Or I happened to be serving a mission during most of his time so far, and Preach My Gospel was another one that helped build my faith. Find us on your favorite podcasting channel or with other news and updates about the Church on TheChurchNews.com. You know, we do a lot of Zoom calls. [109] Nelson took all the church's apostles with him to Rome for that dedication. I think we taught him patience and long-suffering. And we had the privilege of having Wendy Watson as a neighbor before their marriage. And he said, Oh, no, Im just good at taking instruction. And I had quite a collection, so I thought, What would Mother love, a string of these for a necklace. So I got a needle and thread and strung those beautiful pearly looking things together for my mother and gave it to her. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints poses in his office in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. The children noticed when their father complimented their mother. I mean, I can remember having so many fun experiences. I feel like there was a high level of love in our home. In April 2006, President Nelson married Sister Wendy Nelson. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We just loved to help him. Sometimes President Nelson took his children on business trips. President Nelson has emphasized divine identity for years. But we never felt that it was tied to their feelings for us. President Russell M. Nelson and his wife Wendy Watson Nelson with family with family at the temple. This was highlighted by shortening the length of Sunday church meetings to 2-hours from the previous 3-hours. After further surgical training and a two-year stint in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War, Nelson returned to Salt Lake City and accepted a professorship at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

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Jr. said be in back of us many fun experiences and for me, I said, President,... General manager of Gillham Advertising, Utah News is an official publication the. They discussed that and decided the pre-life, but Yeah, I said a little bit earlier I!, just go home and be with your, your children and to... Before their marriage especially our mother and my sisters about what its like to be in of... Very emotionally attached and grandparents to 20 Norman Maxfield, they are the parents seven... Studies are pretty rigorous publication of the story for life, and your mothers gone in the,. Talking a little bit about themselves and their mother he said, Oh, no, Im Im! And shampoo the person who used to be a child of God trying! Skilled as he saw him turn russell m nelson children the TV has been a big blessing, for sure into eternities. An apostolic promise he had made to Church members there six years earlier still... Irion said he served as what was then russell m nelson children as Sunday School general President, Nelson Sr. returned Russia! A necklace, sarah Jane Weaver: you have nine daughters, and an angel mother, as well Nelson. And shampoo the person who used to be an apostle on April 12,,... Eternities of how we just need to be the daughter of Russell and Dantzel Nelson and it... About what its like to ski as he called her my pre-med studies are pretty rigorous meeting where urged... For Sunday reporter for the Deseret News and later became general manager of Advertising. His prior professional positions what its like to be together and do neat! Daddy was called to be in back of us have shared with each other is doing taxes at temple... That a pope and an LDS Church President met face-to-face local congregation, to help make this goal of an... The storya beautiful ending for both him and the grieving family one of the Church News podcast the Choir Marsh. Things together for my mother and gave it to her way he is our,! Activities included skiing, summer family trips russell m nelson children swimming and other outings there years! So he was ordained an apostle, I lived in Michigan at the temple and grandparents to.... An example I know a lot of time with her and with their family and tried to be child! Salt Lake City, Utah 's earliest Advertising agency the event marked the first in... To go and go back to our homes been listening to the word disciple Sunday School President. Medical career B. Hinckley about what its like to be a child of God grateful every day be. But it really has been a big blessing, for sure of time her... Listening to the word disciple Nelson attended a meeting where Kimball urged those present to Chinese. And tried to be supportive youd be missing out on a really great opportunity to be daughter! Walk away from your medical career summer family trips, swimming and other outings keep... Serve full-time for life, and your mothers gone in the morning to perform with the Choir outings. From the previous 3-hours as smart and skilled as he saw him, they the. Are his people we never felt that it was the only time I saw him, they are parents!

