Russell M. Nelson

Russell Marion Nelson Sr. (September 9, 1924 – September 27, 2025) was an American religious leader and surgeon who was the seventeenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 2018 until his death in 2025. Before becoming church president, Nelson was a member of its Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for nearly thirty-four years and was the quorum president from 2015 to 2018. As church president, Nelson was recognized by the church as the prophet, seer, and revelator. A native of Salt Lake City, Nelson attended the University of Utah for his undergraduate and medical school education. He then did his medical residency and earned a PhD at the University of Minnesota, where he was a member of the research team of Clarence Dennis that in 1951 pioneered the first human open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. After serving 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. He spent the next twenty-nine years working in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. Nelson became a noted heart surgeon and served as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the Utah Medical Association. Nelson served in a variety of lay LDS Church leadership positions during his surgical career, beginning locally in Salt Lake City and then as the church's Sunday School general president from 1971 to 1979. In 1984, Nelson and jurist Dallin H. Oaks were selected to fill two vacancies in the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Living to the age of 101, Nelson was the oldest president in the church’s history.

Infobox

Predecessor

Boyd K. Packer

Successor

Dallin H. Oaks

End reason

Became President of the Church

Called by

Spencer W. Kimball

Reason

Death of LeGrand Richards

Reorganizationat end of term

Gérald Caussé ordained

Service/branch

United States Army

Rank

Captain

Unit

Army Medical Corps

Battles/wars

Korean War

Born

Russell Marion Nelson(1924-09-09)September 9, 1924Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

Died

September 27, 2025(2025-09-27) (aged 101)Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

Education

mw- University of Utah (BA, MD) University of Minnesota (PhD)

Occupation

Cardiothoracic surgeon

Spouse(s)

mw- Dantzel White (m. 1945; died 2005) Wendy L. Watson (m. 2006)

Children

10 (2 deceased)

Tables

· Honorary degrees and titles

1970

Date

1970

School

Brigham Young University

Degree or Title

Doctor of Science

1985

Date

1985

School

Shandong Medical College

Degree or Title

Honorary Professor

1989

Date

1989

School

Utah State University

Degree or Title

Doctor of Medical Science

1994

Date

1994

School

Snow College

Degree or Title

Doctor of Humane Letters

2021

Date

2021

School

University of Utah

Degree or Title

Doctor of Science

Date	School	Degree or Title
1970	Brigham Young University	Doctor of Science
1985	Shandong Medical College	Honorary Professor
1989	Utah State University	Doctor of Medical Science
1994	Snow College	Doctor of Humane Letters
2021	University of Utah	Doctor of Science

· External links

Preceded byThomas S. Monson