Hello again, everyone! Our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, makes history today as he becomes the first apostle and prophet to celebrate his 101st birthday. Let's talk about this wonderful man whom we sustain as the prophet, seer and revelator for the Church, and the only man currently authorized to exercise all priesthood keys. Russell Marion Nelson was born in Salt Lake City Utah to Marion C. and Edna Anderson Nelson on this day in 1924 (just a day before the birth of Boyd K. Packer, his future immediate predecessor to the Presidency of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles).
Though he grew up in a loving family, his parents were not active in the Church. As a teenager, he went looking for books about the Church at Deseret Book. His parents allowed him and his siblings to be baptized when he was 16. President Nelson married his first wife, Dantzel, in the Salt Lake Temple. They have nine daughters and one son. When his wife unexpectedly died in 2005, he described having "inconsolable grief" for a time. He married Wendy Watson, a BYU professor, the following April.
He studied at LDS Business College and went on to obtain his BA and MD at the University of Utah. He simultaneously trained as a surgeon and did doctoral studies at the University of Utah. He was part of the research team that developed the heart-lung machine that was first used for an open-heart operation on a human being in 1951. He spent two years on medical duty for the US Army during the Korean War, then underwent another training period in Boston at the prestigious Harvard Medical School's Massachusetts General Hospital.
At one key point in his medical career, the University of Chicago was anxious to get him to come and teach at their school of medicine, so the president of that university asked Dallin H., Oaks, then a professor at the law school, to try and persuade him to come. Then-Brother Oaks did his best to convince then-Brother Nelson to accept the offer. But Church President David O. McKay advised Brother Nelson not to go, so he turned down that opportunity.
In 1955, he accepted a teaching opportunity at the University of Utah School of Medicine, where he built his own heart-and-lung machine. Around a year later, he was on duty to perform the first pediatric cardiac operation. In 1960, he performed the first successful operative repair of a tricuspid heart valve. Being worried that a surgical procedure he had been asked to perform was too risky for anyone, he requested and received a blessing from then-Elder Spencer W. Kimball, who was one of his patients.
That surgery was a success, and he later used the same technique to operate on Elder Kimball himself, a risky procedure, which only moved forward following a pointed directive from President Harold B. Lee, who at that time was serving as First Counselor in the First Presidency. While performing that operation, Brother Nelson had the overwhelming feeling that President Kimball would one day be President of the Church.
As a result of that operation's success, Church members were blessed to enjoy the counsel and ministry of President Kimball for almost another decade and a half. The doctor-patient relationship he experienced with President Kimball enabled Brother Nelson to write a letter of assurance about President Kimball's health when the latter was called as Church President. President Nelson has served in many positions on different hospital boards and has received several awards for his pioneering work. He likewise had many service opportunities in the Church. He served as a stake president for over six years, during which time he served alongside another future fellow apostle, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin.
In mid-1970, Ernest L. Wilkinson, then president of BYU, submitted his resignation, which went into effect early the following year. As Neal A. Maxwell, Commissioner of Church Education, searched for a replacement, Brother Nelson was one of the candidates considered for the position, which was in due course filled by Brother Nelson's future apostolic seatmate, Dallin H. Oaks.
In the meantime, Brother Nelson was called in June of 1971 as the Sunday School General President (during which time, Brother Wirthlin would again serve alongside him.) Brother Nelson would go on to also serve in the now-defunct calling of regional representative, during which time, having been present when President Kimball suggested that some of them should learn Mandarin Chinese, he took on that task in obedience to the prophet's counsel.
In April 1984, with the advice and consent of President Spencer W. Kimball, President Gordon B. Hinckley, then Second Counselor in the First Presidency, called Brother Nelson to fill one of two vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Then-Brother Oaks was called to fill the other vacancy, and the two have sat side-by-side in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and now in the First Presidency since that time.
In the natural course of life between then-Elder Nelson's apostolic call (announced on April 7, 1984) and early July 2015, the Church had lost 4 Chrch Presidents and all of the apostles senior to then-Church President Thomas S. Monson, in addition to all apostles junior to President Monson but senior to Elder Nelson. The last of those was President Boyd K. Packer, whose passing on July 3, 2015 led to Elder Nelson becoming the de facto President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was officially set apart in that capacity 12 days later, on Wednesday July 15, 2015, by Church President Thomas S. Monson, who had by that time begun to decrease his involvement in the day-to-day administration of the Church.
When the Church released an official statement in mid-May 2017, which noted that President Monson would no longer be taking an active role in leading the Church, as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Nelson filled a vital role in assisting President Monson's counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and then-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, in taking care of the day-to-day administration of the Church.