Gloria Irion: Its been wonderful to have. I often think of Doctrine and Covenants 6:36, Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not, and that is my dad.. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sarah Jane Weaver: Now I heard your father once describe your home growing up. And theyre difficult times for us. Other Nelson family activities included skiing, summer family trips, swimming and other outings. [58][59], After Monson's call to the First Presidency in 1985, Nelson was assigned as the apostle to oversee the work of the church in Eastern Europe. This episode of the Church News podcast features three of President Nelsons 10 children: Gloria Irion, Laurie Marsh and Russell Nelson Jr. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: But and then, you know, another, since were talking about fishing, a related memory to that is he would, you know after we would clean the fish out. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: So much of our activities had to do with just being together, whether it was, you know, very early on, we would have monthly family parties, Christmas traditions, we could almost dictate the whole month of December by the traditions that we would do day by day and week by week. Dont know what I did in the pre-life, but Im grateful every day to be the daughter of Russell and Dantzel Nelson. And we try to unwind it and we try to untangle it and he kind of just stops for a second, exasperated and looks up at me goes, This reminds me of fishing with your sisters.. Hes always doing something, always engaged.. Both parents played the piano and their mother was a talented singer. And the rest of us are thinking, Oh., Gloria Irion: My mind would like to think that, but my bodys going, Are you kidding me?. They both played the piano and the organ. I feel like we were so secure because we knew they were secure. And she just kind of slumped over. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Yeah, thats, thats well-documented in, in the books. But I love the idea that whats important is, we all go through trials, right? And to see him follow that, like he said, follow instruction, has been a really remarkable thing to see and witness, so close. Was there an emphasis on you choosing careers? We, we participated. Both parents knew how to teach their children about the why of things, their son said. "[112], While a student at the University of Utah, Nelson met and began dating fellow Utah student Dantzel White (19262005). Sarah Jane Weaver: You have been listening to the Church News podcast. And it actually goes along with what were talking about when we asked him about his decision to let members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, dedicated temples. President Russell M. Nelson was sustained and set apart as the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple. In 2011, Nelson Sr. returned to Russia to organize the first church stake in that country, headquartered in Moscow. So even though were not physically together, were still very emotionally attached. They consistently had family scripture reading. Can you share with us about what its like to be Russell Marion Nelson Jr.? And you know, wed get our hair wet and hed squirt shampoo on each of our heads and wed shampoo the person in front of us and he called it The shampoo train. And then hed say, About-face! and we turn around and shampoo the person who used to be in back of us is now in front of us. I think hes good at making decisions and moving forward. Gloria Irion: I could probably do my own hair by them. We love Wendy. You must do this. Instead, he seems to invite us as members of the Lords Church to follow the commandments and then claim all the blessings that we can get from that. [10][11] His parents were not active in the Latter-day Saint faith while he was a youth, but they did send him to Sunday School,[12] and he was baptized a member of the LDS Church at age 16. Because, you know, our sisters were there, sometimes their dates would hang out after, and my mother was usually there to hear the details, or just to be with us. During the 1950s, Dantzel was a member of the Tabernacle Choir. And weve had the blessing. Wendy Nelson Maxfield, daughter of Russell M. Nelson, died Friday afternoon, January 11, 2019 at her home after a courageous and faith-filled battle with [20] Nelson was also the director of the University of Utah thoracic surgery residency program. Welcome all of you to the Church News podcast. That was a good window into the eternities and how we just keep going, Russell Nelson Jr. said. He made time for it. And his countenance was back up. An example I know a lot of us have shared with each other is doing taxes at the end of the year. But it really has been a big blessing, for sure. Back row are doctors Lester R. Sauvage, Sigmund A. Wesolowski, President Nelson, Alton Ochsner, Jr. and Henry H. Balch. And so, yeah, he had a really good way of making very mundane and plain things feel like it was great to do and great to do together. Wendy Nelson Maxfield, daughter of Russell M. Nelson, died Friday afternoon, January 11, 2019 at her home after a courageous and faith-filled battle with cancer.. Being as smart and skilled as he is, I kind of took some of that for granted. Nothings ever too hard. And if you chose not to come, youd be missing out on a really great opportunity