nicaragua, Nelson fulfilled an apostolic promise he had made to church members there six years earlier.[110]
In October 2018, Nelson concluded a 10-day trip to South America by dedicating theConcepcion Chile Temple.[111]Following the December 2018 dedication of theBarranquilla Colombia Templeby Dallin H. Oaks, Nelson presided over the three-day dedicatory services for the Rome Italy Temple from March 10 to 12, 2019.[112]Nelson took all the church's apostles with him to Rome for that dedication.[113]This was the first time all ordained apostles of the church had been gathered in one location outside the United States. While in Rome, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles took the first apostolic group photo in two decades.[114]
In April 2020, Nelson announced plans to build a temple inShanghai,China.Days later, the Shanghai Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau responded saying it "knew nothing about the American Mormon Church... building a so-called 'temple' in Shanghai."[115][116]The Bureau added that the church's plans were "wishful thinking, not based in reality."[115]
Marriages and children
[edit]While a student at the University of Utah, Nelson met and began dating fellow Utah student Dantzel White (1926–2005). They dated for three years, then married on August 31, 1945, in theSalt Lake Temple.[117]Together they had ten children: nine daughters—Marsha, Wendy (1951–2019),[118]Gloria, Brenda, Sylvia, Emily (1958–1995),[119]Laurie, Rosalie, and Marjorie—and a son, Russell Jr. (b. 1972).[120]Dantzel White was a native ofPerry, Utah,and first met Nelson when they were the co-leads in a musical produced at the University of Utah. During the 1950s, Dantzel was a member of the Tabernacle Choir.[121]
Dantzel Nelson died unexpectedly at their home in Salt Lake City on February 12, 2005, at age 78.[117]The following year, Nelson marriedWendy L. Watson(b. 1950) in the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 2006.[122]Watson, originally fromRaymond, Alberta,was a professor of marriage and family therapy at BYU prior to her retirement in 2006. Her marriage to Nelson is her first.[123]
Positions and awards
[edit]- President of the Thoracic Surgical Directors Association[33]
- President of theSociety for Vascular Surgery(1975)[4][35]
- President of the Utah State Medical Association[4]
- Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery[4]
- Chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for theAmerican Heart Association[4]
- Chairman of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at theLDS Hospital[4]
- Vice-chairman of the board of governors at the LDS Hospital[33]
- "Citation for International Service",American Heart Association[4]
- "Heart of Gold Award", American Heart Association[124]
- "Golden Plate Award",American Academy of Achievement[125][126]
- "Distinguished Alumni Award",University of Utah[127][128]
- "Surgical Alumnus of the Year Award",University of Minnesota Medical School[129]
- "Governor's Medal of Science: Lifetime Achievement Award", Utah Technology Innovation Summit[130]
- "Advocate of the Arts" award presented by theInspirational Arts Association.[131]
- "2023 Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize",Morehouse College[132]
In June 2018, the University of Utah endowed a chair in cardiothoracic surgery named after Nelson and his first wife, Dantzel.[133]
Honorary degrees and titles
[edit]Date | School | Degree or Title |
---|---|---|
1970 | Brigham Young University | Doctor of Science[134] |
1985 | Shandong Medical College | Honorary Professor[68] |
1989 | Utah State University | Doctor of Medical Science[134] |
1994 | Snow College | Doctor of Humane Letters[134] |
2021 | University of Utah | Doctor of Science[135][136] |
Selected works
[edit]- Books
- Nelson, Russell M. (1979),From Heart to Heart: An Autobiography,Nelson,OCLC6144971
- —— (1987),Motherhood,Deseret Book,ISBN978-0-87579-087-9,OCLC20469710