When President Monson passed away on January 2. 2018, President Nelson directed the affairs of the Church as the senior apostle (and the de facto Acting President of the Church) for 12 days before his ordination and setting apart as Church President.
Following his ordination, he met individually with each of the other 12 apostles to get their input on who should serve as his counselors and who should be called to fill the resulting 2 vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Once that process was complete, he selected as his counselors his seatmate, Elder Oaks, and Elder Eyring, who had served as a counselor to both Presidents Monson and Gordon B. Hinckley, as his First and Second Counselors, respectively, in the First Presidency. As a result of that reorganization, Elder Uchtdorf again took his place in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. During the broadcast and subsequent press conference when the new First Presidency was introduced to the world on Tuesday January 16, President Nelson paid tribute to his predecessor's counselors and mentioned that both were willing to now serve where they were most needed. The responsibilities assigned to Elder Uchtdorf were those previously held by the senior three apostles of the Church, Presidents Nelson and Oaks, and the new Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, M. Russell Ballard.
Even prior to serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, or subsequently as President of the Church, President Nelson took great care of his fellow Brethren in the apostleship.
Many of you will recall how, in the midst of an address about charity, the pure love of Christ, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin began shaking uncontrollably, In a silent demonstration of what his colleague was teaching, Elder Nelson stood by and supported Elder Wirthlin until he closed his address, then gently helped him back to his seat. Not long after Elder Richard G. Scott underwent a needed surgical procedure, he was surprised to learn that President Nelson had stood inside the operating room observing the procedure in its entirety.
And, of course, as recounted during the funeral of Elder Robert D. Hales, following the Sunday Morning Session of the October 2017 General Conference, President Nelson felt impressed skip his lunch break and go immediately to the hospital to visit Elder Robert D. Hales, who passed away within a few minutes after President Nelson arrived.
President Nelson has demonstrated a keen intellect, a willingness to seek for and follow revelation from the Lord, and an undeviating loyalty and full commitment to his family, his Church, and his apostolic colleagues. We have seen him respond swiftly to such revelation, and perhaps the greatest details of the revelation he continues to receive regularly are yet-to-be revealed in the upcoming General Conference.
I have always been impressed and touched by President Nelson's remarks. He has given 112 addresses thus far in General Conference, including 65 following his call to the apostleship, 5 given while he served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and 42 so far which he has given since becoming President of the Church. By all accounts, although he is still in recovery from his back injury, he continues to think, move, and act with the health, vigor, and energy of one several decades younger than his current 100 years. Something Sister Nelson has repeated in public comments is that she is highly suspicious of his birth certificate, because he is anything but a typical centenarian.
Leading up to this monumental milestone, the Church News provided extensive coverage on the prophet's life and ministry. It is its' own section near the bottom of the Church News homepage. I had hoped to link to that particular section, but apparently I am not able to do so.
I am grateful for the chance to have paid this birthday tribute to President Nelson. He and all of the other apostles have my unequivocal and everlasting support and sustaining vote. I know for myself that President Russell M. Nelson is a prophet of God, that he will not lead us astray, that he speaks for and on the behalf of he Lord and that we will be blessed by the Lord as we follow the counsel given by His chosen mouthpiece.
I continue to monitor all Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples updates and will be sure to pass word of those along to you all as they cross my radar. In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated on any post at any time, as long as the offered feedback is made per the established guidelines. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. If you liked what you read here and would like to be informed of newly added posts and comments, please subscribe. If you would like to support the work done on this blog, donations in any amount are never required but are always welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
On this 101st birthday of our beloved prophet, I am pleased to pass along two reports from the Newsroom, the latter of which now features social media posts from pretty much every member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and every General Officer of the Church. The Church News also featured those social media posts, in addition to this update referencing both the social media post from President Nelson on his birthday and the other content featured in the Church News and Newsroom for his birthday. I am grateful for this mighty prophet of God on his 101st birthday and for what his life and example have taught me. If I am ever fortunate enough to turn 101 years old myself (I'm holding out hope for being "twinkled"), I hope I am even half as healthy, energetic, vigorous, vital, and lucid as he is. #PresidentNelson101
