I want to talk about President Nelson before he was a Church leader. Dallin H. Oaks, then a law professor at Chicago and a fellow Latter-day Saint, actively worked to recruit Nelson. I feel like there was a high level of love in our home. First his kind of fast-paced travel around the world 35 nations in about 19 months. An example I know a lot of us have shared with each other is doing taxes at the end of the year. [15][16] While at the University of Utah, he was a member of the Beta Epsilon chapter of Sigma Chi and Owl and Key. In addition to the large crowd in attendance, the devotional was broadcast across the state. We were at the Washington D.C. Temple rededication. And I acknowledge that we love Wendy. And so its been really neat to see that come through. Gloria Irion: He was kind of busy with his own church callings, too. 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. [117] Dantzel White was a native of Perry, Utah, and first met Nelson when they were the co-leads in a musical produced at the University of Utah. And it was fast-paced and it was hard to keep up with him, but it was also filled with so much love and beautiful moments. He took the lens out of the fishs eye out and said, Look, this is the lens and held it up over a newspaper that was right nearby and showed how it kind of magnified the print on the newspaper. We, we participated. They each had their specific roles, but one couldnt operate properly without the other. [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. [64], Nelson's only son, Russell M. Nelson Jr., served as an LDS missionary in Russia. And they were sitting on the sofa together holding hands. Laurie Marsh: Oh, there are so many I dont even know. And, more importantly, to underscore the Lords hand and Gods creations and how divinely created all of this is and all of our bodies, how they are so intricately designed by our Heavenly Father, that theres no other way we could have come to be had it not been for the divine hand of the Creator. So we were gone in total for about three weeks, two weeks of our own trip, and then a week of his assignment. He became a doctor, Doctor of the heart. While at Minnesota, he was a member of surgeon Clarence Dennis's pioneering research team developing the heart-lung machine that in April 1951 supported the first human open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. What was it like when he came home? President Russell M. Nelson and his first wife, Dantzel White Nelson, at the University of Utah in 1942. You know, like we said, anytime he was home. I mean, you can imagine we always had so much fun, and he would come down and try to get us to go to sleep. [7] In 1984, Nelson and the American jurist Dallin H. Oaks were selected to fill two vacancies in the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. And then number three, we normally would wait for Daddy, to have dinner together as a family. [50], Following the death of Boyd K. Packer[51] on July 3, 2015, Nelson became the most senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve and the quorum's president. 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. This is the way we treat this person. How did President Nelsons academic and professional accomplishments influence his childrens education and career paths? Both parents knew how to teach their children about the why of things, their son said. You get more joy from letting other people have that experience than you do from having that experience yourself. And I thought that was such a beautiful sentiment. I love this idea that she was the first person he looked for when he came home. [98], In December 2018, the church's First Presidency changed the process of youth class progression and priesthood ordination. President Russell M. Nelson was sustained and set apart as the 17th president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, January 14, 2018 in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple. They both played the piano and the organ. And I just kind of said, What do you, what do you want us to do now? Asking from a point of, How can we help you? He had a good way of making very mundane and plain things feel like it was great to do, and great to do together, Russell Nelson Jr. said. [36], In addition to his medical work, Nelson served frequently as a leader in the LDS Church. Its just part of who I am and, and the way I was raised. [74], In June 2018, Nelson traveled to Alberta, Canada, where his second wife was born and raised, and gave three devotional addresses in three consecutive evenings. LDS apostles serve full-time for life, and so Nelson retired from all of his prior professional positions. But it really has been a big blessing, for sure. And you know, he was there with her. I think its important to note, yeah, they encouraged us to do our homework and would be happy to help if we needed it. In the five years since then, he has embarked on a fast-paced global ministry traveling to 35 nations, extending countless invitations, leading the Church through a global pandemic and overseeing the continuing restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. On January 29, 1995, Emily died of cancer when she was 37 years old. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Yeah, its been fun to kind of contrast and compare the way his teachings and ministry happens worldwide now, to the way it was done in our home when we were young, when I was young. Nelson took up this challenge and developed elementary proficiency in Mandarin. But as far as the details, my guess is, because Im the seventh, probably one of my older sisters was really making sure that I was presentable. Gloria Irion: We were so grateful for the technology thats available. They consistently had family home evening. Laurie Marsh: But Daddy still will hand-write a birthday card and mail it to every single member of the family and Christmas and wedding anniversaries. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: I think one of the things that both of them, and especially our dad was really good at, is teaching us why we do things, less about the how and more about the why. And so, obedience or adherence to rules, laws, whatever came with that understanding of why we were doing it. Nelson and Oaks filled the vacancies in the Quorum created by the deaths of LeGrand Richards and Mark E. He couldnt resist. First, he would find and greet his late wife, Dantzel Nelson. Please remember to subscribe to this podcast and if you enjoyed the messages we shared today, please make sure you share the podcast with others. [114] The following year, Nelson married Wendy L. Watson (b. President Russell M. Nelson was sustained and set apart as the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple. But a lot of the things that he made look easy, for me, now as a parent, with kids, ranging from 14 to 26 years old, takes a lot of effort and takes a lot of knowledge. Gloria Irion: I could probably do my own hair by them. Pinterest. And that if we can be obedient, and make and keep our covenants, well be able to live eternally as a family with Heavenly Father again. [49] He was succeeded as chairman of the executive committee by Oaks. The way he is leading the Church is exactly an example of the way we were raised, a daughter said. You know, we do a lot of Zoom calls. That doesnt sound like fun at all now as an adult, but somehow he made it seem like it was something that obviously, it needed to be done. And Ive watched him help and love a lot of people along the way. ", "Discovering a Surgical First: Russell M. Nelson and Tricuspid Valve Annuloplasty", "At U. Commencement, President Nelson and Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell give advice about adversity", "U of U Health - Celebrating 60 Years of Cardiac Surgery in Utah With Russell M. Nelson, M.D. And theyre difficult times for us. Screenshot from YouTube And as the evening was winding down, it was time for us to go and go back to our homes. 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. Six people named the daughter and son-in-law of the president of the Mormon church in a lawsuit Wednesday on charges of child sexual abuse. [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. Laurie Marsh: It was a great experience. [41] Early in his service as an apostle, Nelson was an adviser to the church's Young Women organization and was supportive of the developing of the Young Women values and Personal Progress program. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: And we were just, and we would just love to help him and doing taxes. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS A children's magazine published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gloria Irion: I agree. He would come find that baby in the crib, pick her up, nuzzle his nose in her neck, hold her and smell her and sing to her and coo to her, and put her back down, Irion said. Gloria Irion: I think he took those, you know, those circumstances happen so seldom, that I feel like he really tried to take those opportunities to teach us and to help us focus on the eternal, like you, like you said. But I wouldnt say that its an overwhelming thought thats always at the forefront of my mind. Laurie Marsh: I think I have probably learned from President Nelson the importance of my relationship with my Savior and how that can help with everything that we do thats full of joy, or not full of joy, in our life. The Nelsons have nine daughters, and then one son so your memories of him would be a little different. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Thats kind of like coming home from your mission and they say, How was your mission? How do you sum up two years in a sentence? Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Right after our mom passed away, that was the first time in my life that Id ever seen him visibly sad, or not the cheerful countenance that he usually had for that year plus, after our moms passing. Absolutely not. And then go to Laurie and end with Russ. Another word I think of is discipline. Hes very disciplined. And I had quite a collection, so I thought, What would Mother love, a string of these for a necklace. So I got a needle and thread and strung those beautiful pearly looking things together for my mother and gave it to her. The children noticed when their father complimented their mother. Dont know what I did in the pre-life, but Im grateful every day to be the daughter of Russell and Dantzel Nelson. [63], In August 2010, Nelson journeyed to the dedication of the Kiev Ukraine Temple. I kind of watched him deflect some praise that someone was directing toward him. He was there. I just move forward and do as Im directed. And that was a lesson for me too. President Russell M. Nelson with daughter Sylvia Webster and three great-grandchildren. So yeah, we know that hes curious. Number two, he would look around to turn off any electrics, that were extra, you know, like the TV or more lights than he felt should be on. Lost and Found Friends. And hes helped me and loved me all these years. [72], Since becoming church president, Nelson has visited members of the LDS Church in various areas of the world. 2:04 Gloria Irion: Thank you, Sarah. And it was one of the biggest blessings of my life. Nelson's father was a reporter for the Deseret News and later became general manager of Gillham Advertising, Utah's earliest advertising agency. And I just feel like hes just made it very clear of the importance of having Christ be the center of my life. And really, you dont need to be the child of Russell and Dantzel Nelson to have those blessings. It was our privilege as apostles to sustain what had been revealed to President Monson. And thats the way theyve been with everyone that joined our family, whether it was after our sister passed away and a new mother would come in for these kids. In this assignment, he worked closely with Dennis B. Neuenschwander and Hans B. There is no surprise to me that we were all so excited to be mothers because of the way he felt that position was such a place of honor, such a calling of honor. Wendy Nelson Maxfield, daughter of Russell M. Nelson, died Friday afternoon, January 11, 2019 at her home after "a courageous and faith-filled battle with cancer." . Sister Nelson passed away in February 2005. And we knew that. [54], In 2016, as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Nelson declared that the church's governing council had received a revelation from God forbidding minor children of same-sex couples from being baptized without First Presidency approval. He was set apart as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by President Thomas S. Monson on July 15, 2015. Famous Military Physician Russell M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924 in United States. [66] He developed ties with the medical community in China and made several trips there to train surgeons. Nelson signed 1,150 mission calls as the presiding apostle. So we preceded that trip with our own personal trip, where we did some family history findings throughout Scandinavia. 1950) in the Salt Lake Temple. This letter reiterated existing policies, but also explicitly stated that no one should ever be counseled against reporting abuse to legal authorities. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Even, a long time ago, I was 14, right after my freshman year of high school, I was the only one at home. "I feel pure joy every time I welcome a new member of our family into the world." From left: Marjorie Lowder; Elder Michael T. Ringwood, a General Authority Seventy; Sister Rosalie Ringwood; and Wendy Maxfield. We just loved to help him. In Massachusetts, Nelson was the secretary for the adult Aaronic priesthood organization in his Boston-area branch. Sometimes, it was keeping Daddy from sleeping. [29] In 1985, Nelson along with his colleague, Conrad B. Jenson, performed a quadruple bypass surgery on the Chinese opera performer Fang Rongxiang[zh] (19251989). And while we were there, he met with some families in this meeting before the devotional. I think the world at large has seen that hes been preserved, but to see the preparation that has happened, and to hear from him about receiving instruction, receiving guidance, following that guidance, is such a testimony to me about the prophet and the Lord communicating with the Church through the prophet and communicating with the world. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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. Really, I can honestly say to this day, my best friends are my sisters, and my brother, and. Sarah Jane Weaver: We have a tradition at the Church News podcast. I think a perfect example is, quite often on Mothers Day he would buy her a corsage. Sarah Jane Weaver: It is great to have you with us today. After 20 months in service, he left active duty at the rank of captain. The three children concluded the interview with key lessons learned from their father, President Nelson. When Daddy was called to be an apostle, I lived in Michigan at the time. Here he is in his 90s and always up on the latest technology with the great help that he gets. [24] He was at the forefront of surgeons focusing attention on coronary artery disease,[26] and contributed to the advance of valvular surgery as well. Laurie Marsh The way hes leading the Church is exactly an example of the way we were raised. 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