The eldest prophet to have guided the world’s faith has called on followers to perform acts of service ahead of his big day.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) President Russell M. Nelson speaks in a message recorded during general conference on the afternoon of Sunday, April 7, 2024. The oldest leader in the history of a world religion turns 100 on September 9.
Ready. Set. Serve.
President Russell M. Nelson turns 100 this September, and he has a small request to make of us.
The oldest president ever of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made the appeal on Saturday, 100 days before his birthday, asking followers to engage in acts of service in the run up to his 100th birthday.
“One of the spiritual gifts that brightens my life is the ability for each of us to reach out to ‘that person’ in our lives who may be feeling lost or alone,” he wrote on social media.
The former heart surgeon did not offer specific examples or types of service, instead quoting the Bible parable of a shepherd searching for “the one lost sheep” among a flock of 100, and encouraged members to “prayerfully consider: Who do you know who may be feeling down? Who do you know who needs reconciliation or forgiveness? Has a name come to mind recently for some reason that you’re not sure why?”
Nelson promised, “As you take these questions to the Lord, He will inspire you to know how to reach out and help those in need.”
To accomplish this mission, church leaders issued an early invitation to believers, exactly 100 days before his birthday on September 9th.
If every member stuck to their guns, we could achieve over 17 million acts of service around the world. Not bad!
But President Nelson’s tenure has been marked by near-constant activity — sweeping changes to worship services, an unprecedented increase in the number of temples scheduled for construction and a flurry of policy changes large and small — that have come to define the nonagenarian leader as an influential figure in the hearts of faithful Latter-day Saints.
But there are signs that Nelson’s stamina is no longer matching his ambitions: His appearance at a Saturday afternoon session of the denomination’s general conference in April marked the first time in a year that he has appeared in person as part of the biannual worldwide broadcast.
But later that month, he surprised members of Manti by leading the rededication of the city’s historic pioneer temple.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Wendy, will participate in the rededication of the Manti Temple on Sunday, April 21, 2024.
President Nelson and his counselors, Apostles Dallin Oaks and Henry Eyring, are both 91 years old, making them the oldest First Presidency in Latter-day Saint history.
Oakes, a former lawyer and longtime friend of Nelson, will be the next leader of the worldwide church.
