In the 2021 Friend to Friend event, President Russell M. Nelson gave this message to children around the world. And so, well, his health and strength is due in large part to her efforts and all the things that she does, in ways to support him that we dont know the half of, Im sure. Nelson received a PhD from Minnesota in 1954 for his research contributions. I feel like there was a high level of love in our home. ", "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? In August 2022, President Nelson traveled outside of Utah for the first time since the . And these are the kind of the old school Christmas lights, the glass bulbs, the thick gauge cables. During his tenure the Sunday School developed a unified 8-year-cycle of covering the LDS Church's scriptures in its curriculum. I remember him saying once, but living it always was, The best thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother. And I just feel like Wow, he did that so well and just exemplified that. And I feel like we were so secure, because we knew they were secure. Sarah Jane Weaver: It is great to have you with us today. We are children of God. They were not untouched by tragedy. It was our privilege as apostles to sustain what had been revealed to President Monson. But I would say, I know that a key part of life is to learn and to grow, and to love love one another, love the Lord and enjoy the blessings that come from Him as we keep our covenants. Number two, he would look around to turn off any electrics, that were extra, you know, like the TV or more lights than he felt should be on. So we preceded that trip with our own personal trip, where we did some family history findings throughout Scandinavia. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints poses in his office in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Really, I can honestly say to this day, my best friends are my sisters, and my brother, and. [98], In December 2018, the church's First Presidency changed the process of youth class progression and priesthood ordination. Sarah Jane Weaver: Im Sarah Jane Weaver, editor of the Church News. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Youth Jesus Christ Friend to Friend 2021 A Visit with Sister Joy D. Jones, the Primary General President Activity: Draw a Child Praying Activity: Learn to Make Pictures from Rocks Gloria Irion: I could probably do my own hair by them. He and his wife, the former Dantzel White, have ten children. In Massachusetts, Nelson was the secretary for the adult Aaronic priesthood organization in his Boston-area branch. And, more importantly, to underscore the Lords hand and Gods creations and how divinely created all of this is and all of our bodies, how they are so intricately designed by our Heavenly Father, that theres no other way we could have come to be had it not been for the divine hand of the Creator. Sarah Jane Weaver: What are some of the other things you did I know as a family you like to ski? And it was a nice reinforcement of, you know, Dont worry about him. He said it was like a womens dormitory., Gloria Irion: It was definitely like a sorority, for sure. In the 2021 Friend to Friend event, President Russell M. Nelson gave this message to children around the world. I once saw Russs birth announcement and it had a picture of nine girls on the front and said, Boy, oh, boy. As soon as he saw him, they discussed that and decided. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Yeah, thats, thats well-documented in, in the books. Contents. He doesnt look for anybodys approval, but the Lords. Elder Russell M. Nelson. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Oh, I dont know, Ive got a couple of funny stories, but I dont know. And we knew that. He still, to this day, who knows the number of our members in our family, I dont know, off the top of my head. Friends by Mail. Mother was a beautiful singer. And I think this is why I loved anatomy and wanted to be a doctor for a good long while. Russell is a prophet, Baptised at sixteen, His parents were less active; He was very keen. I do remember him changing diapers, reading books and helping us with homework. You know, we were all really close in age, and hed spend his whole time untangling our lines, because we would throw them wherever. Gloria Irion: As a father, hes very loving, and, well, as the prophet to youve seen, just very loving, very, Christlike love for everyone. And then I also remember, Daddy coming, he was serving as our stake president of the time. During the 1950s, Dantzel was a member of the Tabernacle Choir. [52], Nelson made his first international trip as quorum president to Central America from August 2031, 2015. "Who are we? [71] On August 8, 2022, Nelson became the church's oldest apostle ever, surpassing David B. But there was also no question that our mom was the heart of the home. President Russell M. Nelson was sustained and set apart as the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple. Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. On February 12, 2005, Nelson lost his first wife unexpectedly. [35] He performed a total of nearly 7,000 operations before his call to be an apostle. Its, What do you know now? And we always give our guests the last word. Friend January 2019 "Show and Tell" Senior Primary children in Greater Manchester, England, wrote their own verse about President Russell M. Nelson for the song "Follow the Prophet.". And I had quite a collection, so I thought, What would Mother love, a string of these for a necklace. So I got a needle and thread and strung those beautiful pearly looking things together for my mother and gave it to her. In 2009, he, along with his wife and others, were attacked while in Mozambique. Sarah Jane Weaver: Well take any stories. In 2011, Nelson Sr. returned to Russia to organize the first church stake in that country, headquartered in Moscow. ", "Elder Nelson pronounces blessings on six Balkan nations", "Elders Maxwell, Nelson welcomed in China", "President Nelson Signs Mission Calls as Presiding Apostle", "President Russell M. Nelson introduced as 17th LDS president, vows to serve, discusses diversity", "President Nelson is Now Oldest President of the Church", "President Russell M. Nelson Is Now the Third Longest-Living Apostle in History of the Church", "President Nelson Traveled to 16 Nations and Territories during First Year as Prophet", "President Nelson asks LDS members to gather Israel, believe in Book of Mormon", "President Nelson promises Puerto Ricans their 'best days' are ahead", "President Nelson to Visit the Caribbean Area", "Crowd Sunday at State Farm Stadium could rival Super Bowl", "Prophet Meets Pope Francis at the Vatican", "President Nelson Meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican", "Pope Francis meets with President Nelson in the Vatican", "First Presidency Directs Leaders to Prevent and Respond to Abuse", "Twitter reacts to LDS Church naming new apostles, Elder Gong and Elder Soares", "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", "Church News: President Nelson's full remarks from the LDS Church's 'Be One' celebration", "LDS church leaders meet with NAACP, call for 'greater civility and racial harmony', "President Nelson Challenges Youth to Participate in 'Greatest Cause' on Earth", "LDS Church leaders ask Mormons to submit original songs for new global hymnbooks", "Stop Saying 'Mormon,' Church Leader Says. Laurie Marsh The way hes leading the Church is exactly an example of the way we were raised. Laurie Marsh: And for me, I think of my dad as a very optimistic person. And we all are. Gloria Irion: I think he is open to hearing counsel. Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. He really didnt raise his voice. It was part of how they met, too, that musical up at the U. But yeah, music was something we love to do together. In my remembrance, I think Daddy kind of had a routine. Hes going to be fine. What we need to do is focus on our little ones and continue to teach them and bring them up. When she passed, it wasnt OK, well, weve got this eternal perspective and lets move on. I dont want that to come across. The Everlasting Covenant Monthly Liahona Message, October 2022 The Everlasting Covenant By President Russell M. Nelson President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints All those who have made a covenant with God have access to a special kind of love and mercy. Yet your family has a reputation of not expecting to be treated any different than any other Latter-day Saints. Gloria Irion: They had an opportunity, you know, there was no ultrasound in those days, they had an opportunity nine times to consider the name Russell Marion Nelson Jr. and never considered it, never considered it until Daddy met him. You know, we do a lot of Zoom calls. But a lot of the things that he made look easy, for me, now as a parent, with kids, ranging from 14 to 26 years old, takes a lot of effort and takes a lot of knowledge. You just dont hear him say that. She was 78 at the time of her sudden death. But I think his outward focus was a good example to us, too. Yeah, he might watch a bowl game on New Years day. The couple had ten children; Marsha, Wendy, Gloria, Brenda, Sylvia, Emily, Laurie, Rosalie, and Marjorie and Russell Jr. On Monday, September 9th, President Russell M. Nelson will be celebrating his 95th birthday. Ringger. They have agreed to talk to us about President Nelson in his role as a father. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Yeah, Laurie mentioned it earlier that when Mother and Daddy were married, they made their motto, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God. And thats what hes encouraging all of us to do now is put the Lord first in our lives and let Him prevail and well be blessed. Before holding his babies, the world-renowned heart surgeon had something of a routine when he came home each day, Marsh remembers. After the death of his first wife, Nelson proposed to Wendy L. Watson. None of the Nelson children was told they must go to weekly church services. And so thats probably one of the main lessons that I learned growing up about. And we had the privilege of having Wendy Watson as a neighbor before their marriage. [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. A children's magazine published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [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. And I think the other thing is, weve talked about the consistency of my dad, and my parents consistently had family prayer. But we never felt that it was tied to their feelings for us. President Russell M. Nelson and his wife Wendy Watson Nelson with family with family at the temple. [24] In an indication of his surgical skill, a 1968 case series of his aortic valve replacements demonstrated an exceptionally low peri-operative mortality. I mean, we were all so grateful, including him, that it wasnt a day or so before someone found her. Church President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, pose for photographs with family members after a press conference at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. 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. What have you observed from their relationship? February 2023. Twelve Smiley Stickers . But I know he spent a lot of time with her and with their family and tried to be supportive. And so that was one-on-one time with him, or one-on-two, if there was someone else with you. "[112][113] The Bureau added that the church's plans were "wishful thinking, not based in reality. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: One of the main things that was taught, and it wasnt so much deliberately or explicitly expressed in this way, but again, it was mostly by example of how a mother and a father work together. Music was something we love to do together, Irion said. I dont remember him watching TV. And so I think we had a lot of stuff going on on Saturdays to prepare for Sunday. Russel said theyd each had their roles and cooking wasnt one of his. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We still have our family newsletter that everybody contributes once a month a little article. This was highlighted by shortening the length of Sunday church meetings to 2-hours from the previous 3-hours. In today's world, marriage and the choice to raise children require increasing faith - but the blessings, mortal and eternal, of families are well worth it. [43] In 1993, he was the church's lead delegate to the Parliament on World Religions. Children(s) Emily Nelson Wittwer, Brenda N. Miles, MORE [X] Biography. Their family includes 10 children, 56 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Sarah Jane Weaver: And I love as were talking about this as your fathers children, who was first a very prominent and renowned surgeon, then an apostle and then the prophet. He talks about losing his wife to a heart attack after having spent his whole career studying and treating and operating on the heart. And if you chose not to come, youd be missing out on a really great opportunity to be together and do something neat. May we always honor that heritage - in every thought and deed.". That was always number one. And I think we had as much fun after we came home from our dates as we did on the dates. The Soccer . I think most of us took piano lessons and then got to choose another instrument, but music was really big. So I didnt have a real close view of it, but I do remember asking him the same thing. And this little boy, he couldnt have been 12. Sarah Jane Weaver:And Laurie, I want to share a story. Laurie Marsh: You know, nothing that my dad does surprises me. And he just said, Wow, my pre-med studies are pretty rigorous. They had a wonderful married life. And I had the chance to interview him and I said, Well, this is the first time youve been out and out among the Saints since the COVID pandemic. And he did not like that question. And then number three, we normally would wait for Daddy, to have dinner together as a family. And Ive watched him help and love a lot of people along the way. from the University of Utah in 1947, shortly after completing his medical degree. In the general conference talk " Covenants ," President Russell M. Nelson teaches that "when we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us." The covenants we have made direct our lives and give us a deeper purpose. He noticed every little thing and taught us by example that our mother was of huge value to us, and No. That was always a primary point of emphasis and point of teaching throughout my whole life, even still. Gloria Irion: We would go on dates. Sarah Jane Weaver: I think thats a really beautiful thing. To not join in meant missing out on something fun. And hes good at it. 