Russell M. Nelson, the beloved and historically longest-lived president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away peacefully on Saturday night, September 27, 2025, at his home in Salt Lake City.
At the remarkable age of 101, he leaves behind a presidency that will be remembered as a period of surprising acceleration, both in terms of global growth and spiritual refocusing.
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The Longest-lived President Russell M. Nelson Passes Away at 101
The late Church leader’s life was a dichotomy of two high-demand, high-precision careers: first as a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and later as a religious prophet.
This unusual dual-track career gave his ministry a unique flavor, combining the precise, methodical focus of a doctor with the spiritual conviction of a prophet.
He even performed open-heart surgery on an earlier Church president, Spencer W. Kimball, years before assuming the highest office himself.
A Transformative Presidency of Latter-day Saints
Called to the presidency in January 2018 at the age of 93, President Nelson hit the ground running, surprising many with his energetic, transformative tenure. He was not a caretaker leader; he was a catalyst for change. His presidency was marked by several pivotal shifts:
- The Re-emphasis on the Full Name: Perhaps his most immediate and recognizable change was his persistent call for members and the media to stop using the shorthand names “Mormon” and “LDS” in favor of the religion’s full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This directive was a fundamental re-centering of the faith on Jesus Christ.
- The Worldwide Temple Acceleration: Under his leadership, the Church saw an unprecedented pace of new temple announcements, dotting the globe with new houses of worship and underscoring the faith’s commitment to its international membership. He announced over 160 new temples during his tenure.
- Administrative Shifts: Nelson oversaw the shortening of Sunday worship services to two hours and the dissolution of the Church’s long-standing relationship with the Boy Scouts of America, replacing it with a new, globally applicable youth program. These changes streamlined the faith’s practices and adapted them for its burgeoning international membership, with more than half of its 17 million members living outside the U.S. and Canada.
- Evolving Social Policy: His administration also repealed a controversial 2015 policy that had restricted baptisms for the children of gay parents and labeled same-sex couples as apostates. This was seen by many as a softening gesture, though the Church’s foundational doctrine regarding same-sex marriage remained unchanged.
- The COVID-19 Era: As a physician, his leadership during the global pandemic was unique, guiding the Church through an era of virtual worship and increased focus on home-centered study and personal revelation.
A look at President Nelson’s leadership, legacy as he turns 101
A video from last year reviews Russell M. Nelson’s leadership and legacy on his 101st birthday, just weeks before his passing.
The Legacy of the “Covenant Path”
President Nelson’s enduring message centered on the “covenant path,” a distinct emphasis on the ordinances and practices that lead members back to God.
His sermons often felt like a surgeon’s precise instruction—a clear, detailed path for spiritual progression, leaving little room for ambiguity.
This legacy of clarity and commitment to what he believed was divine revelation defines his role in the history of the faith.
His passing marks the end of an era defined by centenarian leadership and radical reorganization, initiated by a man who spent his life fixing hearts before dedicating his final decades to strengthening the spiritual core of a global faith.
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