Russell M. Nelson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away Saturday night.
The church announced that Nelson died shortly after 10 p.m., passing peacefully at his home.
He was the 17th LDS prophet and president. He was the oldest in the church’s history, having turned 101 years old earlier this month.
Nelson became the head of the Salt Lake City-based faith in 2018 after the passing of President Thomas S. Monson. He became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. He was a heart surgeon before his full-time church leadership calling.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Russell M. Nelson speaks at the Sunday morning session of General Conference on Oct. 4, 2020.
The church’s process for selecting the next president and prophet involves “dissolving” the First Presidency (the president’s two chosen counselors), who then rejoin the body of apostles, now numbering 14. The most senior apostle — by how long they’ve been in the calling, not by age — is then generally selected as the new prophet and president. He hand-picks his two counselors, and the second-most senior apostle becomes the president of the Quorum of the Twelve.
The church announced that the formal selection and announcement will take place after Nelson’s funeral. However, the most senior apostle is now President Dallin H. Oaks, who became an apostle in 1984 and has been the president of the Quorum of the Twelve since Nelson became president. He was also Nelson’s first counselor.
Although not official, it is expected that Oaks will become the new head of the church, as has been the case throughout the church’s history. Before becoming an apostle, Oaks was a Utah Supreme Court justice, and before that, the president of Brigham Young University.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The official portrait of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: President Russell M. Nelson (seated), President Dallin H. Oaks (left), and President Henry B. Eyring (right).
This story was originally published by Spencer Burt with the Scripps News Group in Salt Lake City.
