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Pioneering Mormon Leader Russell M. Nelson Dies at 101
28 Sep, 2025
Summary
- Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of the Mormon church, passed away at 101
- Nelson made major changes in 2018, including calling for an end to the use of "Mormon" and "LDS"
- Nelson's administration was more welcoming to LGBTQ+ members, but the church's stance on same-sex marriage did not change
On September 25, 2025, Russell M. Nelson, the longest-serving president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away at the age of 101 in his Salt Lake City home. Nelson, a former heart surgeon, had a vibrant and transformative tenure as the church's leader, which began in January 2018 when he succeeded Thomas S. Monson.
In his first year as president, Nelson made a surprising announcement calling for people to stop using the shorthand names "Mormon" and "LDS" as substitutes for the full name of the religion, a sharp shift after previous church leaders had spent millions promoting those monikers over decades. Nelson also made headlines the following year when he repealed rules that banned baptisms for children of gay parents and labeled same-sex couples as sinners eligible for expulsion, though the church's stance on same-sex marriage did not change.
Despite these more welcoming policies towards LGBTQ+ members, Nelson's administration also sharpened rules limiting the participation of members who pursue gender-affirming medical procedures or change their names, pronouns or how they dress, leading to criticism that it would marginalize transgender members. Nelson and his top counselors described their approach as trying to balance the "love of the Lord and the law of the Lord."