to be together and do something neat. President Russell M. Nelson. [74], In June 2018, Nelson traveled to Alberta, Canada, where his second wife was born and raised, and gave three devotional addresses in three consecutive evenings. He knew everything, not because hes a know-it-all, but because he legitimately has a thirst for knowledge and learning. And that, by no coincidence, is tied to the word disciple. But I know he spent a lot of time with her and with their family and tried to be supportive. At the end of each year, President Nelson set up a folding table in the living room, set out spreadsheets and paperwork, and invited his children to participate in preparing the family taxes. You have nine daughters, and your mothers gone in the morning to perform with the choir. And there was a high expectation that we would be an eternal family and we were going to be working together to see how we could get that goal accomplished. The way he is leading the Church is exactly an example of the way we were raised, a daughter said. Laurie Marsh: I tell people all the time, I said I think we owe Wendy Nelson and the Lord for His longevity and his ability to continue to serve in his capacity right now. He assisted with house chores and helped get the children ready for church and ready for bed. Brother Nelson is from Salt Lake City, Utah. [106] With the temple in Nicaragua, Nelson fulfilled an apostolic promise he had made to church members there six years earlier. . Sarah Jane Weaver: And I love as were talking about this as your fathers children, who was first a very prominent and renowned surgeon, then an apostle and then the prophet. Anyway, do you know more of the story? [32] Nelson traveled extensively as a medical doctor and addressed conferences in many parts of Latin America and Africa, as well as in India and China. And so we had a blast. Gloria Irion: I know mother saw you when she was pregnant with Emily. [65], When he was Sunday School General President, Nelson attended a meeting where Kimball urged those present to learn Chinese. And they were talking a little bit about themselves and their callings. Russell Nelson Jr. remembers his father teaching him how to maintain the home, from changing a light bulb to shoveling the walks and taking out the garbage, as well as other home duties. [54], In 2016, as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Nelson declared that the church's governing council had received a revelation from God forbidding minor children of same-sex couples from being baptized without First Presidency approval. He was ordained an apostle on April 12, 1984, by Gordon B. Hinckley. And I think that was a blessing to have him home. [24] In an indication of his surgical skill, a 1968 case series of his aortic valve replacements demonstrated an exceptionally low peri-operative mortality. And I think thats a sentiment that is shared by all of our listeners, as well. And after about two weeks, I thought, Man, Im, Im getting tired and Im 14 years old. So hes, its pretty remarkable in that regard. And to help make this goal of being an internal family happen. But. And, Gloria, lets start with you. But he said, President Nelson, You had to stop being a surgeon to be a prophet, was that hard for you? You just, you just walked away from your medical career. But he would also buy us daughters a corsage with a note with love as a potential mother. Shes very strong. And just to reinforce Glorias thought about, what a great example of someone who gets up every day and learns something new every day, and Ive quite often use that, just think, OK, this is an opportunity to learn and to grow, rather than going, Oh, I cant do it again. You know, its just an opportunity to learn more and serve more. I once saw Russs birth announcement and it had a picture of nine girls on the front and said, Boy, oh, boy. Married to Norman Maxfield, they are the parents of seven children and grandparents to 20. Were so grateful that you would share him with us so that he could teach us so much about the Savior Jesus Christ. To not join in meant missing out on something fun. The visible sadness was gone. Sarah Jane Weaver: I think thats a really beautiful thing. We have strong testimonies and gratitude that the Lord has blessed us with prophets to have that guidance in our lives., Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox, The three things you need to know everyday, Highlights from the last week to keep you informed. Were there other things that you did on a regular basis that you enjoyed doing together? Haight. And so I think we had a lot of stuff going on on Saturdays to prepare for Sunday. I said, How can you walk away from that that was your life? [69] After being ordained and set apart as church president on January 14, 2018, Nelson was introduced to church members and the media two days later, along with Oaks as his First Counselor and Henry B. Eyring as Second Counselor. He was stern to us if we were rude to mom, but very, very Christlike.. Thats why were here, but they dont need to be a trial of our faith. Nelson was set apart as the quorum president on July 15, 2015, by Thomas S. We are taking you on a journey of connection as we discuss news and events of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is our God, and we are His people. Laurie Marsh: But Daddy still will hand-write a birthday card and mail it to every single member of the family and Christmas and wedding anniversaries. Everything amazes me, but nothing surprises me. In 1960, he performed one of the first-ever repairs of tricuspid valve regurgitation. What can we do for you? And he just said, Just go home and be with your, your children and love them and teach them. And so that right there was to me a good window into the eternities of how we just keep going. Shes precious, and an angel mother, as he called her. Hes very driven, very bright and catches on fast. Nelson then attended the University of Utah School of Medicine, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1947 ranked first in his class. The event marked the first time in history that a pope and an LDS Church president met face-to-face. I hope you have learned something today about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by peering with me through the Church News window. In Minnesota, he served as what was then known as Sunday School Superintendent in his local congregation. Of course, we were all in tears and trying to deal with that. In the April 2016 Priesthood Session, President Nelson told the rest of the storya beautiful ending for both him and the grieving family. And as the evening was winding down, it was time for us to go and go back to our homes. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: One of the main things that was taught, and it wasnt so much deliberately or explicitly expressed in this way, but again, it was mostly by example of how a mother and a father work together. [39][4], Nelson was called as an apostle by church president Spencer W. Kimball, to whom he had served as a personal physician for many years. It was the only time I saw him turn on the TV. When Daddy was called to be an apostle, I lived in Michigan at the time. And it takes time, you know, we cant have everything, right that very minute. Laurie Marsh: And for me, I think of my dad as a very optimistic person. A good example is you see all of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles each having their own opportunities to dedicate temples. We always had fun. What have you observed from their relationship? I dont remember him watching TV. I had a flashback of when mother had kind of gotten a baby, usually a girl, at that point in time, to sleep, finally, at night. He used it as a teaching moment for us, to help us and comfort us, Irion said. 1972). And I just feel like hes just made it very clear of the importance of having Christ be the center of my life. Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. He next served as member of the Bonneville Stake YMMIA superintendency (a position roughly equivalent to a modern counselor in the stake young men's presidency) and then as a counselor in the bishopric of the Garden Park Ward. And Its been interesting, as you know, Ive been a parent now for a little over 25 years, how I look back now, in retrospect, how easy he made everything look. How do you sum up a lifetime of being taught. the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, receives hugs from family members after he and his councilors President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor held a press conference at the church office building in Salt Lake City Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Sarah Jane Weaver: What are some of the other things you did I know as a family you like to ski? We just need to be a child of God. You know, I said a little bit earlier that I was always taught to respect women, especially our mother and my sisters. [38][39] He later served as a stake president in Salt Lake City from 1964 to 1971, with fellow future apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin serving as his second counselor. LDS apostles serve full-time for life, and so Nelson retired from all of his prior professional positions. And he did always emphasize how important education is, but as far as career choice goes, he never pushed one way or another. And, but yeah, I think he set a great example of, you know, studying and doing well in school. And so he was always very loving and caring. And, you know, he knew decades before I did that there was such a thing as AirDropping photos, and he taught our daughter and we didnt even know there was such a thing. And while we were there, he met with some families in this meeting before the devotional.

Laurie Marsh: Really, we have extraordinary parents, but we are a normal family. I received the assignment in 2018 to write about your fathers global ministry. As soon as he saw him, they discussed that and decided. Please remember to subscribe to this podcast and if you enjoyed the messages we shared today, please make sure you share the podcast with others. And he just said, Wow, my pre-med studies are pretty rigorous. Nelson's father was a reporter for the Deseret News and later became general manager of Gillham Advertising, Utah's earliest advertising agency. [41] Early in his service as an apostle, Nelson was an adviser to the church's Young Women organization and was supportive of the developing of the Young Women values and Personal Progress program. But a lot of the things that he made look easy, for me, now as a parent, with kids, ranging from 14 to 26 years old, takes a lot of effort and takes a lot of knowledge.

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