President Nelson did not push his children one way or another in their career choices. But I also remember, I guess I have the perspective for being one of the older ones, but like on a Saturday morning, if we got our chores done, Daddy could take us to swim or to ice skate or the Salt Lake Country Club to swim or Salt Lake swimming and tennis club or, you know, he would take us on an outing if we got our stuff done and at least took a few mess-makers out of the house for a few hours so mom could try to catch up. Here he is in his 90s and always up on the latest technology with the great help that he gets. Professional Life Prior to his service as head of the Church, President Nelson served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from July 15, 2015, until his call as the Church's leader. I love this idea that she was the first person he looked for when he came home. [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. Thats what I remember. Obedience or adherence to rules and laws came with the understanding of why we were doing it, Russell Nelson Jr. said. And he said, Oh, no, Im just good at taking instruction. So for me, its not been anything different. In timing with this milestone, three of President Nelsons 10 children Irion, Marsh and son Russell Nelson Jr. recently discussed with the Church News growing up in the Nelson home and his role as a father. This episode of the Church News podcast features three of President Nelsons 10 Children, Gloria Irion, Laurie Marsh and Russell Nelson Jr. 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. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. So we would spend time together on a family trip. Nelson family No one has experience doing both operations on a 77-year-old patient, he had told President Kimball. But he would come and get us and drop us off, and then, I assume, go back to the stake center and resume his responsibilities as the stake president. 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. I think its important to note, yeah, they encouraged us to do our homework and would be happy to help if we needed it. And I remember as a 14-year-old thinking, Man, are we ever gonna go home? Because we are in a different place, a different country, a different something every day, every night. In May 1982 he was a visiting professor at the Hospital de Clinicas in Montevideo, Uruguay. He really didnt raise his voice. Dr. Russell M. Nelson holds a model of the human heart. And I think we had as much fun after we came home from our dates as we did on the dates. Dantzel suddenly died in 2005, and Russell immediately married another woman, Wendy L. Watson, in 2006. A photo of Dantzel White Nelson and Russell M. Nelson as a young couple. He loves to be up on the latest technology. EP 42 - Huge episode packed to the gills! He just was a very calm, and patient and loving father. This broadcast ahead of the press conference was unprecedented and provided the new leaders an opportunity to briefly address the entire church immediately. [119] Watson, originally from Raymond, Alberta, was a professor of marriage and family therapy at BYU prior to her retirement in 2006. And he would take us to church. [32], In 1981, Nelson held appointments as a visiting professor of surgery at the National Institute of Cardiology in Mexico City and the Catholic University in Santiago, Chile. [36], In addition to his medical work, Nelson served frequently as a leader in the LDS Church. As Ive watched Daddy go through those times, and they are difficult times for us, Ive been so grateful for the teachings that our parents have given us about the importance of being centered in Jesus Christ, Marsh said. And I think this is why I loved anatomy and wanted to be a doctor for a good long while. And thats the way theyve been with everyone that joined our family, whether it was after our sister passed away and a new mother would come in for these kids. I think the Church is very well aware that they kind of had a motto when they got married to seek ye first the kingdom of God, and everything else will be added on to it. And you go through these hard and difficult times and when you see your dad be vulnerable and lose these loved ones, its hard. Sarah Jane Weaver: He committed pretty fast? But he would also buy us daughters a corsage with a note with love as a potential mother. Sarah Jane Weaver: We have a tradition at the Church News podcast. Gloria Irion: You know, I just had a thought about what an important thing music was in our home. [44] For a time he was also the church's representative to a US State Department committee on international religious freedom. She has this, this spirit of Elijah with her shes just so aware and, you know, just so focused on the temple and temple work and just such a great example. The tender memory of President Russell M. Nelson as a young father is also reflective of how he has led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Laurie Marsh, another daughter. 