Stargazer Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) With the passing of President Packer, there is now a new President of the Quorum of the Twelve, and that man is Russell M. Nelson. Two things stood out for me when I read his Wikipedia biography: He's the same age as Pres. Packer! Seems in much better health, however.He speaks Mandarin Chinese! The second item there is from a paragraph in the Wikipedia article: China When he was general president of the Sunday School, Nelson attended a meeting where Spencer W. Kimball urged those present to learn Chinese. Nelson took up this challenge and became fluent in Mandarin. He developed ties with the medical community in China and made several trips there to train surgeons. In 1985, Nelson was the first person ever made an honorary professor of Shandong Medical College. In 1995, Nelson went to Beijing, along with Neal A. Maxwell and other LDS Church leaders, on an official invitation of Li Lanqing, the Vice Premier of China. Anyone with personal stories about Pres. Nelson, please share them! Edited July 3, 2015 by Stargazer 2
Mystery Meat Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 There is a good chance that he will break the century mark based on current health.
Duncan Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 I have a letter from him about his Feb. 2003 Ensign article, jiminy christmas now maybe I should lanimate it or manilate it or put that see through sheet on top of it! 1
Kenngo1969 Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 I have a letter from him about his Feb. 2003 Ensign article, jiminy christmas now maybe I should lanimate it or manilate it or put that see through sheet on top of it!I would highly recommend aminilating it. 1
Avatar4321 Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I think he has a high chance of being the next prophet. But I hope its not for a while.
Broker Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I've read his biography a couple times. His life (and health) are an example of what can happen when you exercise an incredible amount of faith over an entire lifetime.
Robert F. Smith Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 Although he was apparently not an apostle, Luke was a physician and the author of the Gospel According to Luke, and of the Acts of the Apostles.Wasn't apostle Frederick G. Williams also a physician?
cinepro Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I've read his biography a couple times. His life (and health) are an example of what can happen when you exercise an incredible amount of faith over an entire lifetime. Also, his life (and health) are an example of what can happen when you exercise an incredible amount over an entire lifetime. 2
strappinglad Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) Genes will trump behavior most of the time. We've all read about the 90 year old man who attributed his longevity to a shot of rum and a stogie every day. There are also the young athletes who drop dead from a hidden heart problem .Now if one has good genes and a healthy lifestyle , living to be 110 is quite possible. I have good genes but there are a few rips in the knees. Edited July 4, 2015 by strappinglad
TheSkepticChristian Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 there is now a new President of the Quorum of the Twelve, and that man is Russell M. Nelson. Good for him, but honestly I am not a fan of Elder Nelson.
Stargazer Posted July 4, 2015 Author Posted July 4, 2015 Good for him, but honestly I am not a fan of Elder Nelson. So what gored your ox about Elder Nelson? Sorry about that, but California Boy said something about ox-goring to me recently, and I am very taken with the phrase now. 1
Sevenbak Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 Anyone with personal stories about Pres. Nelson, please share them!I had the good fortune to shoot an interview with him in Hawaii a few years ago, along with our own respected and honorable R. Scott Lloyd. I really admire and respect him and his spirit. I also think, like Elder Packer, he will not be one to mince words. I respect his boldness on issues such as man's divinity and his stance against things such as evolution. As a heart surgeon, he understands the importance of exercise, so I think he'll be around for a few years. Incidentally, I also traveled to jerusalem with his yet-to-be wife about 15 years ago. 1
longview Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 So what gored your ox about Elder Nelson? Sorry about that, but California Boy said something about ox-goring to me recently, and I am very taken with the phrase now.I really loved reading Elder Nelson's talk he gave to the mission presidents seminar about the Book of Mormon. Many fascinating insights, especially one about the mix of different lanuages being used (spoken Hebrew but written in reformed Egyptian). Here is the link to the article: https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/07/a-treasured-testament?lang=eng&query=Book+of+Mormon
cinepro Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 So what gored your ox about Elder Nelson? Sorry about that, but California Boy said something about ox-goring to me recently, and I am very taken with the phrase now. I can't speak for TheSkepticChristian, but over the last 20 years President Nelson has been one of the more outspoken apostles on the issues of evolution and the creation. While the others seem to have addressed the issue less (or more circumspectly), President Nelson has still been clear in his disbelief in the Theory of Evolution. We discussed it much here. 1
Duncan Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) I'm paraphrasing this story but one of my fave "Pres. Nelson" stories comes from Elder Spencer Condie, it's in his bio on him. Anyways those two were in Russia? and needed to get some legal work done and so they hired a lawyer. This lady was unkempt and kind of scattered and they could tell she was hungover and things like that but she got the right paperwork and it was all done. Elder Condie was so embarrased and apologizing and Elder Nelson said well listen, she'a female in a male dominated profession , working in Russia which the legal system can't be at that super duper so her drinking is the least of her worries. Edited July 4, 2015 by Duncan 2
Rivers Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 Elder Perry's death taught me that it's futile to predict the lifespan of someone by how healthy they appear. 1
Rivers Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I can't speak for TheSkepticChristian, but over the last 20 years President Nelson has been one of the more outspoken apostles on the issues of evolution and the creation. While the others seem to have addressed the issue less (or more circumspectly), President Nelson has still been clear in his disbelief in the Theory of Evolution.We discussed it much here.Joseph Fielding Smith was very outspoken about these issues as well but not so much after becoming Prophet.
