We, one time, I had gotten all the Christmas decorations out of the attic. Russell M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Floss Edna (ne Anderson; 18931983) and Marion Clavar Nelson (18971990). Russell is a prophet, Baptised at sixteen, His parents were less active; He was very keen. He was ordained an apostle on April 12, 1984, by Gordon B. Hinckley. You know, we were all really close in age, and hed spend his whole time untangling our lines, because we would throw them wherever. [15][16] While at the University of Utah, he was a member of the Beta Epsilon chapter of Sigma Chi and Owl and Key. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Yeah, thats, thats well-documented in, in the books. Laurie Marsh: Oh, there are so many I dont even know. He spent the next 29 years working in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. President Russell M. Nelson with daughter Sylvia Webster and three great-grandchildren. First, the high priests groups at the ward level were dissolved, making all Melchizedek priesthood holders in wards and branches part of the elders quorum. And Ive watched him help and love a lot of people along the way. Nelson told members that the use of nicknames such as Mormon or LDS was "a major victory for Satan. I think if theres any dirtying up of the name to happen, its going to be on my shoulders. Laurie Marsh The way hes leading the Church is exactly an example of the way we were raised. So the fact that it was her heart, everything that could have been done to help her was done. So when mother sang in the choir, I must have been, I dont know, 7 or 8 or something. But we just, out of love and not wanting to be left out. and M.D. In 1960, he performed one of the first-ever repairs of tricuspid valve regurgitation. Is that hard? 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. So always active, always doing something, always engaged. And his countenance was back up. Laurie Marsh: Thank you. And he had a Church assignment in England, it was the 150th anniversary of the Church in England. As soon as he saw him, they discussed that and decided. We always had fun. 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. Provided by the Nelson family "He's very driven, very bright and catches on fast. And so a lot of these adjustments that the Church has gone through over these past five years or so its been interesting, for me having been, I was 12 years old when he was called to be in the Quorum of the Twelve. And I remember as a 14-year-old thinking, Man, are we ever gonna go home? Because we are in a different place, a different country, a different something every day, every night. Afterwards, in September, he traveled to church meetings in several European countries. 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. At least I can say this, from my perspective, I know that my dad loves me. [89] A few days before this, Nelson and his counselors met with the national leaders of the NAACP. Nothing. What was it like for the Nelson children to grow up in a home with a world-famous heart surgeon? And while we were there, he met with some families in this meeting before the devotional. First his kind of fast-paced travel around the world 35 nations in about 19 months. And we go to pull this massive wire out of the box and the whole bundle of wires comes out in the shape of a box. And hes helped me and loved me all these years. Russell Marion Nelson Sr. (born September 9, 1924) is an American religious leader and retired surgeon who is the 17th and current president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). They went because they were invited, Marsh said. I had a flashback of when mother had kind of gotten a baby, usually a girl, at that point in time, to sleep, finally, at night. Of course, we were all in tears and trying to deal with that. And theres no surprise to me that we all were so excited to be mothers, because the way he felt that position was such a calling of honor. Gloria Irion: As a father, hes very loving, and, well, as the prophet to youve seen, just very loving, very, Christlike love for everyone. 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. . Sarah Jane Weaver: And I never hear him use words like, must or should. Its something that Ive paid a lot of attention to, because we write his quotes in the Church News. We just loved to help him. They agree she has been a marvelous companion for President Nelson. 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. [100] Nelson had previously characterized the 2015 policy as direction from God, stating "Each of us during that sacred moment felt a spiritual confirmation. I think really, like I say, Im seventh, so Im a younger perspective. Dr. Russell M. Nelson holds a model of the human heart. I knew he loved her and he missed her. And enjoy all the blessings that Heavenly Father wants to give each and every one of us. Laurie Marsh: I felt like from both of my parents the importance of our education that that was stressed. And then in what felt like a very vulnerable moment. And Ill never forget President Nelson looked at that little boy so tenderly. She has this, this spirit of Elijah with her shes just so aware and, you know, just so focused on the temple and temple work and just such a great example. Hes very disciplined, Irion said, noting the word disciplined is tied to the word disciple. Those are words that I think describe him well.. And theyre difficult times for us. [23], Nelson first operated out of the University of Utah's medical school. [You] will . Were pretty low maintenance, but maybe we had sisters or whatever. [38][39] He later served as a stake president in Salt Lake City from 1964 to 1971, with fellow future apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin serving as his second counselor. And I think shes a great sounding board for Daddy and plays a critical role. Thats why were here, but they dont need to be a trial of our faith. President Russell M. Nelson will mark five years as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Jan. 14, 2023. Yeah, he might watch a bowl game on New Years day. