- The death of President Russell M. Nelson this close to general conference is rare, a historian said Tuesday.
- The last time such an event occurred was in 1951, when President George Albert Smith passed away two days before conference.
- The conference is set to proceed as scheduled; President Nelson's funeral, is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7.
SALT LAKE CITY – Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will convene for the faith's general conference this weekend.
But before that, on Wednesday morning, a special broadcast will pay tribute to President Russell M. Nelson, who died over the weekend at age 101.
Having a church president pass away so close to conference is a rare occurrence.
"There's only one time in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that a prophet has died this close to a general conference," said Paul Reeve, Simmons chair of Mormon Studies at the University of Utah.
That happened in 1951, Reeve explained, when Church President George Albert Smith died just two days before general conference, which is held twice a year.
Reeve said President Smith's funeral was folded into the conference, and the new prophet, David O. McKay, was sustained after that.
In this case, President Nelson died one week before general conference. The church announced that the two-day conference will take place as scheduled this weekend, and President Nelson's funeral will follow a few days later.
"I think people are still anticipating that Dallin H. Oaks will be sustained and ordained the next president of the church likely as a part of the general conference proceedings," Reeve said, "but the church has not yet made that announcement."
The appointment of a new church leader could also happen after President Nelson's funeral, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7 at noon in the Conference Center.
President Oaks, who has been serving as first counselor in the church's First Presidency, released a statement this week calling President Nelson a "dear friend" and "cherished leader."
A special broadcast on Wednesday at 10 a.m. will pay tribute to President Nelson. Church leaders and the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square are scheduled to participate. That broadcast will air on KSL-TV, YouTube, and the church's website.
"I think President Nelson will most be remembered as an advocate for peacebuilding and a peacemaker," Reeve said. "It was a central theme of his administration and his preaching."
Besides that, Reeve added, President Nelson will be remembered as "a temple builder." The late church president personally announced 200 temples during his nearly eight years leading the worldwide faith.
Ahead of President Nelson's funeral next week, there will be an all-day public viewing on Monday, Oct. 6, in the Conference Center.
