Russell M. Nelson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Russell M. Nelson
Nelson in 2018
17th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14) – September 27, 2025 (2025-09-27)
Predecessor	Thomas S. Monson
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
July 3, 2015 (2015-07-03) – January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14)
Predecessor	Boyd K. Packer
Successor	Dallin H. Oaks
End reason	Became President of the Church
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 7, 1984 (1984-04-07) – January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14)
Called by	Spencer W. Kimball
End reason	Became President of the Church
LDS Church Apostle
April 12, 1984 (1984-04-12) – September 27, 2025 (2025-09-27)
Called by	Spencer W. Kimball
Reason	Death of LeGrand Richards
Military career
1951–1953
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Army Medical Corps
Battles/wars	Korean War
Personal details
Born	Russell Marion Nelson (1924-09-09)September 9, 1924 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Died	(2025-09-27)September 27, 2025 (aged 101) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Education	University of Utah (BA, MD) University of Minnesota (PhD)
Occupation	Cardiothoracic surgeon
Spouse(s)	Dantzel White ​ ​ (m. 1945; died 2005)​ Wendy L. Watson ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	10 (2 deceased)
Signature

Russell Marion Nelson Sr. (born September 9, 1924 – died September 27, 2025) was an important American religious leader and a skilled heart surgeon. He served as the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before becoming president, he was a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for almost 34 years, leading that group from 2015 to 2018. As the church president, members recognized him as a prophet, seer, and revelator, meaning they believed he received guidance from God.

Nelson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He studied at the University of Utah and the University of Minnesota, where he became a doctor and helped develop the heart-lung machine. This machine was crucial for the first human open-heart surgery using a special bypass technique. After serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War, he became a professor and a well-known heart surgeon. He performed nearly 7,000 operations in his career.

In 1984, Nelson was called to serve as an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became the church's president in 2018 and led many significant changes, including shortening Sunday church meetings and emphasizing the use of the church's full name. He also announced plans for many new temples around the world.

Russell M. Nelson: A Life of Service

Early Life and Education

Russell M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Floss Edna and Marion Clavar Nelson. He had two sisters and one brother. His father worked for a newspaper and later in advertising. Even though his parents were not very active in their faith when he was young, they sent him to Sunday School. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 16.

Becoming a Doctor

As a teenager, Nelson attended LDS Business College while still in high school. He also worked as an assistant at a bank. He finished high school at 16 and then went to the University of Utah. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1945. He then continued his studies at the University of Utah School of Medicine, finishing his medical degree in just three years, graduating first in his class at age 22.

After medical school, Nelson went to the University of Minnesota for more training. There, he joined a research team that was creating the heart-lung machine. This amazing machine helped support the first human open-heart surgery in 1951. Nelson earned a Ph.D. in 1954 for his important research contributions.

A Remarkable Medical Career

Service in the Military

Nelson served for two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War. He was stationed in Washington, D.C., and worked with a research group focused on improving care for wounded soldiers. This team traveled to various hospitals and even close to the front lines in Korea. He left the army as a Captain. After his military service, he completed more surgical training in Massachusetts.

Pioneering Heart Surgery

In 1955, Nelson returned to Salt Lake City and became a professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He built his own heart-lung bypass machine. He used it to perform the first open-heart surgery west of the Mississippi River in the United States. This made him one of the first surgeons in the country to successfully perform such an operation. He also directed the university's heart surgery training program.

Nelson was a leader in pediatric heart surgery, performing the first successful operation on a child with a complex heart condition in 1956. He also helped advance surgery for coronary artery disease and heart valve problems. He performed nearly 7,000 operations during his career. In 2015, the University of Utah and the American College of Cardiology honored him by creating a special professorship in his name.

Leadership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Early Church Roles

Throughout his medical career, Nelson also served in many leadership roles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a local leader in Minnesota and Washington, D.C. After returning to Salt Lake City, he worked with youth and served as a counselor in a local congregation's leadership. From 1964 to 1971, he was a stake president, overseeing several congregations. For ten years, he also volunteered at Temple Square, giving tours to visitors.

From 1971 to 1979, Nelson served as the church's Sunday School General President. During this time, the Sunday School developed a new curriculum to study the church's scriptures over an eight-year cycle.