- —— (1988),The Power Within Us,Deseret Book,ISBN978-0-87579-154-8,OCLC18164244
- —— (1993),Lessons from Mother Eve: A Mother's Day Message,Deseret Book,ISBN978-0-87579-734-2,OCLC32969712
- —— (1995),The Gateway We Call Death,Deseret Book,ISBN978-0-87579-953-7,OCLC31901270
- —— (1998),The Magnificence of Man and Truth--and More,Deseret Book,ISBN978-0-87579-985-8,OCLC40197958
- —— (1998),Perfection Pending: And Other Favorite Discourses,Deseret Book,ISBN978-1-57345-405-6,OCLC39256877
- —— (2009), "Hope in Our Hearts",The Hastings Center Report,24(1), Deseret Book: 2–3,ISBN978-1-60641-201-5,OCLC426253825,PMID8045763
- —— (2010),Wise Men and Women Still Adore Him,Deseret Book,ISBN978-1-60641-835-2,OCLC672405152
- —— (2015),Accomplishing the Impossible: What God Does, What We Can Do,Deseret Book,ISBN978-1-62972-125-5,OCLC1629721255
- Speeches
- —— (1974),Four Lessons from One Life,BYU Speeches
- —— (1980),What's in a Name?,BYU Speeches
- —— (1984),Begin with the End in Mind,BYU Speeches
- —— (1985),Truth...and More,BYU Speeches
- —— (1986),I'll Go, I'll Do, I'll Be: Three Steps Toward a Monumental Life,BYU Speeches
- —— (1987),The Magnificence of Man,BYU Speeches
- —— (1988),Thanks for the Covenant,BYU Speeches
- —— (1990),Reflection and Resolution,BYU Speeches
- —— (1991),Standards of Standard-Bearers of the Lord,BYU Speeches
- —— (1992),Jesus the Christ—Our Advocate and More,BYU Speeches
- —— (1993),Integrity of Heart,BYU Speeches
- —— (1995),"A More Excellent Hope",BYU Speeches
- —— (1997),The Exodus Repeated,BYU Speeches
- —— (1998),Gratitude for the Mission and Ministry of Jesus Christ,BYU Speeches
- —— (2000),Identity, Priority, and Blessings,BYU Speeches
- —— (2002),Christ the Savior is Born,BYU Speeches
- —— (2005),Faith and Families,BYU Speeches
- —— (2008),Power and Protection Provided By Worthy Music,BYU Speeches
- —— (2009),"Neither Trust in the Arm of Flesh",BYU Speeches
- —— (2014),Disciples of Jesus Christ—Defenders of Marriage,BYU Speeches
- —— (2015),To Do and To Be,BYU Speeches
- —— (2019),The Love and Laws of God,BYU Speeches
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^With the death ofBoyd K. Packeron July 3, 2015, Nelson became the second most senior apostle among the ranks of the church, resulting in him being the de facto President of the Quorum. He was officially set apart in that capacity July 15, 2015.
- ^The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (July 15, 2015)."Russell M. Nelson: New President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles".newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^Taylor, Scott (December 22, 2023)."How Apostles are called — and a look back at the calls of the current 15 Apostles".Church News.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
- ^abcdefghij"Leader Biography: President Russell M. Nelson".newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org(Press release).LDS Church.
- ^See, e.g.,"The Sustaining of Church Officers",April 2015 General Conference.
- ^Mortensen, Matilyn."LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson donates medical papers to the U".At The U.RetrievedMarch 13,2024.
- ^Johnson, Alex (January 16, 2018)."Noted heart surgeon unlikely to transform Mormon church as new president".NBC News.RetrievedJanuary 24,2018.
- ^Hemingway, Heather (October 12, 2013). Cohen, Jeff (ed.)."Mormons Worldwide Tune in to Semiannual General Conference".blog.chron.Jack Sweeney.Houston Chronicle.Archived fromthe originalon September 11, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 11,2014.
Russell M. Nelson, an apostle and internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon...
- ^"Marion Clavar Nelson".Geni. January 11, 1897.
- ^"Edna Nelson".Geni. May 17, 1893.
- ^"What you didn't know about the fathers who raised the First Presidency".June 14, 2018. Archived fromthe originalon October 8, 2021.RetrievedOctober 8,2021.
