At 100 LDS President Nelson Continues to Set an Example of Service

The oldest president to have presided over the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, ascended to the presidency in 2018 at age 93.

The 17th president, prophet, seer, and revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), he was an internationally renowned cardiac surgeon and pioneer in open-heart surgery who helped design the first heart-lung machine. He only retired as a heart surgeon in 1984 after being called to the Quorum of the 12 Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

At his birthday celebration, which was held in the Conference Center Theater on Temple Square in Salt Lake City and broadcast around the world, he emphasized the importance of faith, an eternal perspective on life, and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He thanked family, friends and Latter-day Saints for their kindness and support and for the countless birthday messages he received. He also encouraged people to reach out to those in need, as he did in a message posted to social media four months before his centennial.

“One spiritual offering that would brighten my life is for each of us to reach out to ‘the one’ in our lives who may be feeling lost or alone. Over the coming months, I invite you to consider prayerfully: who do you know who may be discouraged? Who might you need to reconcile with or ask for forgiveness? Has one name been on your mind lately, though you haven’t quite known why? As you bring these questions to the Lord, He will inspire you to know how you can reach out and lift one who needs help.”

By following the Savior’s example, President Nelson continued, we can “spread the love of Jesus Christ throughout the world.”

Image credits: Russell M. Nelson by hljavery@verizon.net. CC BY 2.0 via flickr.com.