ReplyDeleteThe Church News has shared two new reports, which speak for themselves. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News also provided this summary of the first fall semester 2025 devotional at Ensign College. And the Church Temples site has noted an updated estimate for the San Luis Potosi Mexico Temple, which has now changed from being the first anticipated to be completed in 2026 to the first anticipated to be completed in late 2025-early 2026. This jump was unexpected, but welcome. But also today, the completion estimate for the Queretaro Mexico Temple was pushed down from late 2026 to now be completed in late 2026-early 2027. Until the Church schedules the next temple dedication (for whichever temple that may be), it will be hard to determine how the latest updates will affect my estimates. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteElder David S. Baxter, whose General Authority Emeritus Status was just granted effective August 1, 2025, has passed away. The Mexico Area President, Elder Sean Douglas, spoke at the religious freedom congress. A food drive was recently held in British Columbia. And there is another Church history update. Additionally, the construction signage posted on the Osaka Japan Temple appears to indicate that construction will begin next year, and is only anticipated to be completed in 11 months from the groundbreaking. Not sure how that will work out, but it's what the sign reportedly states. And preliminary site work is now underway for the Cincinnati Ohio Temple, so hopefully a groundbreaking for that temple is forthcoming in the next year or two. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteFollowing the heinous and senseless shooting of Charlie Kirk today on the Utah Valley University campus, a Church spokesman has shared a statement. BYU-Hawaii's President and First Lady spoke at the university's first devotional. And Elder Gene R. Cook, another emeritus General Authority Seventy, has also passed away. As always, I welcome any thoughts on any of these developments, so long as they are compliant with the established guidelines. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteWhile I am still trying to ascertain whether there are any updates on temples under construction or undergoing renovation, there have been updates provided on a few announced temples, including: West Jordan Utah, Barcelona Spain, Cincinnati Ohio, and Vitoria Brazil. I expect to see a lot of movement in the queue of announced temples between now and General Conference weekend, primarily because there are no other open houses that may serve as the only temple news for those Mondays. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAlso, I forgot to mention one other development relating to the Church that may be of interest to you all. It was noted recently here in Utah that the Church had pledged a donation towards the 2034 Olympic Winter Games, and that the specific details of the donation will be detailed by the Church in the next couple of weeks. The Church was a key partner in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, so that's hardly surprising. Look for that announcement in the coming weeks. I will be sure to pass word of that development along once it crosses my radar. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAdditionally, since the most recent batch of new hymns was released 3 months ago, and since the Church previously noted that the batches would be released "every few months", we might see another such announcement soon as well, probably on a Thursday. I also wanted to note that, since it is September 11 now, the Church Temples site has noted that the open house for the Grand Junction Colorado Temple is now underway, and tours will be offered through September 27.
DeleteGiven that the next temple open house does not begin until mid-October, the Church will likely focus on other temple-related developments every Monday @ 2:00 PM MDT, so stay tuned for my analysis of those developments as they are announced. I am hard at work putting together adjustments to my temple construction estimates given the latest reports, and my analysis of those developments will be posted here at the end of this month, when my third-quarter 2025 temple construction progress overview is published.
Having noted all of that, my thanks once again to you all.
Hello again, everyone! On this Thursday, it is also September 11, the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks here in the United States. The Church News reshared a look at two messages of comfort shared by then-Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in the aftermath of those attacks. I also remember that he had written the First Presidency message in the Ensign that month, which had been prepared in advance of those attacks, and in the aftermath thereof, it seemed especially fitting.
ReplyDeleteThe Church News additionally shared one, two, three, four, five, six, seven other updates that speak for themselves.
Meanwhile, the African Newsroom shares updates from West Africa, Sothern Africa, and Southeastern Africa, all centered on Primary General President Susan H. Porter's ministry on the African continent. Interestingly enough, the third article mentions that Sister Porter serves on two Executive Councils of the Church. I know she's on the Temple and Family History Executive Council, but have no idea what the other one might be.
And the Church Temples site has posted updates on the following temples: Willamette Valley Oregon, Ephraim Utah, Bacolod Philippines, Montpelier Idaho, Grand Rapids Michigan, Cali Colombia, Tacloban City Philippines, Heber Valley Utah, and Salt Lake.
Whoo! That was a more massive update than I thought it would be. My thanks once again to all of you who stuck it out to the end.
The Church Temples site has reported the start of construction activity for 2 temples, both of which have been given a mid-2028 completion window: Budapest Hungary and Tampa Florida. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteToday is Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson's birthday. The Church News has shared this tribute in honor of that milestone. The Church and UNICEF have collaborated on efforts to improve early childhood education and health in Tanzania. And the September Liahona celebrates the 30th anniversary of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World". It gave me a bit of a shock to realize that, of the 15 apostles who issued that proclation, only four are still living (Presidents Nelson,, Oaks, Holland, and Eyring). As President Monson twice said, "Time marches on." My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe African Newsroom features this update that was shared by the main Newsroom today. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe First Presidency has released an official statement condemning violence and calling for peace. The next guest artist for the Tabernacle at Tempple Square's Virtuoso performance series has been announced, and the latest edition of "This Week on Social" has been released.