- ^Jarrard, G. M.; Phillips, Ted R. (January 4, 2004)."Shifting Paradigms".Deseret News.RetrievedSeptember 24,2019.
- ^Williams, Carter (January 16, 2018)."How President Nelson's faith forged his path for service in the LDS Church".ksl.RetrievedJanuary 17,2018.
- ^Poffenbarger, Jenny."11 Things You Didn't Know about President Nelson".The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.RetrievedJanuary 17,2018.
- ^Church News,October 17, 2009.[full citation needed]
- ^ab"Elder Russell M. Nelson",churchofjesuschrist.org, accessed June 12, 2011.
- ^Da Silva, Chantal(January 4, 2018)."Meet the former heart surgeon set to become the Mormon church's new leader".Newsweek.RetrievedNovember 22,2020.
- ^Weaver, Sarah Jane (January 16, 2018)."Get to Know President Russell M. Nelson, a Renaissance Man - Church News and Events".Church News.RetrievedOctober 29,2019.
- ^Condie, Spencer J. (2003).Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle.Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. p. 105.ISBN1-57008-947-7.
- ^Dennis, Clarence; Spreng, Dwight; Nelson, George; Karlson, Karl; Nelson, Russell; Thomas, John; Eder, Walter Phillip; Varco, Richard (October 1951)."Development of a Pump-oxygenator to Replace the Heart and Lungs: An Apparatus Applicable to Human Patients and Application to One Case".Annals of Surgery.134(4): 709–721.doi:10.1097/00000658-195110000-00017.PMC1802968.PMID14878382.
- ^ab"Celebrating 60 Years of Cardiac Surgery in Utah With Russell M. Nelson, M.D."The University of Utah Health. October 19, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 17,2018.
- ^Johnson, Page; Stahle, Shaun (April 24, 2009)."My Home Base".Nursing Standard.12(23): 21.doi:10.7748/ns.12.23.21.s39.PMID9528539.RetrievedOctober 15,2019.
- ^abRobinson, Austin; Hunter, Curtis."Discovering a Surgical First: Russell M. Nelson and Tricuspid Valve Annuloplasty".BYU Studies Quarterly.54(1).
- ^abCondie, Spencer J. (2003).Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle.Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. p. 132.ISBN1-57008-947-7.
- ^abcd"At U. Commencement, President Nelson and Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell give advice about adversity".May 6, 2021.
- ^"U of U Health - Celebrating 60 Years of Cardiac Surgery in Utah With Russell M. Nelson, M.D."Utah.edu.RetrievedJanuary 22,2018.
- ^Nelson, Russell (1979).From Heart to Heart.Salt Lake City, Utah: Nelson. p. 318.
- ^Nelson, Russell."Sweet Power of Prayer".churchofjesuschrist.org.LDS Church.
- ^Nelson, RM; Jenson, CB; Jones, KW (October 1968)."Aortic valve replacement".The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.6(4): 343–50.doi:10.1016/s0003-4975(10)66034-1.PMC1984809.PMID5742671.
- ^Condie, Spencer J. (2003).Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle.Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. p. 155.ISBN1-57008-947-7.
- ^Condie.Russell M. NelsonChapter 12
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- ^abcdGardner, Marvin K. (June 1984)."Elder Russell M. Nelson: Applying Divine Laws".Ensign:9.RetrievedSeptember 11,2014.
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- ^ab"SVS Past Presidents | Society for Vascular Surgery".vascular.org.
- ^"Pamela Atkinson: President Nelson's work has been saving lives and souls".DeseretNews.January 17, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 22,2018.
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- ^"First Presidency statement cites scriptural mandate for Church committee".The Church News.August 22, 1992.RetrievedAugust 9,2022.
- ^Steinfels, Peter (August 30, 1993)."Religious Leaders Hold A 2d World Parliament".The New York Times.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
- ^"Elder Russell M. Nelson Celebrates 90th Birthday - Church News and Events".churchofjesuschrist.org.RetrievedJanuary 22,2018.
