After 20 months in service, he left active duty at the rank of captain. He earned an M.D. Obedience or adherence to rules and laws came with the understanding of why we were doing it, Russell Nelson Jr. said. And I think thats something that I treasure. Just have faith in the Lord, do your best and everythings going to be okay. 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. And if Norm [Norman A. Maxfield, the husband of President Nelsons late daughter, Wendy Maxfield] needed him for anything, he would come. She was 78 at the time of her sudden death. He said, I never left them. And, and then you look back. Laurie Marsh: Really, we have extraordinary parents, but we are a normal family. [24], In 2015, the University of Utah, along with the American College of Cardiology, created the Russell M. Nelson MD, PhD Visiting Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery. He spent the next 29 years working in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. [20] Nelson was also the director of the University of Utah thoracic surgery residency program. With the death of Monson on January 2, 2018, Nelson became the anticipated successor to the church's presidency. Days later, the Shanghai Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau responded saying it "knew nothing about the American Mormon Church . I think we taught him patience and long-suffering. Gloria Irion: Sure. And so he was always very loving and caring. And a husband and a wife work together in a family. It also provided more clear policies mandating all interviews with women and youth be done with another person in the general area, and made it clear that youth and women could have a parent or other adult present for an interview. Nelson then attended the University of Utah School of Medicine, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1947 ranked first in his class. Afterwards, in September, he traveled to church meetings in several European countries. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: And so, there was a time I wanted to be a doctor and I think he was kind of proud of that. Its just part of who I am and, and the way I was raised. In the 2021 Friend to Friend event, President Russell M. Nelson gave this message to children around the world. I knew he loved her and he missed her. Were so grateful for that technology that allows us to do that. [65] While there, Nelson visited government officials, was interviewed by Yuzhnaya Stalitsa television, and dedicated that country for the preaching of the gospel. The meeting took place the day before the church's Rome Italy Temple was dedicated. [98], In December 2018, the church's First Presidency changed the process of youth class progression and priesthood ordination. Gloria Irion: We would go on dates. He made everything look easy. [44] For a time he was also the church's representative to a US State Department committee on international religious freedom. I dont remember him watching TV. Gloria Irion: I agree. . Did you focus on science and math? The children noticed when their father complimented their mother. Ordained an Apostle on 12 April 1984, Elder Nelson received his B.A. And so I think we had a lot of stuff going on on Saturdays to prepare for Sunday. During his tenure the Sunday School developed a unified 8-year-cycle of covering the LDS Church's scriptures in its curriculum. And we have a couple of things in place. And so I saw him the Sunday after they came back from their honeymoon. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She, like my mother, is a very Christ-centered person. [76] On the same trip, he visited Puerto Rico. [42], In 1991, Nelson served as the negotiator for the LDS Church with the Internal Revenue Service over whether contributions to support missionaries serving would be tax deductible. I think really, like I say, Im seventh, so Im a younger perspective. On April 14, 2022, Nelson surpassed Gordon B. Hinckley to become the oldest president in the history of the church. [48], From 2007 to 2015, Nelson was as a member of the Church Boards of Trustees/Education, the governing body of the Church Educational System, and the chairman of its executive committee. I want to talk about President Nelson before he was a Church leader. [27] He also provided the first surgical intervention for tricuspid regurgitation, a disorder that allows blood to flow backward into the right upper heart chamber. Laurie Marsh: OK. He talks about losing his wife to a heart attack after having spent his whole career studying and treating and operating on the heart. There was no question he was the head of the home. And so I think that was very much an emphasis in our home. President Nelson did not push his children one way or another in their career choices. 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. I only remember four, maybe four or five, of my sisters at home at once rather than all nine or 10 of us being together. Before holding his babies, the world-renowned heart surgeon had something of a routine when he came home each day, Marsh remembers. 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. [15] Nelson began his first year of medical school while still an undergraduate, and completed the four-year MD program in only three years. I dont remember him watching TV. So for me, its not been anything different. [61], In August 2003, Nelson became the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve to visit Kazakhstan. from the University of Utah in 1947, shortly after completing his medical degree. 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. He committed it. He really didnt raise his voice. "The purpose of the Church is to bring the blessings of God to His children on both sides of the veil," he said. When Daddy was called to be an apostle, I lived in Michigan at the time. Russell Nelson Jr. knew he could ask his father anything and he would always provide the answer. They have agreed to talk to us about President Nelson in his role as a father. Friend. And quite often he had callings and stuff that would take him out of the home after dinner, but sometimes he was home. And it was one of the biggest blessings of my life. Its really hard. [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. What was it like for the Nelson children to grow up in a home with a world-famous heart surgeon? And you know, he was there with her. So we all have that exact same opportunity. Hes very disciplined, Irion said, noting the word disciplined is tied to the word disciple. Those are words that I think describe him well.. Shes a good one, such a blessing to our family. Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox, The three things you need to know everyday, Highlights from the last week to keep you informed. And Its been interesting, as you know, Ive been a parent now for a little over 25 years, how I look back now, in retrospect, how easy he made everything look. Find us on your favorite podcasting channel or with other news and updates about the Church on TheChurchNews.com. 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? [80][81][82], In August 2019, Nelson visited Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil. In Massachusetts, Nelson was the secretary for the adult Aaronic priesthood organization in his Boston-area branch. Gloria Irion: As a father, hes very loving, and, well, as the prophet to youve seen, just very loving, very, Christlike love for everyone. Absolutely not. He was there. 