See highlights from President Nelson’s ministry in 2018 with these 61 unique photos

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (right) and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, listen to speakers during a devotional held Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.
|Credit: Edward A. Ornelas, For the Deseret News, For the Deseret News
See highlights from President Nelson’s ministry in 2018 with these 61 unique photos

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (right) and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, listen to speakers during a devotional held Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.
|Credit: Edward A. Ornelas, For the Deseret News, For the Deseret News
On Jan. 14, 2019, it will have been one year since President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was sustained and set apart as prophet of the Church.
During his ministry in 2018, President Nelson traveled 55,000 flight miles. The prophet's destinations over the past year included five continents, sixteen nations and territories and 24 cities. As he's visited with members of the Church, President Nelson has touched the lives of millions, speaking at Seattle's Safeco Field, San Antonio's Alamodome and at the Church's "Be One" event in Salt Lake City.
President Nelson has also shared inspiring messages during the April 2018 and October 2018 sessions of general conference, issuing unique challenges to both the youth and the women of the Church.
Take a look at the impact of the prophet's service through these photos from 2018.
January 2018

President Russell M. Nelson, center, is announced as the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.
Credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his councilors President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, left, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor, right, share in a laugh at a press conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.
Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holds his great grandson, William McKellar. President Nelson and his councilors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor, previously spoke to media at a press conference in Salt Lake City Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.
Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, receives hugs from family members after he and his councilors President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor, held a press conference at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.
Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, receives hugs from family members after he and his councilors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor, held a press conference at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.

President Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, receives hugs from family members after he and his councilors President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor, held a press conference at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City, Utah on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.
March 2018

President Russell M. Nelson salutes attendees of conference following the Saturday morning session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 188th Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 31, 2018.
Credit: Ravell Call, Deseret News, Deseret News
April 2018

President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, leave the Sunday morning session of the 188th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018.
Credit: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News, Deseret News

From left to right, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, exit after the Sunday afternoon session of the 188th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018.
Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, exit following the Sunday afternoon session of the 188th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, April 1, 2018.
Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M, Nelson and Sister Wendy Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints greet the Vargas family at the Hyde Park Visitors Center in London on Thursday, April 12, 2018. The boys are Juan David Vargas Saavedra, right, and Joseph Daniel Vargas Saavedra.
Credit: Ravell Call, Deseret News

Lhea Phillips of London, originally from Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, cries as she hugs President Russell M. Nelson after a meeting at the Hyde Park Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London on Thursday, April 12, 2018.
Credit: Tad Walch, Deseret News, Deseret News

Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, left, and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, look over the view at the BYU Jerusalem Center in Jerusalem on Saturday, April 14, 2018, during a global tour of eight countries.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talks with Kendall, Maren and Reese Branson after the Jerusalem District Conference at the BYU Jerusalem Center in Jerusalem on Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Wendy Nelson talk with brothers James, Paul and and Adam Howell after speaking during the Jerusalem District Conference at the BYU Jerusalem Center in Jerusalem on Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks with Ella Bautista after the Jerusalem District Conference at the BYU Jerusalem Center in Jerusalem on Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, right, along with District President Dennis Brimhall walk at the BYU Jerusalem Center in Jerusalem on Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stand together as President Nelson gives a blessing during a special devotional in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday, April 16, 2018.
Credit: Ravell Call, Deseret News, Deseret News

Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, laughs after a press conference in Bangaluru, India on Thursday, April 19, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Sister Wendy Nelson, and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife Sister Patricia Holland tour the new temple site in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, April 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, shake hands after a devotional in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, April 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

A young girl places a lei on President Russell M. Nelson in Laie, Hawaii on April 22, during the prophet’s final stop on his global tour.
May 2018

National President Derrick Johnson of the NAACP speaks with President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at left, during a press conference in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 17, 2018.
Credit: Ravell Call, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, right, stands with Rev. Amos C. Brown during a press conference in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 17, 2018.
Credit: Ravell Call, Deseret News
June 2018

President Russell M. Nelson speaks at the “Be One” event at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 1, 2018. The event celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1978 revelation on the priesthood.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson speaks at the “Be One” event at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 1, 2018. The event celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1978 revelation on the priesthood.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks during the Worldwide Youth Devotional at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, June 3, 2018.
Credit: James Wooldridge, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson greets members on June 8, 2018, in Edmonton, Alberta.

