Difference between revisions of "Russell M. Nelson"

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Elder Russell M. Nelson is a current member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Russell M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924. As a boy, his interests varied. He did errands for his father's advertising company at the age of ten, and would later work, part-time, in a photo studio, a bank, and the post office. He had an excellent singing voice and performed often, as well as participating in the debate team. He was also interested in football, but was usually kept on the bench--perhaps he was too defensive of his hands (say, being stepped on).

Elder Nelson entered medicine in college and by the time he'd graduated from the four year program in 1945, he was already a year into medical school. He was an M.D. in 1947. He was twenty-two.

He was also married. Dantzel White had a beautiful singing voice. He heard it (he was performing in the same play, in fact), was smitten, and married her three years later, in 1945. Dantzel finished her bachelor's degree and taught school until her first child was born.

Elder Nelson interned at the University of Minnesota and rather promptly went on to make medical history. He worked on the team that developed the first machine which could perform the functions of a patient's heart and lungs, while the patient was undergoing heart surgery. In 1951, it was used for the first time in surgery (the first open heart surgery in history), where it performed well. Four years later, he would perform the first successful open heart surgery (using the heart-lung machine) in Utah.

Elder Nelson would perform a number of firsts in Utah related to heart surgery. He was nationally known as an exceptional surgeon, as well, even elected president of the Society of Vascular Surgery.

But, when called as an Apostle in 1984, he took on his new responsibility with a good heart. His focus changed from medicine to the Gospel. As he joked shortly after his ordination: “I’m eagerly looking forward to this privilege of service. I’ve thought how nice it will be to have people come to see me who want to see me! All these years people have been coming to my office who really would rather not be there. I expect the majority of my appointments now will be of a joyous nature.”

Nelson has served with the skill and enthusiasm which marked his professional work, but family has never lost importance. Family, according to Nelson (and the Mormon Church) has always been highest priority. If Elder Nelson was often away, when he came home, he was truly, truly home. The family spent a lot of time together.

Dantzel and Russell Nelson had ten children, 56 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. They were not untouched by tragedy. Their daughter, Emily, died a young mother of five. Dantzel died unexpectedly in early 2005. Nelson spoke of his thoughts about her death in the General Conference of April 2005.

In 2006, Elder Nelson married Wendy L. Watson, a professor of marriage and family therapy at BYU.

Books by and about Elder Nelson

• Perfection Pending and Other Favorite Discourses
• The Gateway We Call Death
• Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle by Spencer J. Condie

Quotes from Elder Russell M. Nelson

• "Why is the power to act in the name of God so important? Why is it important that bearers of the priesthood prepare to serve with power? Because the priesthood is of eternal significance. The priesthood benefits every man, woman, and child who now lives, who has lived, and who yet will live upon the earth. Those who hold the priesthood need to prepare in order to make the blessings of priesthood power readily available to all of God's children. Those who hold priesthood keys need to understand how to use those keys wisely and righteously."

"Keys of the Priesthood," Ensign, Oct. 2005

• "Marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue, and the foundation for eternal exaltation. Marriage has been divinely designated as an eternal and everlasting covenant. Marriage is sanctified when it is cherished and honored in holiness. That union is not merely between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God.... Marriage is but the beginning bud of family life; parenthood is its flower. And that bouquet becomes even more beautiful when graced with grandchildren. Families may become as eternal as the kingdom of God itself."

“Nurturing Marriage,” Ensign, May 2006