Early Life and Education of Russell M. Nelson: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Russell M. Nelson, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Russell M. Nelson is the current and 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before becoming the church president in 2018, he served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for nearly 34 years, including a period as its president. He is regarded by members of the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. Prior to his religious service, Nelson was a renowned heart surgeon.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1920: Birth of Marjory E. Nelson

In 1920, Marjory E. Nelson was born as one of Russell M. Nelson's sisters.

September 9, 1924: Russell M. Nelson's Birth

On September 9, 1924, Russell Marion Nelson Sr. was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He later became the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

1925: Birth of Fang Rongxiang

In 1925 Fang Rongxiang [zh], the Chinese opera performer was born.

1926: Birth of Dantzel White

Dantzel White, who later married Russell M. Nelson, was born in 1926.

1931: Birth of Robert H. Nelson

In 1931, Robert H. Nelson was born as Russell M. Nelson's brother.

August 31, 1945: Marriage to Dantzel White

On August 31, 1945, Russell M. Nelson married Dantzel White in the Salt Lake Temple. They dated for three years before getting married.

1945: Earned Bachelor of Arts

In 1945, Russell M. Nelson earned a bachelor of arts in basic biological sciences with high honors from the University of Utah.

1945: Graduation with Bachelor of Arts

In 1945, Russell M. Nelson graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts and Phi Beta Kappa membership.

1947: Graduation with Doctor of Medicine Degree

In 1947, Russell M. Nelson graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine, ranked first in his class.

1947: Earned Doctor of Medicine Degree

In 1947, at the age of 22, Russell M. Nelson earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Utah.

1950: Birth of Wendy L. Watson

Wendy L. Watson, who later married Russell M. Nelson, was born in 1950.

1951: Birth of daughter Wendy

In 1951, Russell M. Nelson and Dantzel White had a daughter named Wendy.

1954: Received Ph.D. from Minnesota

In 1954, Russell M. Nelson received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota for his research contributions.

1955: Missionary on Temple Square

From 1955 to 1965, Russell M. Nelson served as a missionary on Temple Square, giving tours to visitors.

1955: Faculty Position at University of Utah

In 1955, Russell M. Nelson returned to Salt Lake City and accepted a faculty position at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

March 1956: First Successful Pediatric Cardiac Operation

In March 1956, Russell M. Nelson performed the first successful pediatric cardiac operation at the Salt Lake General Hospital, a total repair of tetralogy of Fallot in a four-year-old girl.

1958: Birth of daughter Emily

In 1958, Russell M. Nelson and Dantzel White had a daughter named Emily.

1960: Repair of Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation

In 1960, Russell M. Nelson performed one of the first-ever repairs of tricuspid valve regurgitation.

1964: Called as Stake President

From 1964 to 1971, Russell M. Nelson served as a stake president in Salt Lake City, with Joseph B. Wirthlin as his second counselor.

1964: Established Private Practice

In 1964, Russell M. Nelson set up his own private practice with him as the lead and Conrad Jenson as an associate.

1965: End of service as a missionary on Temple Square

From 1955 to 1965, Russell M. Nelson served as a missionary on Temple Square, giving tours to visitors.

1965: Offered Position at University of Chicago

In 1965, the University of Chicago offered Russell M. Nelson the position as head of their department of thoracic surgery, but he turned it down after consulting with David O. McKay.

1966: Head of Thoracic Residency Program

In 1966, Russell M. Nelson became the head of the thoracic residency program combining resources from various hospitals in Salt Lake City.

1968: Aortic Valve Replacement Success

In 1968, Russell M. Nelson's case series of aortic valve replacements demonstrated an exceptionally low peri-operative mortality, highlighting his surgical skill.

1971: End of service as Stake President

From 1964 to 1971, Russell M. Nelson served as a stake president in Salt Lake City.

1971: LDS Church Sunday School General President

In 1971, Russell M. Nelson began his service as the LDS Church's Sunday School General President.

1972: Birth of son Russell Nelson Jr.

In 1972, Russell M. Nelson and Dantzel White had a son named Russell Nelson Jr.

1975: President of the Society for Vascular Surgery

In 1975, Russell M. Nelson was elected president of the Society for Vascular Surgery.

