File photo: Russell M Nelson (Picture credit: X/@NelsonRussellM)
Russell M Nelson, the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its oldest leader in history, died peacefully at his Salt Lake City home Saturday night at the age of 101, church officials announced.Nelson, a former heart surgeon, became a member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984 and ascended to the presidency in January 2018 following the death of Thomas S Monson, according to news agency AP. He marked a historic milestone in 2024 as the first president of the faith to reach 100 years of age.“All of us who have worked with Russell M Nelson, and the many he has taught and associated with, have marveled at his extraordinary modesty for a man of his great accomplishments,” said President Dallin H Oaks, first counsellor in the First Presidency. “And [we] have marvelled at his gentleness. He is just the gentlest and sweetest person you could ever hope to associate with. And he will always be remembered that way”, Oaks added, as cited by Fox 13 Now.Nelson’s tenure was marked by major changes in the faith. In 2018, he asked members to stop using the shorthand terms “Mormon” and “LDS” for the church, a move reversing decades of branding. He also repealed rules restricting baptisms for children of same-sex couples and worked to balance LGBTQ+ inclusion with traditional church teachings. His administration, however, maintained prohibitions on same-sex marriage and limited participation for members undergoing gender-affirming procedures.Nelson led the church through the Covid-19 pandemic, oversaw the end of its century-long affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America, and accelerated temple construction worldwide. He also promoted leadership diversity and published regional hymnbooks celebrating local cultures. Nelson forged a formal partnership with the NAACP and emphasised the church’s commitment to global membership.During his tenure, the church faced scrutiny over its handling of sexual abuse reports. Nelson and other leaders defended church procedures, saying the reporting hotline was focused on child protection and not concealment. Guidelines were updated to allow children to bring a parent or adult to interviews with local leaders and to ensure no abuse report is ignored.Nelson was born in Salt Lake City in 1924, became a doctor at 22, and served in the Army during the Korean War before returning to a distinguished medical career. He was married twice, first to Dantzel White, with whom he had 10 children, and after her death in 2005, to Wendy Watson in 2006.Following Nelson’s death, the church has not immediately named his successor. By tradition, the most senior apostle assumes the presidency, which in this case is Dallin H Oaks, who has served as Nelson’s first counsellor and president of the Quorum of the Twelve since 2018. The formal announcement will follow Nelson’s funeral.