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. [4][17], After medical school, Nelson went to the University of Minnesota for his medical residency. As soon as he saw him, they discussed that and decided. 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. So hed leave the stake center and come and pick us up. 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. Faust. I once saw Russs birth announcement and it had a picture of nine girls on the front and said, Boy, oh, boy. Doing taxes doesnt sound like fun at all as an adult, but its something we just did together and had fun doing together.. President Russell M. Nelson was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 7, 1984. I also feel like if somebodys got a job to do, let them do it and I think hes a good cheerleader. There was also a shift from having members of the Sunday School general board do all the training for new teachers to providing materials which developed into the book Teaching: No Greater Call. ", "Members 'offend' Jesus and please the devil when they use the term 'Mormon,' President Nelson says", "General Conference, October 2018, Russell M. Nelson", "President Nelson in South America: 8 inspiring moments from the recent ministry tour", "What church changes for 11-year-olds mean for 2019 and beyond", In Major Shift, LDS Church Rolls Back Controversial Policies Toward LGBT Members, LDS Apostle: Policy on same-sex couples was revelation from God, LDS Church dumps its controversial LGBTQ policy, cites 'continuing revelation' from God, "Prophet Introduces a New Proclamation to the World: "The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ", "How rare a proclamation: A look at 2020's on the Restoration and the 5 previous in Church history", In India, the story of the India LDS Temple Announcement Is Revealed, President Nelson Dedicates Concepcion Chile Temple, Why President Nelson took all Latter-day Saint Apostles to Rome and What They Said About It, Historic Photo of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in Rome, "Plans for an LDS temple in Shanghai may have hit an obstacle", "Mormon church to open first temple in mainland China", "Elder Nelson's wife, Dantzel, dies at age 78", "Wendy Nelson Maxfield, daughter of LDS Church President Russell Nelson, dies at 67", "Elder Russell M. Nelson Marries Wendy L. Watson", Carrie A. Moore, "Elder Nelson marries BYU Professor", "LDS Church News - Elder Nelson, pioneer heart surgeon, honored", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", "Awards Banquet Draws 'Giants of Achievement', "Elder Russell M. Nelson Counsels New Doctors to Read Scriptures - Church News and Events", "A 'true medical pioneer,' President Nelson honored with lifetime achievement medal for innovation", "U Board of Trustees announces 2021 honorary degree recipients | @theU", "Honorary Degree Recipients by Year (1892-2022)", "General Authorities and General Officers: President Russell M. Nelson", The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russell_M._Nelson&oldid=1133675132, President of the Thoracic Surgical Directors Association, President of the Utah State Medical Association, Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the, Chairman of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the, Vice-chairman of the board of governors at the LDS Hospital, "Heart of Gold Award", American Heart Association, "Governor's Medal of Science: Lifetime Achievement Award", Utah Technology Innovation Summit, "Advocate of the Arts" award presented by the, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 00:24. Almost a fishy-smelling string of pearls. Gloria Irion: Oh, right. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: So much of our activities had to do with just being together, whether it was, you know, very early on, we would have monthly family parties, Christmas traditions, we could almost dictate the whole month of December by the traditions that we would do day by day and week by week. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. And I actually lament reaching this point in the podcast, because I could hear you guys talk about your father all day long. Nelson served in that bishopric for over five years at a time when the ward had over 1,000 members. Dear Friends. He was sustained in a Solemn Assembly on March 31, 2018. . In August 2022, President Nelson traveled outside of Utah for the first time since the . . So, I mean, that leaves a lot of, I guess a lot of weight. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Yeah, thats, thats well-documented in, in the books. While on duty, he was assigned to a research group formed by the commandant of the graduate school at Walter Reed, Col. William S. Stone and led by Dr. Fiorindo A. Simeone, a professor of surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland who had been a clinical investigator in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II. [4] He was chair of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at LDS Hospital. And summer trips to places, whether, if we went in the car or however we got there, again, it was more about being together and strengthening those relationships with each other. And so he always just took even simple moments like that, to teach and to show how things worked. I have felt during his leadership, the importance of living our lives focused on the Savior and that that should be our number one priority, no matter what were doing. Daddy was able to participate in the school musical up at the University of Utah his freshman year. And we try to unwind it and we try to untangle it and he kind of just stops for a second, exasperated and looks up at me goes, This reminds me of fishing with your sisters.. 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. But I know he spent a lot of time with her and with their family and tried to be supportive. And so, like Laurie said, hes always been very consistent throughout his whole life. Nelson signed 1,150 mission calls as the presiding apostle. But we have a tradition at the Churchs podcast and that is we always end with the same question. We just need to be a child of God and we all are. Nelson served in a variety of lay LDS Church leadership positions during his surgical career, beginning locally in Salt Lake City and then as the LDS Church's Sunday School General President from 1971 to 1979. He said, Well, its like being a father. You probably came into a little more chaotic home than, than the average son. And a constant forever is that routine of coming home and finding mother and greeting her and then having dinner together was always a great thing. And as the evening was winding down, it was time for us to go and go back to our homes. The Soccer . I mean, I can remember having so many fun experiences. 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. And I think we had as much fun after we came home from our dates as we did on the dates. When she passed, it wasnt OK, well, weve got this eternal perspective and lets move on. I dont want that to come across. [10][11] His parents were not active in the Latter-day Saint faith while he was a youth, but they did send him to Sunday School,[12] and he was baptized a member of the LDS Church at age 16. 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