The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Russell M. Nelson’s Death: Legacy of Controversy and Change for the LDS Church

Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at the age of 101 in Salt Lake City. Nelson, who served in the church’s highest levels of leadership for four decades, implemented significant changes, including discouraging the use of “Mormon” and “LDS” and modifying policies related to LGBTQ+ members. During his tenure, Nelson navigated scrutiny over the church’s handling of abuse reports while also expanding leadership and forging new partnerships, such as one with the NAACP. Nelson’s passing will likely result in Dallin H. Oaks, the next longest-tenured member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, becoming the next president of the faith.

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John Q. Hosedrinker Sep 28, 2025