- ^Lawton, Kim (January 1, 1996)."State Department names religious freedom advisory committee".Religion News Service.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
- ^"LDS Church Apostle, his wife and 2 other couples attacked in Mozambique - KSL".KSL.RetrievedJanuary 22,2018.
- ^"Elder Nelson Completes Trip to Africa in Kenya - Church News and Events".churchofjesuschrist.org.RetrievedJanuary 22,2018.
- ^Wendy Leonard,"LDS Business College appoints new president",Deseret Morning News,December 9, 2008.
- ^Holman Prescott, Marianne (October 20, 2017),"Inauguration for LDS Business College's 13th president",Deseret News
- ^"President Boyd K. Packer Dies At Age 90",Newsroom,LDS Church,July 3, 2015
- ^"Russell M. Nelson: New President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles",Mormon Newsroom,July 15, 2015.
- ^President Nelson counsels Central American members to claim the blessings of the temple, live the gospel,Church News,September 10, 2015.
- ^LDS Apostle dedicates newly developed Priesthood Restoration Site,Church News,September 19, 2015.
- ^"Mormon leader says policy against gay marriage was word from God".cbsnews.January 11, 2016.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
- ^Lindsey, Daryl (January 10, 2016)."LDS Apostle: Policy on same-sex couples was revelation from God".KUTV.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
- ^"Mormon LGBT ban was 'revealed' to the prophet as God's will, says Elder Nelson".Religion News Service.January 11, 2016.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
- ^"LDS Church dumps its controversial LGBTQ policy, cites 'continuing revelation' from God".The Salt Lake Tribune.RetrievedApril 4,2019.
- ^"First Presidency Shares Messages From General Conference Leadership Session".Mormon Newsroom.April 4, 2019.RetrievedApril 4,2019.
- ^Gary Browning,"Russia and the Restoration",Out of Obscurity: The LDS Church in the 20th Century(Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 2000) p. 67
- ^ab"Moscow Russia Stake organized",Church News,June 11, 2011.
- ^"Bulgaria",Church News.
- ^Da Silva, Chantal(January 4, 2018)."New Mormon President: Who is Russell M. Nelson, set to become 17th Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?".Newsweek.RetrievedJanuary 17,2018.
- ^"Elder Nelson pronounces blessings on six Balkan nations",Church NewsSeptember 23, 2010.
- ^ab"Country information: Kazakhstan".LDS Church.Church News.January 29, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 11,2014.
- ^Spencer J. Condie,Biography of Russell M. Nelson.[full citation needed]
- ^ab"China",Church News.
- ^"Elders Maxwell, Nelson welcomed in China",Church News,April 29, 1995.
- ^"President Nelson Signs Mission Calls as Presiding Apostle",Newsroom,LDS Church,January 9, 2018
- ^Walch, Tad (January 16, 2018)."President Russell M. Nelson introduced as 17th LDS president, vows to serve, discusses diversity".Deseret News.RetrievedJanuary 17,2018.
- ^"President Nelson is Now Oldest President of the Church",Newsroom,LDS Church,April 14, 2022
- ^Ward, Cory (September 9, 2021)."President Russell M. Nelson Is Now the Third Longest-Living Apostle in History of the Church".thisweekinmormons.RetrievedAugust 6,2022.
- ^Graham, Ruth."The Leader of the Mormon Church Turns 100".nytimes.The New York Times Company.RetrievedSeptember 10,2024.
- ^"President Russell M. Nelson 100th Birthday Commemoration".newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org.RetrievedSeptember 20,2024.
- ^Taylor, Scott."President Nelson Traveled to 16 Nations and Territories during First Year as Prophet".The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.RetrievedAugust 18,2019.
- ^"article on the global ministry tour".Archived fromthe originalon June 28, 2019.RetrievedJune 9,2019.