Calm Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) I'm paraphrasing this story but one of my fave "Pres. Nelson" stories comes form Elder Spencer Condie, it\s in his bio on him. Anyways those two were in Russia? and needed to get some legal work done and so they hired a lawyer. This lady was unkempt and kind of scattered and they could tell she was hungover and things like that but she got the right paperwork and it was all done. Elder Condie was so embarrased and apologizing and Elder Nelson said well listen, she'a female in a male dominated profession , working in Russia which the legal system can't be at that super duper so her drinking is the least of her worries.Boy, was he right. At the Moscow university my husband taught at, our best friend was a female professor. The women there were treated like they were all secretaries even if they had doctorates. Then she had to deal with a husband that spent a huge amount of time drinking and who had issues with his wife having a better job than he did. Professional women had it hard there.Don't know when he was there, we were off and on starting in 92 up to 96 iirc. Met some law students and lawyers who talked about how hard it was with the law books being rewritten each year due to the rather chaotic nature of government at the time. Wonder if they ever got past that.It was very kind and insightful of Elder Nelson to recognize that and accept her that way. Edited July 4, 2015 by calmoriah 1
JAHS Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I remember that he had performed some kind of heart surgery on President Kimball. Here's an experience he related about president Kimball: "From President Kimball I gained reaffirmation of the necessity of obedience to law. On one occasion when his cardiac pacemaker was malfunctioning, surgical revision was required. When he arrived at the hospital for this operation, President Kimball greeted me with his usual warm embrace and asked, “Will you give me a blessing?” After I was privileged to perform that sacred ordinance, he then made this unforgettable statement: “Now you may proceed to do that which must be done in order to allow that blessing to be fulfilled.” We operated. A small break was found in the insulation of an electrode, repair of which took care of the problem. He knew and I knew that not even for God’s prophet can there ever be a blessing without “obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” (D&C 130:21.) 1
Avatar4321 Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 I liked his account of the spirit revealing to him how to fix, I believe ,president kimballs heart.
Bob Crockett Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 He was my stake president when one of his bishops with Joseph B. Wirthlin. 1
DJBrown Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 With the passing of President Packer, there is now a new President of the Quorum of the Twelve, and that man is Russell M. Nelson. Two things stood out for me when I read his Wikipedia biography: He's the same age as Pres. Packer! Seems in much better health, however.He speaks Mandarin Chinese! The second item there is from a paragraph in the Wikipedia article: Anyone with personal stories about Pres. Nelson, please share them! I served my mission in Oklahoma from 1990 to 1990. While there, a cardiac surgeon from China spent time in Oklahoma city. We taught him, and he was baptized. He said that Elder Nelson had visited with him and others in China and that he was so very impressed by Elder Nelson. Really, that exposure to the apostle is what led to his conversion and baptism. We just happened to be the ones to baptize him. 2
cinepro Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 Joseph Fielding Smith was very outspoken about these issues as well but not so much after becoming Prophet. He was an Apostle for almost 60 years, and Prophet for about a year and a half. I'm not sure his lack of addressing a specific issue while Prophet is any indication of a change of opinion. 1
stemelbow Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 I think Elder Nelson is awesome. He's one I'd really like to get to know, even though his ideas on evolution make me wonder what in the world he's thinking. I know, I concede this point, every one of you would rather go with Elder Nelson on anything than some anonymous loser on the internet. How dare I criticize the Lord's anointed and all that. But come on...why does he feel the need to be so dogmatic about it?
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