1, she said. Did you focus on science and math? And as later in life, your father lost both your mother and then two of his daughters to cancer. Gloria Irion: I think he took those, you know, those circumstances happen so seldom, that I feel like he really tried to take those opportunities to teach us and to help us focus on the eternal, like you, like you said. And so a lot of these adjustments that the Church has gone through over these past five years or so its been interesting, for me having been, I was 12 years old when he was called to be in the Quorum of the Twelve. They dated for three years, then married on August 31, 1945, in the Salt Lake Temple. Hed come in the door. Laurie Marsh: Oh, there are so many I dont even know. Laurie Marsh: I think I have probably learned from President Nelson the importance of my relationship with my Savior and how that can help with everything that we do thats full of joy, or not full of joy, in our life. And then they switch over to the Utah basketball game. And we knew that. Russell M. Nelson. In April 2006, he married Wendy L. Watson. How did his studies ripple into the home? [37], After returning to Salt Lake City, he was called as priest quorum advisor in the Garden Park Ward, working with over 50 boys ages 16 to 18. [120], In June 2018, the University of Utah endowed a chair in cardiothoracic surgery named after Nelson and his first wife, Dantzel. Back row are doctors Lester R. Sauvage, Sigmund A. Wesolowski, President Nelson, Alton Ochsner, Jr. and Henry H. Balch. So sometimes a couple of us would show up at his door with dinner or something. [91] On June 18, the First Presidency created committees assigned to form a unified hymnbook and children's songbook for the worldwide church membership, with each language edition having the same hymns (and other songs) in the same order, and that these committees would be taking submissions and collecting surveys until July 2019. In my remembrance, I think Daddy kind of had a routine. You know, Sunday mornings, I guess. It is a worldwide church and it is the Church of Jesus Christ and its for everyone. I would say that I know a key part of life is to learn and to grow, to love one another, to love the Lord and enjoy the blessings that come from Him as we keep our covenants.. And that was underscored in just about everything that we did from, you know, We shouldnt let mother, or she shouldnt have to take out the garbage, thats our job. And so we would go take out the garbage, and make sure the home was in proper working order, and things like that from shoveling walks to doing dishes after the meal. First, he would find and greet his late wife, Dantzel Nelson. Baptism. Nelson began his presidency two days after his ordination with a short broadcast to church members in January 2018 before then holding a press conference. Music was something we love to do together, Irion said. So hed leave the stake center and come and pick us up. And quite often he had callings and stuff that would take him out of the home after dinner, but sometimes he was home. I mean, you can imagine we always had so much fun, and he would come down and try to get us to go to sleep. Every one of us has such a strong testimony that hes here for such a time. Gloria Irion: My addition to that is when he taught me how to get the lenses out of the fish eyes. He became a doctor, Doctor of the heart. He and his wife, the former Dantzel White, have ten children. What was it like for the Nelson children to grow up in a home with a world-famous heart surgeon? Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Oh, I dont know, Ive got a couple of funny stories, but I dont know. Im interested if there is one moment or one memory that each of you can share about your father that can help us just get to know him just a little bit better. How do you sum up a lifetime of being taught? Russell Nelson Jr. said. That was always No. They can feel that he loves them and its not so distant. In that time, more than 70 changes and announcements have been made . Come, Follow Me Activities. Sarah Jane Weaver: Im Sarah Jane Weaver, editor of the Church News. [43] In 1993, he was the church's lead delegate to the Parliament on World Religions. We can lean on our faith and use our faith and have our faith in Jesus Christ help us go through those trials, and well come out better for it, because if we seek first our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, everything else will be added on to it. We just we land and thats what time it is and we move on. So Gloria Irion: I love in Sheri Dews biography, she quoted Wendy, after they came home from one of the world tours. And just to rely on that faith at all times and do what you can to build that faith, be it read the scriptures, or make sure youre praying sincerely or reading general conference talks. Church President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, pose for photographs with family members after a press conference at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, courtesy of Church News. But it was fun to feel like you were on a date with your Daddy and got to spend some time with him. https://www.