1979: End of term as Sunday School General President

In 1979, Russell M. Nelson concluded his service as the LDS Church's Sunday School General President.

1981: Visiting Professor of Surgery

In 1981, Russell M. 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.

May 1982: Visiting Professor at Hospital de Clinicas

In May 1982, Russell M. Nelson was a visiting professor at the Hospital de Clinicas in Montevideo, Uruguay.

1983: Death of Floss Edna Anderson Nelson

In 1983, Floss Edna Anderson, Russell M. Nelson's mother, passed away.

April 7, 1984: Sustained as Member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

On April 7, 1984, Russell M. Nelson was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during the LDS Church's general conference.

April 12, 1984: Ordained an Apostle

On April 12, 1984, Russell M. Nelson was ordained an apostle by Gordon B. Hinckley.

1984: Selection to Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

In 1984, Russell M. Nelson was selected, along with Dallin H. Oaks, to fill a vacancy in the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

1985: Assigned to Oversee Church Work in Eastern Europe

After Spencer W. Kimball's call to the First Presidency in 1985, Russell M. Nelson was assigned as the apostle to oversee the work of the church in Eastern Europe.

1985: Monson's Dedication of Yugoslavia

In 1985, Monson dedicated Yugoslavia for the preaching of the gospel, which later Russell M. Nelson pronounced blessings on Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo.

1985: Quadruple Bypass Surgery on Fang Rongxiang

In 1985, Russell M. Nelson, along with Conrad B. Jenson, performed a quadruple bypass surgery on the Chinese opera performer Fang Rongxiang.

1985: New Church President not retaining a previously-serving counselor

In 2018, after being ordained, Nelson chose not to retain Dieter F. Uchtdorf, who had served as Monson's Second Counselor, in the new First Presidency. This marked the first time since 1985 that a new church president had not retained a previously-serving counselor.

1989: Death of Fang Rongxiang

In 1989 Fang Rongxiang [zh], the Chinese opera performer, died.

1990: Death of Marion Clavar Nelson

In 1990, Marion Clavar Nelson, Russell M. Nelson's father, passed away.

1991: Negotiator with Internal Revenue Service

In 1991, Russell M. Nelson served as the negotiator for the LDS Church with the Internal Revenue Service over tax deductibility of missionary support contributions.

1992: Member of Strengthening Church Members Committee

In 1992, Russell M. Nelson served on the Strengthening Church Members Committee, alongside fellow apostle James E. Faust.

1993: Lead Delegate to Parliament on World Religions

In 1993, Russell M. Nelson was the LDS Church's lead delegate to the Parliament on World Religions.

1995: Visit to Beijing with LDS Church Leaders

In 1995, Russell M. Nelson, along with Neal A. Maxwell and other LDS Church leaders, visited Beijing on an official invitation from Li Lanqing, the Vice Premier of China.

August 2003: Visit to Kazakhstan

In August 2003, Russell M. Nelson became the first member of the Quorum of the Twelve to visit Kazakhstan, where he met with government officials, was interviewed by Yuzhnaya Stalitsa television, and dedicated the country for the preaching of the gospel.

April 6, 2006: Marriage to Wendy L. Watson

On April 6, 2006, Russell M. Nelson married Wendy L. Watson in the Salt Lake Temple.

2007: Member of Church Boards of Trustees/Education

From 2007 to 2015, Russell M. Nelson was a member of the Church Boards of Trustees/Education, the governing body of the Church Educational System, and the chairman of its executive committee.

2009: Attack in Mozambique

In 2009, Russell M. Nelson, along with his wife and others, were attacked while in Mozambique during his supervisory responsibility for the LDS Church in Africa.

August 2010: Kyiv Ukraine Temple Dedication

In August 2010, Russell M. Nelson journeyed to the dedication of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple.

2011: Organized First Church Stake in Russia

In 2011, Russell M. Nelson Sr. returned to Russia to organize the first church stake in that country, headquartered in Moscow.

2011: Visit to Kenya

In 2011, Russell M. Nelson made a visit to Kenya as part of his assignments as an apostle with supervisory responsibility for the LDS Church in Africa.

2014: Death of Robert H. Nelson

In 2014, Robert H. Nelson, Russell M. Nelson's brother, passed away.

