Estimated read time: 7-8 minutes
- Church leaders honored President Russell M. Nelson Wednesday in a tribute broadcast, emphasizing his legacy of love.
- President Nelson, who died at 101, was remembered for his Christlike example and inspired leadership.
- Public funeral services will be held Oct. 7 at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
SALT LAKE CITY — Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints honored the life of President Russell M. Nelson in a special broadcast Wednesday, emphasizing his immense legacy of love for his fellow children of God.
"He preached the gospel of love, which is paramount in the gospel of Jesus Christ. What greater tribute could I give my dear friend, than to share some of his teachings about love?" said President Dallin H. Oaks, president of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
President Oaks opened a tribute broadcast Wednesday by sharing the many examples he saw of President Nelson preaching and exemplifying the love of Christ. The president and prophet of the church died from causes incident to age late Saturday, at the age of 101, at his home in Salt Lake City.
President Oaks said President Nelson spent his time as a prophet reaching out to all of God's children. He said the last time he saw his friend was two days before he died. Although it was difficult for President Nelson to speak at the time, President Oaks said, "His effort and smile conveyed love for us and for each of you in this great work."
'A true disciple'
President Nelson demonstrated to the world the meaning of love, expanding humanitarian efforts beyond church membership and building relationships with other religions and countries, President Oaks said. He said President Nelson's love gave the apostles confidence and strength to persevere despite hardship and failure.
"The Savior's message is clear: True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers. Russell Nelson was a peacemaker," he said. "I pray we will always remember and be influenced by the great teachings and example of love from our prophet President Russell M. Nelson."
Primary General President Susan H. Porter said she has been "transformed as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ as I have strived to act on his (President Nelson's) prophetic invitations."
She spoke of her many experiences over the past three decades interacting with President Nelson. She met with him multiple times as her husband served in the church and said he always treated them with kindness, love and dignity. One of those times was just days after President Nelson's daughter had died from cancer.
"Even though his soul was sorrowing, he had ministered to us with the Savior's loving kindness," she said.
President Porter said the prophet always answered Christ's call to visit the sick and afflicted. She recalled a time when she and her husband were on assignment in Russia, and President Nelson visited a remote village in the country. He gave an apostolic blessing to the congregation and personally shook hands with a man who, unbeknownst to President Nelson at the time, was praying fervently for healing.
"I had witnessed the love of God offered to this precious soul in far off Siberia by the apostolic blessing and outstretched hand of an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ," President Porter said.
She expressed her gratitude to have learned from President Nelson and said since being called to the Primary General Presidency, she has met members all over the globe who have felt his love through his "gentleness, meekness and love unfeigned."
Elder Carl B. Cook, senior president of the Seventy, shared his deep love for the prophet and said his greatest gift was his powerful Christlike example. President Nelson was genuinely interested to know how everyone he met was doing, and he made the time and effort to get to know those with whom he interacted.
"He was always thinking of others and was ever mindful of the one," Elder Cook said. "President Nelson was conversant in many languages, but as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, his primary language was love. And that love is deeply rooted in his soul. "
'Remarkable leadership'
Elder Henry B. Eyring, of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke of when he was young and felt a confirmation that the prophet was truly called of God. He felt that same feeling multiple times throughout his life, from seeing President David O. McKay in Utah to when President Nelson was called as president of the church.
"I felt that same warm assurance; I knew President Russell M. Nelson had been called by God as a prophet to guide and counsel us. I observed President Nelson's love for all of God's children, which has been spoken of today," he said.
Elder Eyring said President Nelson taught about the Savior and Redeemer, encouraging all to emulate him. Becoming like Christ is a wonderful way to honor President Nelson's legacy, he said.
"Faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the world are paying tribute to him every day and have been for years," he said.
The best way to honor President Nelson is to remember his counsel and revelation given by God to the church, Elder Eyring said.
"I close with my prayer we will follow President Nelson's prophetic counsel to trust in the Lord's revealed guidance to his servants and that we will remember his example of love," Elder Eyring said.
Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to meet weekly with President Nelson and learn from his "remarkable leadership and Christlike example."
"President Russell M. Nelson was exactly the man you believed him to be. He embodied unwavering faith, pure love and profound compassion for all of God's children. His legendary gift for remembering names reflected not only a sharp mind, but also a true shepherd's heart," he said.
Caussé praised President Nelson's ability to express eternal truths with simplicity and sincerity and said he will be remembered for the inspired invitations he gave as prophet.
"Serving under President Nelson's inspired leadership has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. With all my heart, I testify he was and is a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and undeniably a prophet of God," Caussé said.
'A living temple'
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve, discussed how the quorum knew President Nelson before he became president of the church. They worked so closely with him that they could truly tell the "fruit of his character."
"We felt close enough to him to measure his integrity by the words he spoke, the very pupil of his eye or the behavior he demonstrated when none but God could hear or see him," Elder Holland said. "By these and any other measurement of who he really was, Russell Nelson gets an unblemished straight A."
Elder Holland praised President Nelson's faith, devotion to the church and dedication to his family, saying his being called to the "most influential role in the church" is "evidence enough of his faith, his humility and his love for everything celestial," he said.
The way President Nelson lived his life made him "something of a living temple," Elder Holland added.
"He has loved temples; he has built them. He had dedicated and attended them. ... My only disappointment at this bittersweet time of loss and love is that Russell Nelson was not able to rededicate his beloved Salt Lake Temple. But he will have a much better view of it all now — and those in charge better do it correctly," Elder Holland said with a laugh.
"I pay tribute to his life, to the wonderful accomplishments that are the fruits of his character, which will be evident in his magnificent legacy left to this church for which he gave his life," Elder Holland said.
President Nelson's death comes as the church is preparing for the 195th Semiannual General Conference. Having a church president die so close to conference is a rare occurrence, having happened only once before — in 1951, when President George Albert Smith died just two days before general conference.
The church is holding its general conference this weekend, with five sessions scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
A public viewing will be held for President Nelson after the conference on Monday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Visitors of all ages are invited.
Public funeral services for President Nelson will be held at the Conference Center on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at noon and will also be open to the public, ages 8 and older. Tickets will be required and will become available online on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. Those attending the funeral services must be seated by 11:30 a.m.
The funeral will be streamed at KSL.com.