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 the Mississippi River. And so that way we can kind of keep up on what hes doing and he can read what were doing. [80][81][82], In August 2019, Nelson visited Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil. He made everything look easy. President Russell M. Nelson during his career wiht a team of doctors: Gen. Sam F. Seeley, and Lt. Col. Edwin J. Pulaski, front. But it really has been a big blessing, for sure. Sarah Jane Weaver: And for our listeners who havent heard the story of how they met, will you share that with us, Gloria? (KUTV) At least six people are suing the daughter and son-in-law of Russell M. Nelson, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [15] Nelson began his first year of medical school while still an undergraduate, and completed the four-year MD program in only three years. Emily Nelson Wittwer died of cancer in 1995. But as Ive watched Daddy go through those times. Three of President Russell M. Nelson's children celebrate his 5 years as Prophet, offering a glimpse into his role as a father Three of President Nelson's 10 children Gloria Irion, Laurie Marsh and Russell Nelson Jr. discuss the lessons learned as children from their father in episode 118 of the Church News podcast. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I actually lament reaching this point in the podcast, because I could hear you guys talk about your father all day long. And so he would try to teach me how to, from simple things like change a light bulb, to shovel the walks, or do the garbage and, you know, take care of things around the house. [34] He was also a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Wendy Nelson Maxfield died of cancer in 2019. Shes very strong. But he would also buy us daughters a corsage with a note with love as a potential mother. And after about two weeks, I thought, Man, Im, Im getting tired and Im 14 years old. So hes, its pretty remarkable in that regard. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, exits the Cottonwood Heights Utah Brighton Stake Center as the casket is placed into the hearse after President Nelson spoke at funeral services for his daughter Wendy Nelson Maxfield, on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Friend. Gloria Irion: Right, yeah, it was funny. And he said, Oh, no, Im just good at taking instruction. Russell M. Nelson. Laurie Marsh: It was a great experience. Were so grateful for that technology that allows us to do that. So the fact that it was her heart, everything that could have been done to help her was done. And so thats been a neat thing. Sarah Jane Weaver: Russ, you have a huge opportunity to carry your fathers name, which also sometimes may feel heavy. [69] 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 and Henry B. Eyring as Second Counselor. Dantzel White Nelson and Russell M. Nelson. We chose to come. [7] In 1984, Nelson and the American jurist Dallin H. Oaks were selected to fill two vacancies in the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Gloria Irion: He modeled so well how we are supposed to treat her, because of the way he treated her. And they said, Oh were just ordinary men in extraordinary callings. But kind of like I was saying earlier, I think, with my perspective of age, theyre a lot more than just ordinary men. Laurie Marsh: Yeah, he committed pretty fast. At the end of each year, President Nelson set up a folding table in the living room, set out spreadsheets and paperwork, and invited his children to participate in preparing the family taxes. I think hes, I dont know, mind over matter what. And there was a high expectation that we would be an eternal family. Not because hes a know-it-all, but because he legitimately has a thirst for knowledge and learning.. And Ill never forget President Nelson looked at that little boy so tenderly. I knew he loved her and he missed her. He was stern with us if we were rude to mom, but very, very, Christlike. At one point, the team came close enough to the front that they received fire from enemy artillery positions, which missed them. degrees from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. And it was a Saturday night when Mother passed. And a constant forever is that routine of coming home and finding mother and greeting her and then having dinner together was always a great thing. President Russell M. Nelson and his first wife, Dantzel White Nelson, at the University of Utah in 1942. Can you share with us about what its like to be Russell Marion Nelson Jr.? [55] "It was our privilege as apostles to sustain what had been revealed to President Monson," Nelson said. And just to rely on that faith at all times and do what you can to build that faith, be it read the scriptures, or make sure youre praying sincerely or reading general conference talks. And we try to unwind it and we try to untangle it and he kind of just stops for a second, exasperated and looks up at me goes, This reminds me of fishing with your sisters.. In my personal life, I got called to be a bishop a few years back and he ordained me to the office of bishop in Melchizedek priesthood, but he let the stake president of that stake, set me apart as a bishop in that stake, letting him exercise his keys.
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