- ^Taylor, Scott (June 15, 2018)."President Nelson asks LDS members to gather Israel, believe in Book of Mormon".thechurchnews.The Church News.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022.
- ^Swensen, Jason (September 2, 2018)."President Nelson promises Puerto Ricans their 'best days' are ahead".Deseret News.
- ^"President Nelson to Visit the Caribbean Area".news-jm.churchofjesuschrist.org.August 28, 2018.
- ^Swensen, Jason."President Nelson promises Puerto Ricans their 'best days' are ahead".deseretnews.Deseret News.RetrievedMarch 26,2019.
- ^Matheson, Boyd (February 8, 2019)."Crowd Sunday at State Farm Stadium could rival Super Bowl".ktar.Deseret News via Ktar News.RetrievedMarch 26,2019.
- ^"Prophet Meets Pope Francis at the Vatican".Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2019.RetrievedJune 9,2019.
- ^Weaver, Sarah Jane."President Nelson Meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican".Church News of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- ^Walch, Tad."Pope Francis meets with President Nelson in the Vatican".Deseret News.
- ^"Ministry Tour Archives".Church News.Archived fromthe originalon April 30, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 12,2019.
- ^"'We have a lot to do,' says President Nelson as Latin America Ministry Tour ends in Brazil ".Church News.September 2, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 12,2019.
- ^Nelson, President Russell M."As We Go Forward Together".churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^"First Presidency Directs Leaders to Prevent and Respond to Abuse".newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. March 26, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022.
- ^Scribner, Herb (March 31, 2018)."Twitter reacts to LDS Church naming new apostles, Elder Gong and Elder Soares".Deseret News.
- ^"The latest from last day of Mormon General Conference: More stunners — church is replacing its home and visiting teaching and will build temples in Layton, Russia, India".The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^"Church News: President Nelson's full remarks from the LDS Church's 'Be One' celebration".Deseret News.June 2, 2018.
- ^"LDS church leaders meet with NAACP, call for 'greater civility and racial harmony'".KSTU.May 17, 2018.
- ^"President Nelson Challenges Youth to Participate in 'Greatest Cause' on Earth".newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. June 3, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022.
- ^Walch, Tad (June 18, 2018)."LDS Church leaders ask Mormons to submit original songs for new global hymnbooks".Deseret News.
- ^Jacobs, Julia (August 18, 2018)."Stop Saying 'Mormon,' Church Leader Says. But Is the Real Name Too Long?".The New York Times.
- ^Peggy Fletcher Stack; Scott D. Pierce; David Noyce (October 7, 2018)."Members 'offend' Jesus and please the devil when they use the term 'Mormon,' President Nelson says".SLTrib.The Salt Lake Tribune.RetrievedOctober 9,2018.
- ^"General Conference, October 2018, Russell M. Nelson".churchofjesuschrist.org.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.RetrievedOctober 9,2018.
- ^Nelson, President Russell M."The Correct Name of the Church".churchofjesuschrist.org.RetrievedMarch 10,2020.
- ^Bancroft, Kaitlyn (October 6, 2018)."'Home-centered' plan includes 2-hour church ".The Daily Universe.
- ^Scribner, Herb (October 31, 2018)."President Nelson in South America: 8 inspiring moments from the recent ministry tour".Deseret News.
- ^Walch, Tad (December 14, 2018)."What church changes for 11-year-olds mean for 2019 and beyond".Deseret News.
- ^abLaurel Wamsley "In Major Shift, LDS Church Rolls Back Controversial Policies Toward LGBT Members"National Public Radio, April 4, 2019
- ^Daryl Lindsey "LDS Apostle: Policy on same-sex couples was revelation from God"
- ^Peggy Fletcher Stack, "LDS Church dumps its controversial LGBTQ policy, cites 'continuing revelation' from God"Salt Lake Tribune April 4, 2019.
- ^"Prophet Introduces a New Proclamation to the World:" The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ "".newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org.April 5, 2020.RetrievedJune 7,2020.
