SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell M. Nelson, who holds the record as the oldest president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sadly passed away on Saturday evening at the impressive age of 101, according to church officials.
The announcement confirmed that Nelson took his last breath in his home in Salt Lake City.
Before taking on church leadership, he was a heart surgeon, dedicating over forty years to high-level positions within the church after becoming part of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. His presidency began in January 2018 following the death of Thomas S. Monson, making him the first president of the church to live beyond a century mark.
As of now, a successor has not been officially named, although expectations point towards Dallin H. Oaks, who is the next longest-serving member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as the incoming president.
Utah Senator Mike Lee shared a heartfelt tribute on social media right after the news broke out. He expressed, “As long as I’ve known Russell, he has embodied faith, humility, and a quiet confidence—the traits of a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.”
Nelson’s Transformational Leadership
Russell M. Nelson’s time in leadership brought about significant changes. One of his first notable acts in 2018 was surprisingly calling on believers to stop using short forms like ‘Mormon’ and ‘LDS’, which contrasted the longstanding practice of previous leaders who had spent heavily promoting those remnants.
The year following that, he generated buzz and controversy by revoking previous policies that had barred baptisms for children of same-sex parents and defining same-sex couples for expulsion. These earlier guidelines of 2015 had faced heavy backlash from the public.
While many welcomed Nelson’s more embracing approach towards LGBTQ+ members compared to prior presidents, the overarching stance on same-sex marriage remained unchanged. His administration continued to enforce rules that limited participation for individuals considering gender-affirming procedures, which led to accusations of undermining rights for transgender congregants.
Nelson, alongside his close advisors, adhered to their interpretation of balancing “the love of the Lord and the law of the Lord” when addressing LGBTQ+ individuals in the community.
Those leading the Utah church, considered prophets, guide their members through divine revelations alongside their top advisors and council from the Quorum of the Twelve.
His leadership saw the church providing direction during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also saw the church ending its long-standing affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America, initiating a homegrown youth program benefitting the majority of its international membership.
This shift was prompted as the Boy Scouts took decisions to permit LGBTQ+ youth and volunteers to join their ranks.
Scrutiny in Handling Abuse Cases
Nelson’s tenure also faced greater scrutiny regarding how the church approached sexual abuse reports made within its hierarchy. According to an investigation by the Associated Press, the church’s abuse hotline was found to be manipulatable by local church figures, potentially diverting such cases away from law enforcement and towards church lawyers, leaving victims at greater risk.
Responding to concerns, Nelson and church officials maintained that the hotline prioritized children’s safety and was not used for cover-ups.
Some worries were also raised around confidential interviews mandated for youth with local leaders, which would touch on delicate topics including identity and sexuality.
To address these concerns, the church updated its guidelines, reinforcing stronger instructions for lay leaders to never overlook any report of abuse and allowing guardians to accompany children during singular meetings with bishops.
A Progressive Shift in Leadership
Throughout his tenure, Nelson also made strides in diversifying church leadership by introducing non-American leaders into the predominantly American governance and striving to develop regional hymnals that reflect global music traditions.
He further modernized church life by allowing for shortened Sunday services and renewed initiatives for temple construction worldwide, despite facing resistance in some regions of the U.S.
Additionally, he established a formal partnership with the NAACP. Notably, in the past, the church had controversially barred Black men from its priesthood until 1978. An explanation disavowing the ban’s alleged motivations did emerge in a 2013 essay, but an official apology remains unissued and is considered a sensitive topic for the church till this day.
Born in Salt Lake City in 1924, Nelson led a distinctive life. Then a budding doctor at just 22 years old, he served in the military during the Korean War before fully committing to his medical career as director of thoracic surgery at the University of Utah.
His legacy continues to be shaped by his precision as a surgeon and his commitment to church values, notably reflecting obedience to the law and maintaining what he referred to as the “covenant path” of faith life, as highlighted by Matthew Bowman, a religion scholar at Claremont Graduate University.
Russell M. Nelson was also a family man; he had ten children with his first wife, Dantzel White, who passed away in 2005, after which he married Wendy Watson the following year.