July 3, 2015: Became Most Senior Member of the Quorum of the Twelve

Following the death of Boyd K. Packer on July 3, 2015, Russell M. Nelson became the most senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve and the quorum's president.

July 15, 2015: Set Apart as Quorum President

On July 15, 2015, Russell M. Nelson was set apart as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve by Thomas S. Monson.

November 2015: Implementation of Policy on Same-Sex Marriage

In November 2015, a policy was implemented that classified same-sex marriage couples as apostates and required parental and First Presidency approval before minor children of same-sex marriages could be baptized or receive baby blessings. The policy was later reversed in April 2019.

2015: End of term on Church Boards of Trustees/Education

From 2007 to 2015, Russell M. Nelson was a member of the Church Boards of Trustees/Education, the governing body of the Church Educational System, and the chairman of its executive committee.

2015: President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

In 2015, Russell M. Nelson became the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church and served until 2018.

2015: International Trip and Restoration Site Dedication

In 2015, Russell M. Nelson made his first international trip as quorum president to Central America. Later that year, he dedicated the renovated Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in Pennsylvania.

2015: Visiting Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery Created

In 2015, the University of Utah, along with the American College of Cardiology, created the Russell M. Nelson MD, PhD Visiting Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

2016: Death of Marjory E. Nelson

In 2016, Marjory E. Nelson, one of Russell M. Nelson's sisters, passed away.

2016: Revelation on Baptism of Children with Same-Sex Parents

In 2016, as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Russell M. Nelson declared that the church's governing council had received a revelation requiring First Presidency approval before the baptism of minor children living with same-sex parents.

January 2, 2018: Death of Thomas S. Monson

On January 2, 2018, with the death of Thomas S. Monson, Russell M. Nelson became the anticipated successor to the church's presidency.

January 14, 2018: Ordained and Set Apart as Church President

On January 14, 2018, Russell M. Nelson was ordained and set apart as the president of the Church. Subsequently, he was introduced to church members and the media, along with Dallin H. Oaks as his First Counselor and Henry B. Eyring as Second Counselor.

January 2018: Broadcast to Church Members and Press Conference

In January 2018, Russell M. Nelson began his presidency two days after his ordination with a short broadcast to church members before holding a press conference. This broadcast ahead of the press conference was unprecedented.

March 2018: Letter on Preventing and Responding to Abuse

In March 2018, the First Presidency issued a letter on preventing and responding to abuse. It reiterated existing policies but also stated that no one should ever be counseled against reporting abuse to legal authorities. The guidance also emphasized using counseling to assist in healing from abuse and provided clear policies mandating all interviews with women and youth be done with another person in the general area, and made it clear that youth and women could have a parent or other adult present for an interview.

April 2018: Announcement of New Temples

In 2018, Russell M. Nelson announced 19 new temples, seven in April, among which were the first in India, Nicaragua, Russia, and Cambodia. During his April 2018 visit to India, Nelson stated that the Lord had instructed him to announce the temple the night before general conference, though he had not originally planned to do so.

April 2018: Global Ministry Tour

In April 2018, Russell M. Nelson, along with his wife, Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife, met with Latter-day Saints in London, England; Jerusalem; Nairobi, Kenya; Harare, Zimbabwe; Bengaluru, India; Bangkok, Thailand; Hong Kong; and Laie, Hawaii, on what the church called a global ministry tour.

June 2018: Travels to Alberta, Canada

In June 2018, Russell M. Nelson traveled to Alberta, Canada, where his second wife was born and raised, and gave three devotional addresses in three consecutive evenings.

June 2018: Celebration of Priesthood Revelation and Meetings with NAACP

June 2018 began with a First Presidency-sponsored celebration of the 40th anniversary of the revelation extending priesthood and temple blessings to all worthy members without regard to race, in which Nelson gave concluding remarks. Nelson and his counselors also met with the national leaders of the NAACP.

August 2018: Statement Urging Use of Church's Full Name

In August 2018, Russell M. Nelson issued a statement urging the use of the church's full name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

September 2018: Visit to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico

In September 2018, Russell M. Nelson visited the Dominican Republic, where he gave an entire talk in Spanish, believed to be the first time a church president had given an extended talk in a formal setting in a language other than English. On the same trip, he also visited Puerto Rico.