- ^"How rare a proclamation: A look at 2020's on the Restoration and the 5 previous in Church history".Church News.April 5, 2020.RetrievedJune 7,2020.
- ^"The Prophet Announces 17 New Temples at the October 2024 General Conference".newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org.October 6, 2024.RetrievedOctober 7,2024.
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- ^President Nelson Dedicates Concepcion Chile TempleArchivedNovember 8, 2019, at theWayback Machine,Mormon Newsroom,October 28, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
- ^Rome Italy Temple Is DedicatedArchivedJune 29, 2019, at theWayback Machine,Mormon Newsroom,March 10, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
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- ^Historic Photo of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in RomeArchivedJune 29, 2019, at theWayback Machine,Mormon Newsroom.March 11, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
- ^abFletcher Stack, Peggy (April 29, 2020)."Plans for an LDS temple in Shanghai may have hit an obstacle".Salt Lake Tribune.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
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- ^"Wendy Nelson Maxfield, daughter of LDS Church President Russell Nelson, dies at 67".Salt Lake Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 13,2019.
- ^"Death: Emily Nelson Wittwer".DeseretNews.January 30, 1995.
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- ^Condie, Spencer J.Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, apostlechapter 5
- ^"Elder Russell M. Nelson Marries Wendy L. Watson",Newsroom,LDS Church,April 6, 2006, archived fromthe originalon June 30, 2019,retrievedJune 9,2019
- ^Carrie A. Moore, "Elder Nelson marries BYU Professor",Deseret News,April 7, 2006.
- ^"LDS Church News - Elder Nelson, pioneer heart surgeon, honored".Church News.April 20, 2002.RetrievedMay 5,2017.
- ^"Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement".achievement.org.American Academy of Achievement.
- ^"Awards Banquet Draws 'Giants of Achievement'"(PDF).The Salt Lake Tribune. June 24, 1979.
- ^All cited inRussell M. Nelson
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 21, 2014.RetrievedAugust 17,2014.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Elder Russell M. Nelson Counsels New Doctors to Read Scriptures - Church News and Events".churchofjesuschrist.org.RetrievedMay 5,2017.
- ^"A 'true medical pioneer,' President Nelson honored with lifetime achievement medal for innovation".Deseret News.RetrievedJune 6,2018.
- ^"Inspirational Art Association Videos".localprayers.
- ^"Historically Black college honors President Nelson with first Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize".Deseret News.RetrievedApril 13,2023.
- ^"Deseret Newsarticle ".Deseret News.
- ^abcThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."President Russell M. Nelson".newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org.RetrievedMay 5,2017.
- ^"U Board of Trustees announces 2021 honorary degree recipients | @theU".attheu.utah.edu.
- ^"Honorary Degree Recipients by Year (1892-2022)".administration.utah.edu.University of Utah.RetrievedSeptember 25,2022.
References
[edit]- "President Russell M. Nelson".Leader Biographies: Official Biographies for leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(Press release). LDS Church. LDS Church Newsroom.
- Plenk, Henry P.; McMurrin, Trudy, eds. (1992).Medicine in the Beehive State, 1940–1990.LDS Hospital-Deseret Foundation, University of Utah. Health Sciences Center, Utah Medical Association. Salt Lake City, UT: University of Utah Press and Utah Medical Association.ISBN0-87480-396-9.
- Gardner, Marvin K. (June 1984)."Elder Russell M. Nelson: Applying Divine Laws".Ensign:9.RetrievedSeptember 11,2014.
- "Church News". LDS Church. July 17, 1971. p. 7.[full citation needed]
- "Church News". LDS Church. July 3, 1971. p. 7.[full citation needed]
- Nelson, Russell M. (January 1, 1979).From Heart to Heart: An Autobiography(Hardcover ed.). Salt Lake City: Nelson. p. 344.ASINB0006E28AU.OCLC6144971.
External links
[edit]- 1924 births
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