President Russell M. Nelson will be remembered as a man whose life reflected both remarkable professional achievement and deep spiritual devotion. Long before he became the 17th president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was an acclaimed heart surgeon whose medical contributions changed lives across the globe. Over the course of his career, he authored influential publications, contributed chapters to medical textbooks, and lectured extensively in the United States and abroad. His pioneering work in cardiovascular surgery earned him numerous honors, including the Heart of Gold Award from the American Heart Association, the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, and the Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize. Read More
He held prominent leadership positions in the medical field, serving as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular Surgery, and president of the Utah State Medical Association. His international work was equally significant. In 1980, he introduced open-heart surgery to China, forging ties that would earn him honorary professorships at three Chinese universities. Among his most memorable operations was performing open-heart surgery on Spencer W. Kimball, who later became the 12th president of the Church.
While President Nelson excelled in medicine, his commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ guided every step of his journey. He served in many church callings, including stake president, general president of the Sunday School, and regional representative in Utah. In 1984, he accepted the call to become a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, leaving behind a distinguished medical career after performing one final surgery on Chinese opera star Fang Rongxiang. In his first general conference address as an apostle, he promised to dedicate his full energy and heart to the Lord’s service.
Over the next 34 years, he fulfilled that promise by visiting 134 countries to share the message of the gospel. In 2005, his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Dantzel, passed away unexpectedly. Though the loss was devastating, President Nelson found comfort in his faith and the promise of resurrection. A year later, he married Wendy L. Watson, a union he described as an extraordinary blessing to his life, his family, and the Church.
On July 15, 2015, he became president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Following the passing of President Thomas S. Monson, President Nelson was sustained and set apart as the 17th president of the Church on January 14, 2018. Despite being 93 at the time of his calling, he remained vigorous, both in health and spirit, with a love for skiing that surprised many. Elder W. Craig Zwick, an emeritus General Authority Seventy, once recalled accompanying him on black diamond runs, a testament to his vitality.
President Nelson’s legacy is one of compassion, faith, and vision. He bridged worlds—medicine and ministry, science and faith, local service and global outreach. His contributions will be remembered not only in the lives he saved through surgery but also in the countless hearts he touched as a prophet and leader.