October 2018: Dedication of the Concepcion Chile Temple

In October 2018, Russell M. Nelson concluded a 10-day trip to South America by dedicating the Concepcion Chile Temple.

October 2018: Shortening of Sunday Church Meetings and South America Tour

In October 2018, Russell M. Nelson shortened the length of Sunday church meetings to 2 hours. At the end of the month, he toured five South American countries, meeting with Peru's president and dedicating the Concepción Chile Temple.

October 2018: Reiteration of Church Name Position

In October 2018, at the church's general conference, Russell M. Nelson reiterated his position on using the church's full name, stating, "It is a correction" and "It is the command of the Lord."

December 2018: Dedication of the Barranquilla Colombia Temple

Following the December 2018 dedication of the Barranquilla Colombia Temple by Dallin H. Oaks, Nelson presided over the three-day dedicatory services for the Rome Italy Temple from March 10 to 12, 2019.

December 2018: Change to Youth Class Progression and Priesthood Ordination Process

In December 2018, the church's First Presidency changed the process of youth class progression and priesthood ordination. Beginning in 2019, youth began moving between classes and priesthood quorums at the beginning of the year in which they turn 12, 14, or 16, rather than when their birthday occurs during the year.

2018: End of term as Quorum president

In 2018 Russell M. Nelson's service as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to an end.

February 10, 2019: Address at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

On February 10, 2019, Russell M. Nelson spoke to church members in Arizona at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. The devotional was broadcast across the state.

March 9, 2019: Meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican

On March 9, 2019, Russell M. Nelson met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. This event marked the first time in history that a pope and an LDS Church president met face-to-face.

March 2019: Dedication of Rome Italy Temple

In March 2019, Russell M. Nelson's travels included the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple, which was attended by all current members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

April 2019: Reversal of 2015 Policy on Same-Sex Marriage

In April 2019, the church's First Presidency published a revelation reversing a controversial November 2015 policy that classified same-sex marriage couples as apostates and required parental and First Presidency approval before minor children of same-sex marriages could be baptized or receive baby blessings.

July 2019: End of Submission Period for New Hymnbook and Children's Songbook

On June 18, 2018, the First Presidency created committees assigned to form a unified hymnbook and children's songbook for the worldwide church membership, with submissions and surveys being collected until July 2019. It is anticipated that the process of creating the new unified hymnbook and children's songbook will take several years.

August 2019: Visits to South American Countries

In August 2019, Russell M. Nelson visited Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil.

2019: Implementation of Youth Class Progression and Priesthood Ordination Process Change

Beginning in 2019, youth began moving between classes and priesthood quorums at the beginning of the year in which they turn 12, 14, or 16, rather than when their birthday occurs during the year, as decided in December 2018.

2019: Dedication of Rome Italy Temple

From March 10 to 12, 2019, Nelson presided over the three-day dedicatory services for the Rome Italy Temple from March 10 to 12, 2019. Nelson took all the church's apostles with him to Rome for that dedication. This was the first time all ordained apostles of the church had been gathered in one location outside the United States.

2019: Death of Enid Nelson

In 2019, Enid Nelson, one of Russell M. Nelson's sisters, passed away.

2019: Policy Adjustment on Baptism of Children

In 2019, citing "continuing revelation" and a changing global context, the LDS Church adjusted its policy such that First Presidency approval was no longer required for the baptism of children living with same-sex parents.

April 5, 2020: Issuance of "The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ" Proclamation

On April 5, 2020, Russell M. Nelson issued a new proclamation, "The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World". The proclamation coincided with the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's First Vision and is the sixth proclamation issued by the church in its history.

April 2020: Announcement of Plans to Build a Temple in Shanghai, China

In April 2020, Russell M. Nelson announced plans to build a temple in Shanghai, China.

April 14, 2022: Oldest President in Church History

On April 14, 2022, Russell M. Nelson surpassed Gordon B. Hinckley to become the oldest president in the history of the Church.

August 8, 2022: Oldest Apostle Ever

On August 8, 2022, Russell M. Nelson became the Church's oldest apostle ever, surpassing David B. Haight.

September 9, 2024: Russell M. Nelson's 100th Birthday

On September 9, 2024, Russell M. Nelson turned 100 years old. The LDS Church commemorated his birthday with a globally broadcast livestream showcasing his life and church service.