President Russell M. Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died Saturday night. He served as the prophet from 2018 until his passing and was known for his sweeping changes within the church.
According to the church, Nelson passed away peacefully in his home. He was 101 years old, the oldest prophet in church history.
Nelson worked as a pioneering heart surgeon before being selected to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984, a leadership body which oversees the church. In 2018, Nelson was appointed president after former prophet Thomas S. Monson died.
The same year, the church garnered national attention when Nelson asked people to stop referring to members as the shorthand “Mormons” or “LDS.” Instead, Nelson asked for members to use the full name of the church. The church had previously spent millions to establish the name including a documentary film titled “Meet the Mormons.”
As the prophet, Nelson also severed ties with the Boy Scouts of America organization in 2019. Nearly 20% of Boy Scouts were young men in the church before the split. The church has since created its own youth program which extends to the 17 million worldwide members.
Nelson also rescinded a rule that prevented minors with same-sex parents from getting baptized. Now, minors with same-sex parents only need parental permission before baptism.
The next president has not yet been named but will most likely be Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who is currently the longest serving apostle.
President Nelson’s funeral will be held at noon Oct. 7, 2025, at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The funeral is open to the public aged 8 and older but requires tickets; they’ll be available online starting Oct. 2. Nelson’s funeral will also be broadcast online.
Author: Hannah Clove
Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Editor: Fanny Felixine
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