DeleteThis week's edition includes posts from the following general leaders: Church President Russell M. Nelson (from whom two posts were shared); Elders Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen, Gary E. Stevenson, Dale G. Renlund, Gerrit W. Gong, and Patrick Kearon, all of whom are members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson and her respective First and Second Counselors, Sisters J. Anette Dennis and Kristim M. Yee; Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman; Primary General President Susan H. Porter and her respective First and Second Counselors, Sisters Amy A. Wright and Tracy Y. Browning; and Young Men General President Timothy J. Farnes and his respective First and Second Counselors, David J. Wunderli and Sean R. Dixon.
My thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has also covered the recently-released statement from the First Presidency. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteIn the process of checking for new temple construction status updates, I was pleased to come across 9 images of the Vancouver Washington Temple, which all indicate that site clearing and preparations are underway. So in the last week alone, the Church has been able to get full-scale construction underway on that temple, the Tampa Florida Temple, and the Budapest Hungary Temple, each of which, along with the Tacloban City Philippines Temple, are all estimated to be completed in mid-2028, which would put their likely dedications all sometime in 2029, give or take a few months either way, based on current trends for the time elapsing between a temple's full completion and when it is subsequently formally dedicated.
DeleteI am hoping the current length between the two, due in part to issues with the supply chain of furniture and furnishings, will be reduced in the days ahead. But my estimates allow for and accommodate such delays for the time being. Based on my latest projections, I am not as sure as I once was that the Church will have 300 operating temples by the 200th anniversary of the restoration of the Church (Saturday, April 6, 2030). If the supply chain issues get resolved, or a number of smaller temples are built in the coming years, then it may happen. At this point, since it still might be possible, I am not changing that projection about that on my temple construction progress report for now, but may unless temple completions and dedication announcements tick up in the coming months. My thanks once again to you all..
And an update has been provided for the Fort Worth Texas Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Saturday, I'd like to start my coverage with a temple construction update. The queue of temples estimated to be completed between late 2025 and early to mid-2026 has again been updated. Previously, they looked like this:
DeleteLate 2025: Ephraim Utah; Cleveland Ohio; & Pago Pago American Samoa Temples
Late 2025-early 2026: San Luis Potosà Mexico; Bacolod Philippines; Managua Nicaragua; & Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Temples
Early 2026: Torreón Mexico Temple
Early-to-mid 2026: Montpelier Idaho; Belo Horizonte Brazil; Smithfield Utah; Neiafu Tonga; & Fort Worth Texas Temples
Now, they look like this:
Late 2025: Ephraim Utah; Cleveland Ohio; & San Luis Potosà Mexico Temples
Late 2025-early 2026: Pago Pago American Samoa; Port Moresby Papua New Guinea; & Managua Nicaragua Temples
Early 2026: Bacolod Philippines & Torreón Mexico Temples
Early-to-mid 2026: Montpelier Idaho; Belo Horizonte Brazil; Smithfield Utah; Fort Worth Texas; & Neiafu Tonga Temples
Those updates (and the resulting changes in some of my temple dedication window estimates) will be reflected with my end-of-third-quarter 2025 temple construction progress review, which will be posted here in the late night hours when September 30 becomes October 1. So stay tuned for those adjustments. Any new temple construction status changes will be shared here ASAP after I learn of them. With no new updates from the Newsroom, I will share the latest Church News reports in another comment shortly.For now, my thanks once again to you all.
The Church News has introduced Brother David J. Wunderli, the new First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency. Scott Taylor shares his observations about analogies and object lessons can help to draw the Savior into conversations and activities. An Interfaith community party in Singapore created a spirit of unity between the Church, other religious organizations and institutions, and the community. The text of the message that will be given by Brother Derrick Porter during tomorrow's "Music & the Spoken Word" has been provided. And a mother in Nigeria is building a future for her family. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has shared the 2026 registration date for FSY. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has shared this additional report. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteUpdates have been noted for the following temples: Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Knoxville Tennessee, Londrina Brazil and Natal Brazil. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteAs this Sabbath Day draws to a close, I am pleased to be able to share the latest from the Church News: 6 stake presidencies have recently been reorganized. Latter-day Saint youth have recently shared the gospel with friends they met at a National Youth Science Camp in West Virginia. The top 9 developments from this last week, as reported by the Church News, were highlighted in the latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review. Read what Church leaders have said about the "Come, Follow Me" reading for this week, which will center on D&C 102-105. A young adult in New Mexico was recently recognized for her efforts to promote literacy as her Girl Scout Project. And over 450 people have participated in a Church-sponsored family activity. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDelete