Holly Richardson: Overview of the life of President Russell M. Nelson

This weekend, tens of thousands of people will gather in downtown Salt Lake City to hear the speeches of the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while millions of people will come to the city. others will listen and watch online.

For the faithful – and even the most curious – the General Conference can be a period of spiritual orientation and renewal. Under the president of the church, Russell M. Nelson, the general lectures were also a time of exciting and sometimes amazing changes.

Changes are yet to come, such as the reversal Thursday of the policy prohibiting children of LGBTQ parents from being baptized before the age of 18, or changes to the temple ceremony of the Church of Jesus Christ, unveiled in the temples from January.

Nelson did not make fun when he joked last fall: "Eat your vitamin tablets. Rest. It's going to be exciting. "

I did not know much about Nelson, except that he was a cardiac surgeon in his professional life, that he had 10 children with his wife Dantzel and that his second wife, Wendy Watson Nelson, is the owner of A doctorate a marriage and is an accomplished author. I've learned much more recently how remarkable it is.

Last week, I read the new book "Insights from the Prophet's Life: Russell M. Nelson" by author Sheri Dew, close friend of Nelson and his wife, Wendy.

As Russell grew up, his family was not active in any church. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ as a 16-year-old high school student. In 1941, he obtained his celebrity degree at East High in Salt Lake City. He did not do a religious mission, but took courses at the University of Utah as part of a joint undergraduate and doctoral program in medicine. Surprisingly (for me, anyway), he graduated with both degrees in August 1947. He was 22 years old.

During his medical residency, he also decided to do a research-based doctorate, which he did simultaneously with residency. He joined the research team that invented the first heart-lung machine, a machine that would operate a heart that could be shut down and restarted. Now, we almost think that hearts can be operated, but when Nelson trained to become a surgeon, it was a no-no.

In one of his schoolbooks, published in 1913, the author stated that "a surgeon who would attempt such an operation [on the heart] should lose the respect of his colleagues. "

When asked how he had gone from a total ban on touching the human heart to a world-renowned heart surgeon, he simply replied, "I was curious."

I was struck not only by Nelson's genius – he also speaks several languages ​​- but by his kindness. He became a surgeon to help people. He was kind in his surgery room, while often doctors are not. When he began serving in the church, his mantra was, "How can we help?" He helped open Eastern Europe through his patience and perseverance – and his sincerity in wanting to help the people of those countries.

In Romania, for example, he and the elder Hans B. Ringger met with the head of religious affairs after the dismissal of dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu in 1989. This official explained to him that their orphans were the most in need. help. This led Dr. Alvin Price and his wife Barbara to be called to Romania, where I met them in 1991. The awards helped to organize the country's first Special Olympics. (And, they are the parents of the former state representative, Becky Edwards.The service is provided by the family.)

Nelson left his career when he was summoned to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at the General Conference in April 1984 and focused on a life dedicated to a different type of service. Nelson now leads a worldwide church of millions of people and does so with love, kindness and sensitivity to others, what he has worked on to perfect his whole life. Oh, and he still skied Black Diamond in his 90s, until the security of the church finally insists that he stop.

I took my vitamins this week. I'm ready for the weekend!

Holly Richardson is a regular contributor to the Salt Lake Tribune.