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng Russell M. Nelson delivers a message titled "Children of the Covenant." And shes always a cheerleader for Daddy in front of us, for sure. Sarah Jane Weaver: And you have nine girls, then Russ comes along. Gloria Irion: I think he is open to hearing counsel. [Laughing]. And so he was always very loving and caring. It also adjusted previous policies forbidding adult males to teach classes of children or youth alone to apply to all adults. And it was one of the biggest blessings of my life. Nelson received a PhD from Minnesota in 1954 for his research contributions. He committed it. We love Wendy. Almost a fishy-smelling string of pearls. [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. Friend. We, we participated. Peoples lives depend on me getting sleep, kids. And so anyway, he tried, but we did, we always love to be together still do. And I know that Daddy has been called to be the prophet in these times. What was that like to be raised in a home, did he help with homework? Find us on your favorite podcasting channel or with other news and updates about the Church on TheChurchNews.com. In April 2006, he . President Russell M. Nelson during his career wiht a team of doctors: Gen. Sam F. Seeley, and Lt. Col. Edwin J. Pulaski, front. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: Right after our mom passed away, that was the first time in my life that Id ever seen him visibly sad, or not the cheerful countenance that he usually had for that year plus, after our moms passing. In 1992, it was identified he was on the Strengthening Church Members Committee, alongside fellow apostle James E. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. I dont remember him watching TV. Daddy was able to participate in the school musical up at the University of Utah his freshman year. The operation would "entail extremely high risk." Wearily, President Kimball, then the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said he was ready to die. Gloria Irion: I think its kind of fun for people to get to see him in the light other than just twice a year at the podium, you know. Nothing is ever too hard, just have faith in the Lord, do your best, and everything is going to be OK, she said. Wendy Nelson Maxfield died of cancer in 2019. Marsh has learned the importance of developing a relationship with Jesus Christ and following the prophet. That was always number one. [4][17], After medical school, Nelson went to the University of Minnesota for his medical residency. Laurie Marsh: I think, to Daddy gets some credit for trying to keep everybody together. Nelson signed 1,150 mission calls as the presiding apostle. [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. And so the two of them working together was just a really nice example of how a husband and wife and a mother and father worked together. Ordained an Apostle on 12 April 1984, Elder Nelson received his B.A. For other people named Russell Nelson, see, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World, "Russell M. Nelson: New President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles", "Noted heart surgeon unlikely to transform Mormon church as new president", "Mormons Worldwide Tune in to Semiannual General Conference", "What you didn't know about the fathers who raised the First Presidency", "How President Nelson's faith forged his path for service in the LDS Church", "11 Things You Didn't Know about President Nelson", The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Meet the former heart surgeon set to become the Mormon church's new leader", "Get to Know President Russell M. Nelson, a Renaissance Man - Church News and Events", "Development of a Pump-oxygenator to Replace the Heart and Lungs: An Apparatus Applicable to Human Patients and Application to One Case", "Celebrating 60 Years of Cardiac Surgery in Utah With Russell M. Nelson, M.D. And really, you dont need to be the child of Russell and Dantzel Nelson to have those blessings. But in a way, it was comforting, to me, to see the level of grief that he was experiencing. Sarah Jane Weaver: And Russ, we saved you for last, because you came at the end of the Nelson family. I just feel like, wow, he did that so well and just exemplified that. 2:04 Gloria Irion: Thank you, Sarah. [24] In an indication of his surgical skill, a 1968 case series of his aortic valve replacements demonstrated an exceptionally low peri-operative mortality. Both parents played the piano and their mother was a talented singer. Russell M. Nelson Jr.: And we were just, and we would just love to help him and doing taxes. And these are the kind of the old school Christmas lights, the glass bulbs, the thick gauge cables. While at Minnesota, he was a member of surgeon Clarence Dennis's pioneering research team developing the heart-lung machine that in April 1951 supported the first human open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. 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