Both parents played the piano and their mother was a talented singer. They each had their specific roles but one couldnt operate properly without the other. 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. Nelson signed 1,150 mission calls as the presiding apostle. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Oh, I dont know, Ive got a couple of funny stories, but I dont know. During that period, the Latter-day Saint Prophet has embarked on a fast-paced global ministry that has taken him to 35 countries, guided the Church through a pandemic, extended many invitations and continued to oversee the ongoing restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was part of how they met, too, that musical up at the U. But yeah, music was something we love to do together. [66] He developed ties with the medical community in China and made several trips there to train surgeons. Yet your family has a reputation of not expecting to be treated any different than any other Latter-day Saints. And so all those little experiences add up to neat memories of him as a father and a teacher, but also of how Gods hand is in everything. After 20 months in service, he left active duty at the rank of captain. Laurie Marsh: Thank you. [34] He was also a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Irion added her witness that President Nelson has been prepared and preserved to lead the Church. President Russell M. Nelson and his wife Wendy Watson Nelson with family with family at the temple. 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 hes brilliant. A good example is you see all of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles each having their own opportunities to dedicate temples. They talk about President Nelsons Church leadership and offer a unique glimpse into his role as a father, husband and teacher. Nelson was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 7, 1984, during the church's general conference. 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. As of April 2022, Nelson has announced a total of 100 new temples to be built in several countries around the world. [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. [106] With the temple in Nicaragua, Nelson fulfilled an apostolic promise he had made to church members there six years earlier. The unnamed plaintiffs alleged that Richard and Brenda Miles, son-in-law and daughter of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints president Russell M. Nelson, hosted "touching parties" in the 1980s where children as young as one-year-old were . We are taking you on a journey of connection as we discuss news and events of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a real love of my parents. [100] Nelson had previously characterized the 2015 policy as direction from God, stating "Each of us during that sacred moment felt a spiritual confirmation. Is there something that you have learned from observing his Church leadership? He treated her like royalty, Russell Nelson Jr. said. "[94][95][96], In the October 2018 general conference, Nelson adjusted the balance between a home-centered, church-supported form of worship. Almost a fishy-smelling string of pearls. She, like my mother, is a very Christ-centered person. [33], Nelson was honored nationally by being elected president of the Society for Vascular Surgery for the year 1975. This is the way we treat this person, you know. And so we just try to follow their example, because theyre following the Lords example. That was a good window into the eternities and how we just keep going, Russell Nelson Jr. said. Our inheritance is sacred. [18][19][20], Nelson served a two-year term of duty in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War, and was stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: 217 total, I think was the last number I knew. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Yeah, theres no question I was well-mothered. [114] Together they had ten children: nine daughtersMarsha, Wendy (19512019),[115] Gloria, Brenda, Sylvia, Emily (19581995),[116] Laurie, Rosalie, and Marjorieand a son, Russell Jr. (b. Ultimately, I ended up making a change halfway through college and went into the business world but hes, like Laurie said, hes still proud of who we are and who weve become and, for our own accomplishments. When she passed, it wasnt OK, well, weve got this eternal perspective and lets move on. I dont want that to come across. With the death of Monson on January 2, 2018, Nelson became the anticipated successor to the church's presidency. A family photo of President Russell M. Nelson on a swing. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Maybe, yeah, maybe upon my first arrival it was a little chaotic and a lot of people coming and going, but you know as I aged up to a point where I can start remembering things and it actually was a more quiet home. And I, Im not sure Ill have time for that. And he said, Well, why dont you just come to a rehearsal and see what you think and, you know, just kind of come and check it out. So he comes, and he looks on the stage at the female lead role, and it was Dansel White, and he decided he would participate. [76] On the same trip, he visited Puerto Rico. 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. Despite his own sorrow, President Nelson encouraged his children to be with their children, to love them and teach them about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation. [79], On March 9, 2019, Nelson met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. I feel like there was a high level of love in our home. He became a doctor, Doctor of the heart. 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. The proclamation coincided with the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's First Vision and is the sixth proclamation issued by the church in its history.[103][104]. 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. In 2018, Nelson announced 19 new temples, seven in April and 12 in October, among which were the first in India, Nicaragua, Russia, and Cambodia. Were there other things that you did on a regular basis that you enjoyed doing together? He honored us as women as well as potential mothers.. So I didnt have a real close view of it, but I do remember asking him the same thing. [21] Following his military service, he did a year of work and surgical training at Massachusetts General Hospital. I think hes, I dont know, mind over matter what. Since then, he has embarked on a fast-paced global ministry, traveling to more than 35 nations, extending countless invitations, leading the Church through a global pandemic and overseeing the continued Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is anticipated that the process of creating the new unified hymnbook and children's songbook will take several years. But we never felt that it was tied to their feelings for us. Gloria Irion: Theres about 150 great-grands, 57 grands. The meeting took place the day before the church's Rome Italy Temple was dedicated. And then we experienced the pandemic and there was great effort to make sure that President Nelson stayed well. An example I know a lot of us have shared with each other is doing taxes at the end of the year. And even so, he was going to do what he was called on to do and I knew he loved her and was grieving. I feel like there was a high level of love in our home. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: But and then, you know, another, since were talking about fishing, a related memory to that is he would, you know after we would clean the fish out. Provided by the Nelson family "He's very driven, very bright and catches on fast. What can we do for you? And he just said, Just go home and be with your, your children and love them and teach them. And so that right there was to me a good window into the eternities of how we just keep going. [39][4], Nelson was called as an apostle by church president Spencer W. Kimball, to whom he had served as a personal physician for many years. We were serving in Nauvoo when the sister just older than I am, passed away, Wendy, that was just before they went to Paradise, California. When he was home, he was home, Marsh said. Thats what I remember. So we all have that exact same opportunity. [15][16] While at the University of Utah, he was a member of the Beta Epsilon chapter of Sigma Chi and Owl and Key. [118], Dantzel Nelson died unexpectedly at their home in Salt Lake City on February 12, 2005, at age 78. [119] Watson, originally from Raymond, Alberta, was a professor of marriage and family therapy at BYU prior to her retirement in 2006. And hes helped me and loved me all these years. At one point, the team came close enough to the front that they received fire from enemy artillery positions, which missed them. Days later, the Shanghai Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau responded saying it "knew nothing about the American Mormon Church . And we had the privilege of having Wendy Watson as a neighbor before their marriage. I hope you have learned something today about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by peering with me through the Church News window. He had a confirmation right then that this was a blessing that she went in a twinkling of an eye, basically, and kind of had to start accepting that. the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, receives hugs from family members after he and his councilors President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor held a press conference at the church office building in Salt Lake City Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Shes precious and an angel mother, he called her, Irion said.