In brief
Russell M. Nelson, who served as the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at his home in Salt Lake City at the age of 101. Nelson's presidency was marked by transformative policies, including an emphasis on the full name of the church, revisions to LGBTQ+ policies, and a departure from long-held traditions. As a former heart surgeon, he led the church through pivotal moments, including its disassociation from the Boy Scouts of America and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The church has yet to announce his successor, but Dallin H. Oaks is anticipated to take over following church protocol.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has died at the age of 101, church officials announced late Saturday night. He passed away at his home in Salt Lake City, confirmed by church spokesperson Candice Madsen.Nelson, a former heart surgeon, had a vibrant and transformative tenure, particularly highlighted in 2018 when he made a surprising announcement advocating for the full name of the church to be used, steering away from the shorthand names "Mormon" and "LDS" that previous leaders had promoted over the years.In 2019, he also made headlines by repealing rules that banned baptisms for children of gay parents and labeling same-sex couples as sinners. Although Nelson’s administration was perceived as more welcoming to LGBTQ+ members than his predecessors, the church's stance on same-sex marriage remained unchanged, drawing criticism regarding its treatment of transgender members.Nelson and his leadership tried to balance "the love of the Lord and the law of the Lord." The next president, not immediately named, is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, currently the next longest-tenured member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Under Nelson, church leaders are viewed as prophets, guiding the church through divine revelations.As president, Nelson navigated several pivotal shifts, including the church's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the severing of ties with the Boy Scouts of America following the organization’s decision to include LGBTQ+ members.Moreover, Nelson faced scrutiny over the church's handling of sexual abuse reports, with investigations revealing potential misuse of a reporting hotline. Nonetheless, church leaders defended their practices, asserting the hotline's intent was to protect children.Throughout his leadership, Nelson implemented changes such as allowing children to have supportive adults present during interviews and steering away from previous practices that did not prioritize abuse reporting. He also appointed non-American leaders to top governing bodies and published regional hymnbooks that celebrated global culture.Nelson's administration pushed for shorter Sunday services and accelerated temple construction worldwide, despite some local resistance. His tenure also included a formal partnership with the NAACP, in the wake of the church’s long-standing exclusion of Black men from the priesthood until 1978.Born in Salt Lake City in 1924, Nelson became a doctor at just 22 and served in the Army during the Korean War, later building a distinguished medical career alongside his church leadership. He is survived by his wife, Wendy Watson, and they had a combined total of 10 children with his first wife, Dantzel White, who passed away in 2005.
