Our potential is unlimited. See Jeremiah 1:45; Hebrews 12:9; Moses 6:51; Abraham 3:2223. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online, During a 2019 event marking President Nelsons 95. The guidance also had a clear emphasis on using counseling to assist in healing from abuse. On Thursday, April 14, 2022, President Nelson is 97 years, seven months and six days old surpassing President Gordon B. Hinckley, who died on January 27, 2008, at the age of 97 years, seven months and five days. [45][46], Nelson's assignments as an apostle have included supervisory responsibility for the LDS Church in Africa. [24] He was at the forefront of surgeons focusing attention on coronary artery disease,[26] and contributed to the advance of valvular surgery as well. I could almost hear His voice asking, Russell, lovest thou me more than these?, Do you wonder what Jesus was referring to when He asked Peter, Lovest thou me more than these?. Nelson's father was a reporter for the Deseret News and later became general manager of Gillham Advertising, Utah's earliest advertising agency. He later had a practice at the Salt Lake Clinic with admission privileges at LDS Hospital. Russell M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Floss Edna (ne Anderson; 18931983) and Marion Clavar Nelson (18971990). He oftentimes has said there are 12 apostles, but you only have one daddy, and he takes that responsibility very seriously. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a nimble 85-year-old, intends to keep up with his friend and quorum president as they start down the circular stairs in the northwest corner of the temple. Yet, unless altered by disease, they can withstand such stress almost indefinitely. Russell Marion Nelson Sr. (born September 9, 1924) is an American religious leader and retired surgeon who is the 17th and current president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). My dear brothers and sisters, these two days of general conference have been glorious! You'll also like: How a Dangerous Encounter with Botulism Taught President Nelson Spiritual Self-Mastery 30. Nelson took up this challenge and developed elementary proficiency in Mandarin. This broadcast ahead of the press conference was unprecedented and provided the new leaders an opportunity to briefly address the entire church immediately. And when that has been achieved, you may have the strength to submit to the will of your Heavenly Father. [23], Nelson first operated out of the University of Utah's medical school. We have similarly been warned about the evils of pornography and unclean thoughts. You are now leaving a website maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "The glory of God is intelligence.". "[94][95][96], In the October 2018 general conference, Nelson adjusted the balance between a home-centered, church-supported form of worship. [114] The following year, Nelson married Wendy L. Watson (b. In 1985, Nelson was the first person ever to be made an honorary professor of Shandong Medical College. building a so-called 'temple' in Shanghai. [119] Watson, originally from Raymond, Alberta, was a professor of marriage and family therapy at BYU prior to her retirement in 2006. Also during the event, others shared insights into his life, ministry and service. Russell M. Nelson previously served as an apostle of the Quorum of the Twelve for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [14] He graduated from high school at age 16 and enrolled at the University of Utah, graduating in 1945 with a Bachelor of Arts and Phi Beta Kappa membership. Source: LDS Living | ldsliving.com Tags One of the things that I admire about President Nelson is the way he unifies people of different points of view and different levels of experience and maturity, said President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency. [33], Nelson was honored nationally by being elected president of the Society for Vascular Surgery for the year 1975. This last year has been one for the record books. It is an essential part of Gods great plan of happiness for our eternal progression. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail frames. know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? You can overcome the spiritually and emotionally exhausting plagues of the world, including arrogance, pride, anger, immorality, hatred, greed, jealousy, and fear. Nelson then attended the University of Utah School of Medicine, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1947 ranked first in his class. Nelson was set apart as the quorum president on July 15, 2015, by Thomas S. [67] In 1995, Nelson went to Beijing, along with Neal A. Maxwell and other LDS Church leaders, on an official invitation of Li Lanqing, the Vice Premier of China.[68]. Getting to know President Russell M. Nelson of the First Presidency [80][81][82], In August 2019, Nelson visited Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil. Often, my counselors and I have watched through tear-brimmed eyes as He has interceded in extremely challenging circumstances after we had done our best and could do no more. These valves open and close more than 100,000 times a day36 million times a year. Elder Russell M. Nelson Marries Wendy L. Watson - The Weight Loss And Our spirits rejoice with every small step forward we take. As great as our body is, it is not an end in itself. First, Nelson's account from the April 1992 General Conference: Todays world is unsettled. In 1960, he performed one of the first-ever repairs of tricuspid valve regurgitation. Petersen. He next served as member of the Bonneville Stake YMMIA superintendency (a position 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. In Washington DC, he was a counselor in the bishopric of the ward Ezra Taft Benson, then an apostle, regularly attended while serving as Secretary of Agriculture to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Your body, whatever its natural gifts, is a magnificent creation of God. Or maybe He is asking what really brings us joy and happiness. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints This article was first published as the ChurchBeat newsletter. [52], Nelson made his first international trip as quorum president to Central America from August 2031, 2015. Seek to be increasingly pure in thought, word, and deed. [53] The following month, Nelson dedicated the renovated Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in Pennsylvania, where LDS Church members believe the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods were restored. He wants us eventually to become more like Him and return to live with Him. [76] On the same trip, he visited Puerto Rico. 