Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the oldest president in the church’s history, died Sept. 27 at the age of 101. Nelson passed away shortly after 10 p.m. in his Salt Lake City home, according to a church statement.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy, eight of his 10 children, 57 grandchildren and more than 167 great-grandchildren.
Previously a notable heart surgeon, Nelson turned his attention to full-time church leadership in 1984, joining the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, the church’s second-highest governing body and rose to take the helm as church leader in January 2018.
More: Jacksonville’s first Mormon Temple coming to Mandarin. See what it could look like
Who was Russell M. Nelson?
Nelson was a notable heart surgeon and performed the first open-heart surgery in Utah in 1955. He served on top boards and associations in the field during his career, including as president of the Utah State Medical Association and director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and was known for helping develop an artificial heart and lung machine.
He joined the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in April 1984, and later became leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 2018.
Nelson visited extensively with Latter-day Saints and government and religious leaders, traveling to 32 countries and U.S. territories, according to the church.
His tenure as president was marked by several sweeping policy changes, as well as a spree of new temple buildings.
In 2019, he rolled back a policy that labeled same-sex member couples “apostates” and barred their minor children from religious rites.
Are there Mormon temples in Florida?
A rendering of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple planned for 3323 Loretto Road in Jacksonville.
In October 2022, President Russell M. Nelson announced plans to construct a new temple in Jacksonville, Florida.
The city recently issued a building permit on Sept. 22 for the construction of the 6.6-acre temple at 3323 Loretto Road in Mandarin, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported. The project cost is $27 million.
It will be the fifth temple in Florida, where there are more than 160,000 Latter-day Saints and more than 280 congregations, according to the church.
Other temples in the state include:
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Orlando, Florida Temple (Dedicated Oct. 9, 1994)
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida Temple (Dedicated May 4, 2014)
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Tallahassee, Florida Temple (Dedicated Dec. 8, 2024)
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Tampa, Florida Temple (Under construction)
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Jacksonville, Florida Temple (Announced)
How many people are Mormon?
Approximately 2% of American adults identify as Latter-Day Saints, or Mormons, according to the Pew Research’s 2023-24 U.S. Religious Landscape Study.
The majority, 69%, live in the western states, predominantly Utah, with the church’s global headquarters established in Salt Lake City in the mid-19th century.
Latter-day Saints vs Mormons: Are they the same?
Yes, however, the correct name of the church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
“While most members of the Church do not mind being called ‘Mormons,’ a more respectful way to refer to a person who belongs to the faith is ‘a Latter-day Saint,’ or ‘a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,'” according to the church.
The commonly used nickname “Mormon” stems from one of the church’s sacred texts, “The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”
The church is also commonly referred to as “The Mormon Church,” or “The Church of Latter-day Saints,” or “The LDS Church.”
Who will be new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
According to the church, “a successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Nelson’s funeral.”
Nelson was the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Jan. 14, 2018, until his death on Sept. 27, 2025.
Contributing: Alexandria Mansfield, The Florida Times-Union
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mormon president Russell M. Nelson dies at 101