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: One thing Ive learned, hearing from others, other General Authorities as we happen to bump into them, and even down into my own life is, watching him allow priesthood holders exercise their keys. But, Laurie Marsh: I was going say I think what I remember too, in those days, Im number seven. But. 2:04 Gloria Irion: Thank you, Sarah. And so is his wife and my mother had an amazing role in that, as well. Or I happened to be serving a mission during most of his time so far, and Preach My Gospel was another one that helped build my faith. Gloria Irion: You know, I just had a thought about what an important thing music was in our home. Really, I can honestly say to this day, my best friends are my sisters, and my brother, and. But there was a deep level of grief all three times and very apparent, helped us navigate it too. And he said, Oh, no, Im just good at taking instruction. I feel like we were so secure because we knew they were secure. [83][84], The first few months of Nelson's leadership of the LDS Church saw many significant changes to church policy, although many had at least been heavily discussed before he became church president, and some were continuations of policies instituted by his predecessors. [76] On the same trip, he visited Puerto Rico. He would come find that baby in the crib, pick her up and nuzzle his nose in her neck, and hold her and smell her, and sing to her,and coo to her, and put her back down and then go back if it was you know, at night after the baby had been put to bed. [97] At the end of the month, Nelson toured five South American countries, during which he met with Peru's president, Martn Vizcarra, gave a major address in Peru in Spanish, and dedicated the Concepcin Chile Temple. And so really, that part is not different. [31], Nelson became involved with the administrative aspects of medicine and was elected president of the Utah State Medical Association. It wasnt me. Shes been a marvelous companion for him since day one, I believe. In a May 2020 interview with the Church News, President Nelson said, "Even through clouds of sorrow, there can be silver linings found.". And just to reinforce Glorias thought about, what a great example of someone who gets up every day and learns something new every day, and Ive quite often use that, just think, OK, this is an opportunity to learn and to grow, rather than going, Oh, I cant do it again. You know, its just an opportunity to learn more and serve more. Just like a heart and a brain worked together to keep your body going, thats how I felt our mom and dad ran our home, he said. [49] He was succeeded as chairman of the executive committee by Oaks. Marsh appreciates her fathers glass-half-full perspective. And, Laurie, lets have you weigh in first. So, those are words that I think describe him well. There was a high expectation that we would be an eternal family, and we were going to be working together to see how we could accomplish that goal.. And so thats probably one of the main lessons that I learned growing up about. "[101] Shortly after the change, Nelson said in a press release that the reversal was, "revelation upon revelation. He next served as member of the Bonneville Stake YMMIA superintendency (a position roughly equivalent to a modern counselor in the stake young men's presidency) and then as a counselor in the bishopric of the Garden Park Ward. In the early years of the Russell and Dantzel Nelson family, daughter Gloria Irion can remember nights when her mother had finally placed a sleeping baby in the crib only to have her father, just home from work, walk in and retrieve the infant. I feel like there was a high level of love in our home. He never misses them, never. President Russell M. Nelson sits down with a puzzle in his spare time. Family bonds were also strengthened through holiday traditions and large gatherings. And I acknowledge that we love Wendy. Prophet, physician, husband and father: A look at the life of President Nelson, 98 statements of counsel from President Nelson in honor of his 98th birthday, Church News podcast, episode 118: Three of President Russell M. Nelsons children celebrate his 5 years as prophet, offering a glimpse into his role as a father, Invitations President Nelson has given since he became Prophet, President Russell M. Nelsons prophetic ministry: 5 years of historic leadership, revelation and invitations, A fulness of joy: President Nelson shares message of eternal life at his daughters funeral, President Nelsons family gathered virtually to celebrate his birthday and hear his hopes for them, The 2 things President Nelson wants his family to know this Christmas, President Nelson is now a great-great grandfather. I remember vividly baths with Daddy, he would get three or four of us in the tub at a time. This letter reiterated existing policies, but also explicitly stated that no one should ever be counseled against reporting abuse to legal authorities. But we never felt that it was tied to their feelings for us. And so thats been a neat thing. He still, to this day, who knows the number of our members in our family, I dont know, off the top of my head. Gloria Irion: Oh, right. I kind of joke around that its kept me good, but I think it really has, because I dont want to do anything to take away from who he is and what hes done. 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 thats less great than his wonderful hugs, but we get to see FaceTime, Daddy gets to see FaceTime for people that are across the country, our missionaries in the world, you know, some of the family members that are missionaries every once in a while, theyll get to tune in on these calls. 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