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. As we build and maintain these temples, we pray that each of you will build and maintain yourself so you can be worthy to enter the holy temple. He then did his medical residency and earned a PhD at the University of Minnesota, where he was a member of the research team developing the heart-lung machine that in 1951 supported the first ever human open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. In 2011, Nelson Sr. returned to Russia to organize the first church stake in that country, headquartered in Moscow. Peacemakers Needed Our bodies allow each of us to experience the great plan of salvation that He has designed for all His precious children. [88], June 2018 began with a First Presidency-sponsored celebration of the 40th anniversary of the revelation extending priesthood and temple blessings to all worthy members without regard to race, in which Nelson gave concluding remarks. The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles. He may be asking each of us if we love Him more than the things of this world. [10][11] His parents were not active in the Latter-day Saint faith while he was a youth, but they did send him to Sunday School,[12] and he was baptized a member of the LDS Church at age 16. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as we obey these conditions." (True to the Faith pg 44 . Satan knows the power of our appetites. Welcome to general conference and to the privilege of hearing the voice of the Lord. President Nelson, 93, was set apart as the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 14, after serving 34 years in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He spent the next 29 years working in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. He just brings differing points of view and different individuals into harmony and does so in a gentle and loving and effective manner., He has more love for people, I think, than almost anybody Ive ever been around in my life, reflected President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency. In 2006, he married Wendy L. Watson, who has been at his side since in his ministries as Apostle and then Church President. He is the light and life of the world. ", "Meet LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson, a Renaissance man with perfect pitch and pure faith", "Elder Russell M. Nelson: Applying Divine Laws", "SVS Past Presidents | Society for Vascular Surgery", "Pamela Atkinson: President Nelson's work has been saving lives and souls", "President Nelson Honored as "Pioneer" of Heart Surgery - Church News and Events", "Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles", "What I know now that I learned from President Russell M. Nelson", "First Presidency statement cites scriptural mandate for Church committee", "Religious Leaders Hold A 2d World Parliament", "Elder Russell M. Nelson Celebrates 90th Birthday - Church News and Events", "NEWS STORY: State Department names religious freedom advisory committee", "LDS Church Apostle, his wife and 2 other couples attacked in Mozambique - KSL.com", "Elder Nelson Completes Trip to Africa in Kenya - Church News and Events", "LDS Business College appoints new president", "Inauguration for LDS Business College's 13th president", "President Boyd K. Packer Dies At Age 90", President Nelson counsels Central American members to claim the blessings of the temple, live the gospel, LDS Apostle dedicates newly developed Priesthood Restoration Site, "Mormon leader says policy against gay marriage was word from God", "LDS Apostle: Policy on same-sex couples was revelation from God", "Mormon LGBT ban was 'revealed' to the prophet as God's will, says Elder Nelson", "LDS Church dumps its controversial LGBTQ policy, cites 'continuing revelation' from God", "First Presidency Shares Messages From General Conference Leadership Session", "New Mormon President: Who is Russell M. Nelson, set to become 17th Leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? With the death of Monson on January 2, 2018, Nelson became the anticipated successor to the church's presidency. [120], In June 2018, the University of Utah endowed a chair in cardiothoracic surgery named after Nelson and his first wife, Dantzel. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always. We provide the link to this third party's website solely as a convenience to you. Even as I am.25 Our loftiest hope is to grow in spirit and attain the stature of the fulness of Christ.26, Remember, not a season of life passes without temptation, trial, or torment, whether spiritually or physically. When activated by certain drugs or behaviors, it overpowers the part of our brain that governs our willpower, judgment, logic, and morality. I invite you to turn your heart, mind, and soul increasingly to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It warns against injury that excessive heat or cold might cause. As we focus on loving our neighbors as He loves them, we start to truly love those around us.14, I ask again, how would you respond to the Saviors question Lovest thou me more than these?. [42], In 1991, Nelson served as the negotiator for the LDS Church with the Internal Revenue Service over whether contributions to support missionaries serving would be tax deductible. [79], On March 9, 2019, Nelson met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. [91] On June 18, the First Presidency created committees assigned to form a unified hymnbook and children's songbook for 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. [63], In August 2010, Nelson journeyed to the dedication of the Kiev Ukraine Temple. The gathering of Israel moves forward. (RNS) Last week marked the four-year anniversary since Russell M. Nelson assumed leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it's been quite an unexpected ride. [49] He was succeeded as chairman of the executive committee by Oaks. As part of this change, young women ages 1418 may be assigned as ministering sisters, similar to the-long standing policies of young men ages 1418 serving as home teachers. A prophetic call: Senior Church leaders emphasize missionary service The huge project to renovate the Salt Lake Temple continues. Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? The heart pumps about 2,000 gallons (7,570 L) per day. And Jesus so loved us that in the great Council in Heaven, when Heavenly Father asked, Whom shall I send? Jesus, who was the firstborn of all the Fathers spirit children, answered, Here am I, send me.9 He said unto the Father, Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.10 Jesus volunteered to be our Savior and Redeemer so that we could become like Them and return to Their presence. In daily prayer, we will gratefully acknowledge Him as our Creator and thank Him for the magnificence of our own physical temple. sort by. . [90] That same weekend Nelson gave a devotional to LDS youth in which he urged them to more fully commit to the church. Term ended by removal of apostleship; was later excommunicated. 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's Sunday School General President from 1971 to 1979. In Minnesota, he served as what was then known as Sunday School Superintendent in his local congregation. 1Corinthians 6:1920; see also Doctrine and Covenants 93:35. I Am a Child of God, Hymns, no. Thus, we have appetites for food, for water, and for love. [72], Since becoming church president, Nelson has visited members of the LDS Church in various areas of the world. 10 Things I Learned Carpooling with President Nelson: - Medium We live in a glorious age, foreseen by prophets for centuries. What things can you do within your own life to show that you love the Lord first? This marked the first time since 1985 that a new church president had not retained a previously-serving counselor. [18][19][20], Nelson served a two-year term of duty in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War, and was stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. [85], In March 2018, the First Presidency issued a letter on preventing and responding to abuse. He then moved to the Yale Second Ward, still in the Bonneville Stake, and was called as a member of the stake high council. He encouraged them to collectively choose a period of seven days in which to abstain from the use of social media. Please note: A perfect body is not required to achieve a divine destiny. [66] He developed ties with the medical community in China and made several trips there to train surgeons. Welcome to general conference and to the privilege of hearing the voice of the Lord. In The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles, we read: [Jesus] will someday return to earth. So, he tempts us to eat things we should not eat, to drink things we should not drink, and to desecrate the most intimate expressions of love by employing them outside the bounds of marriage. Known as a Renaissance man by his colleagues, President Nelson brings to his new position a lifetime of preparation. I am sure many of you have noticed what I have noticed. [4] Nelson was a member of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for nearly 34 years, and was the quorum president from 2015 to 2018. "Education is yours to obtain. Heavenly Father so loved us that He prepared His plan of salvation with a Savior as the central figure. 98 facts about President Nelson for his 98th birthday The attributes by which we shall be judged one day are those of the spirit.11 These include the attributes of virtue, integrity, compassion, love, and more.12 Your spirit, by being housed in your body, is able to develop and express these attributes in ways that are vital to your eternal progression.13. The eyes are connected to the brain, which records the sights seen. As I lock arms with President Nelson, not as black and white, not as Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Baptist, but as children of God who are about loving everybody whom we have the occasion to minister to, said Rev. I love you, my dear brothers and sisters, and testify that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son know and love you individually. The Lord Jesus Christ directs the affairs of His Church, and it will achieve its divine objectives. [13], Nelson studied at LDS Business College in his mid-teens (concurrently with high school enrollment) and worked as an assistant secretary at a bank. This may be a question about what we really value in life, who we follow, and how we view our relationships with family members and neighbors. President Russell M. Nelson, 93, briskly heads for the stairs. We endure to the end and stay on the covenant path. How would we answer the question Lovest thou me more than these?. A stake's high priest quorum now consists of current members of stake presidencies, high councils, bishoprics and functioning patriarchs. Indeed, our education is for . The event marked the first time in history that a pope and an LDS Church president met face-to-face. Only He can bring us true joy, happiness, and peace through our loving Him and following His teachings. President Russell M. Nelson shared a Christmas message of joy on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 8 a.m. on his social media channels and the Church's YouTube channel. In 1992, it was identified he was on the Strengthening Church Members Committee, alongside fellow apostle James E. As of April 2023, Nelson has announced a total of 133 new temples to be built in many countries around the world. Great spiritual strength is often developed by those with physical challengesprecisely because they are challenged. What 3 of President Russell M. Nelson's Children Have Learned From Him [55] "It was our privilege as apostles to sustain what had been revealed to President Monson," Nelson said. Sustaining of General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers, BishopsShepherds over the Lords Flock, What We Are Learning and Will Never Forget, Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains, Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Russell M. Nelson and the COVID-19 vaccine: What the church [56][57] Citing "continuing revelation", this policy was adjusted in 2019, such that First Presidency approval was not needed for the children to be baptized. Ringger. As church president, Nelson is recognized by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. Think of the bodys defense system. To download media files, please first review and agree to the Terms of Use.