New Prophet for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

After Thomas S. Monson's passing on January 2, Russell M. Nelson was officially named as the 17th President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as “LDS” and “the Mormons”) yesterday. The new leader of the global faith includes more than 16 million members and has named Dallin H. Oaks, 85, and Henry B. Eyring, 84, to serve with him as his first and second counselors in the First Presidency, the Church’s highest governing body. President Nelson, who has nine daughters and one son, responded to a reporter’s question about women in the Church. “I have a special place in my heart about the women,” he said. “We have women on our councils, we have women administering ordinances in the temple, we have women presidents of the auxiliaries and their counselors. We depend on their voices.”

An internationally renowned surgeon and medical researcher, Dr. Nelson (age 93) received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah. He completed his residency in surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in the mid 1950s with his specialty as thoracic surgery. On behalf of the church, he has traveled to 133 countries visiting with local leaders, parishioners and communities. He speaks five languages, including self-taught Mandurian Chinese which he was driven to learn so he could deliver medical speeches without translation. He has also been awarded honorary professorships from three universities in the People’s Republic of China.

Nelson has 57 grandchildren and 116 great grandchildren. At a press conference yesterday, he stated that he still enjoys skiing with them when he has the chance to.

Regional LDS President for Acton Massachusetts as well as the greater Nashua area and Professor at Harvard Divinity School, David F. Holland said of Nelson, "In my experience, President Nelson has been tirelessly committed to the help and healing of those around him. As a physician and in his spiritual ministry, he has exhibited the same steady care for others. He has always shown himself to be authentic; the public and the private Russell M. Nelson seem to be very much the same. That quality of personal integrity is something I admire a great deal."