Called as an Apostle

In 1984, Russell M. Nelson was called to be an apostle by church president Spencer W. Kimball. An apostle is a special witness of Jesus Christ and a senior leader in the church. He became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 7, 1984. He served in this quorum for many years, becoming its president in 2015.

Traveling the World as an Apostle

As an apostle, Nelson traveled extensively, overseeing the church's work in many parts of the world, including Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and China. He met with government officials and helped the church grow in new areas. For example, he dedicated Kazakhstan for the preaching of the gospel in 2003. He also learned to speak some Mandarin and built connections with the medical community in China. In 2011, he organized the first church stake in Moscow, Russia.

President of the Church: Guiding Millions

Nelson in 2012

Following the passing of President Thomas S. Monson on January 2, 2018, Russell M. Nelson became the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was ordained and set apart as church president on January 14, 2018. He then introduced his counselors, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, who would help him lead the church.

On April 14, 2022, President Nelson became the oldest president in the church's history. On August 8, 2022, he also became the church's oldest apostle ever. He celebrated his 100th birthday on September 9, 2024, with a special worldwide broadcast.

Worldwide Ministry

As church president, Nelson traveled to many countries to meet with church members. These trips were called global ministry tours. In April 2018, he visited places like London, Jerusalem, Kenya, India, and Hong Kong. He also visited Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. In September 2018, he gave a talk entirely in Spanish in the Dominican Republic, which was a first for a church president in a formal setting.

In March 2019, President Nelson met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. This was a historic meeting, as it was the first time a Pope and a President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had met face-to-face.

Important Changes and Guidance

During his presidency, Nelson introduced several important changes and provided guidance to church members.

• In March 2018, the church emphasized policies to prevent and respond to abuse, making it clear that abuse should always be reported to legal authorities.
• In April 2018, he appointed Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
• He also made changes to church organization, combining some priesthood groups and replacing "home teaching" and "visiting teaching" with a new "ministering" program. This program encourages members to care for each other.
• In June 2018, he encouraged youth to take a break from social media for seven days.
• In August 2018, Nelson asked members to use the full name of the church, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." He explained that this was a correction and a command from the Lord.
• In October 2018, he shortened Sunday church meetings from three hours to two hours.
• In December 2018, the church changed how youth move between classes and priesthood groups, making it happen at the beginning of the year they turn a certain age.
• In April 2019, a church policy was adjusted to better support families and reduce conflict, reflecting "revelation upon revelation."
• On April 5, 2020, Nelson issued a new proclamation called "The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World." This special message marked the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's First Vision.

Building Temples Worldwide

A major focus of President Nelson's time as church president was on temples. He announced plans for 185 new temples to be built around the world. These included the first temples in countries like India, Nicaragua, Russia, and Cambodia. He traveled to dedicate several temples, including the Rome Italy Temple in March 2019. This dedication was special because all current members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles attended, gathering outside the United States for the first time in decades.

Family Life

While studying at the University of Utah, Nelson met Dantzel White (1926–2005). They married on August 31, 1945, in the Salt Lake Temple. They had ten children together: nine daughters and one son. Dantzel was a talented singer and was a member of the Tabernacle Choir.

Dantzel Nelson passed away on February 12, 2005. The following year, Nelson married Wendy L. Watson (born 1950) in the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 2006. Wendy was a professor before her retirement.

Awards and Recognition

Russell M. Nelson received many honors for his medical work and service.

• President of the Society for Vascular Surgery (1975)
• President of the Utah State Medical Association
• Chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association
• "Citation for International Service" and "Heart of Gold Award" from the American Heart Association
• "Golden Plate Award" from the American Academy of Achievement
• "Distinguished Alumni Award" from the University of Utah
• "Surgical Alumnus of the Year Award" from the University of Minnesota Medical School
• "Governor's Medal of Science: Lifetime Achievement Award"
• "Advocate of the Arts" award
• "2023 Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize" from Morehouse College

In June 2018, the University of Utah created a special professorship in cardiothoracic surgery named after Nelson and his first wife, Dantzel.

Honorary Degrees

Passing of a Leader

Russell M. Nelson passed away on September 27, 2025, in Salt Lake City. He was 101 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Russell M. Nelson para niños

• Council on the Disposition of the Tithes
• Michael T. Ringwood