President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, speaks to members on June 8, 2018, in Edmonton, Alberta.

University of Utah president Ruth V. Watkins announced the Dr. Russell M. Nelson and Dantzel W. Nelson Presidential Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the U.’s School of Medicine during a dinner on Temple Square on Friday, June 15, 2018.
September 2018

President Russell M. Nelson enjoys an individual moment with a woman who attended the Sept. 1, 2018, member devotional in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meets with civic and religious leaders before speaking at Safeco Field in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.
Credit: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks at Safeco Field in Seattle, Wash., on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018.
Credit: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints waves as he and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, leave the Langley Events Center after speaking in Langley, British Columbia, on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018.
Credit: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News, Deseret News
October 2018

President Russell M. Nelson, center, embraces President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, left, at the start of the Saturday morning session of the 188th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018.
Credit: Spenser Heaps, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson waves to audience members during the general women’s session of the 188th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018.
Credit: Laura Seitz, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson waves to attendees after the Sunday afternoon session of the 188th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

From left, Elder Gary E. Stevenson and President Russell M. Nelson meet with Peruvian president Martin Vizcarro on Oct. 20, 2018, in Lima, Peru. The men discussed the Church’s ongoing humanitarian service in Peru.
Credit: Provided by the President of Peru

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints smiles after leaving the Government Palace after speaking with the president of Peru in Lima, Peru on Oct. 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, left, and Elder Enrique Falabella, General Authority Seventy, leave the Government Palace after speaking with the president of Peru in Lima, Peru on Oct. 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, left, and Elder Enrique Falabella, General Authority Seventy, leave the Government Palace after speaking with the president of Peru in Lima, Peru on Oct. 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, Elder Gary E. Stevenson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Enrique Falabella, General Authority Seventy speak with media after leaving the Government Palace after speaking with the president of Peru in Lima, Peru on Oct. 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meets with area youth prior to a devotional in Lima, Peru on Oct. 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is greeted prior to a devotional in Lima, Peru on Oct. 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how wife Sister Wendy Nelson wave to attendees after a devotional in Lima, Peru on Oct. 20, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, are greeted by Latter-day Saint children in traditional Bolivian dress prior to the Oct. 21, 2018, devotional at the Polideportivo Heroes de Octubre in El Alto, Bolivia. The children sang “Follow the Prophet.”
Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, hug children after a devotional in Asuncion, Paraguay on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hugs children after they rushed to meet him in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Sister Wendy Nelson hug their grandson Elder Nicholas Nelson, a missionary serving in the Uruguay Montevideo West Mission, prior to a missionary meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds Pierina Risso, 3, while meeting with her three generation LDS family in Montevideo, Uraguay on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is interviewed by Sergio Rubin, Argentine journalist and biographer of Pope Francis, in Montevideo, Uruguay on Oct. 26, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, left, is interviewed by Sergio Rubin, Argentine journalist and biographer of Pope Francis, in Montevideo, Uruguay on Oct. 26, 2018. Carlos Aguero, right, interprets.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints smiles while having lunch with local dignitaries in Concepcion, Chile on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife Sister Wendy Nelson hug near the temple in Concepcion, Chile on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, pose for a photo outside the Concepcion, Chile temple on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife Sister Lesa Stevenson also stand with other leaders near the temple.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints waves to attendees after a youth devotional in Concepcion, Chile on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, look to attendees during the dedication of the Concepcion Chile Temple in Concepcion, Chile on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands with attendee Augustine Escobar during the dedication of the Concepcion Chile Temple in Concepcion, Chile on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News
November 2018

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (right) and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, listen to speakers during a devotional held Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.
Credit: Edward A. Ornelas, For the Deseret News, For the Deseret News

Archbishop of San Antonio Gustavo Garcia-Siller (left) speaks with President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before the devotional held Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.
Credit: Edward A. Ornelas, For the Deseret News, For the Deseret News
December 2018

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks during the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018.
Credit: Qiling Wang, Deseret News