The first centenarian president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) died Saturday, days after celebrating his 101st birthday. Russell M. Nelson first ascended to a position with the church’s top governing body in 1984 and was named president in 2018.
In a statement posted to its website on Saturday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known colloquially as the Mormon church, wrote, “With sorrow we announce that Russell M. Nelson, beloved President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away peacefully shortly after 10 p.m. MDT today at his home in Salt Lake City. He was 101 — the oldest president in the history of the Church.”
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Nelson’s legacy
Nelson’s tenure included significant changes to church doctrine, as well as increased missionary work around the globe.
“His time as prophet will forever be remembered as one of global ministry (he visited 32 countries and U.S. territories), increased temple construction (he announced 200 new temples) and profound change,” the church wrote.
Among the changes that Nelson implemented were a loosening of restrictions that historically barred members of the LGBTQ+ community and people of color from full inclusion in the church.
For instance, he repealed a policy that had barred the children of same-sex couples from being baptized. Similarly, he paved the way for Black men to become lay priests within the church –– a move that stood in stark contrast to LDS belief that black skin is cursed.
Despite his attempts to modernize the church’s ideology and practices, Nelson’s time at the helm was not without controversy. In 2022, an investigation by The Associated Press found serious flaws in the way the church handled reports of sexual abuse.
The following year, the Securities and Exchange Commission fined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for allegedly hiding how much money it had. The church agreed to pay a $1 million fine while its investment portfolio manager, Ensign Peak Advisors, agreed to pay $4 million.
Aside from his duties leading The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nelson was also an accomplished surgeon. In his early 20s, he served as a military doctor during the Korean War. He was subsequently named director of thoracic surgery residency at the University of Utah.
Tributes to Nelson’s leadership and life
“Russell had a remarkable life, pioneering life-saving heart surgery techniques and, of course, his ministry of many decades,” President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday. “He was a physician, literally and spiritually, and will be greatly missed!”
Similarly, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, celebrated Nelson as a “devoted servant and follower of Jesus Christ.”
“For as long as I’ve known him, he has exuded — and for me, he’s come to personify — the kind of faith, humility, and quiet confidence that tends to be the constant companion of a devoted servant and follower of Jesus Christ,” Lee wrote.
Who will succeed Nelson?
The church did not immediately name Nelson’s successor. However, the AP reports that, according to tradition, it will likely be Dallin H. Oaks, now the next longest-serving member of the church’s governing Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
“I’ve heard surgeons that [Nelson] trained comment on how effective he was at teaching them to be surgeons,” Oaks said in Saturday’s statement. “And I’ve seen him as the master teacher teach the servants of the Lord in the same way.”
Nelson is survived by his second wife, Wendy, eight of his 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and more than 167 great-grandchildren.
