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President Nelson authors Arizona Republic op-ed, invites all to come to Christ

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife Wendy Nelson pause with Lillianna Mower after a meeting in Chico, California on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, two months after the Camp Fire destroyed 1,400 homes and hundreds of businesses. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints looks over destroyed homes with his wife Wendy Nelson in Paradise, California on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, two months after the Camp Fire destroyed 1,400 homes and hundreds of businesses. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints looks over destroyed LDS chapel with his wife Wendy Nelson in Paradise, California on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, two months after the Camp Fire destroyed 1,400 homes and hundreds of businesses. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote an op-ed published Feb. 10 in The Arizona Republic. Life with God is far better than one without him, he wrote in the op-ed, titled “Healing Hearts.”
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, stand with son in-law Norman A. Maxfield after funeral services at the Brighton Stake Center in Sandy for President Nelson's daughter Wendy Nelson Maxfield on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hugs members of his family at Brighton Stake Center in Sandy after President Nelson spoke at his daughter Wendy Nelson Maxfield's funeral on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hugs members of his family at Brighton Stake Center in Sandy after President Nelson spoke at his daughter Wendy Nelson Maxfield's funeral on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife Wendy Nelson talk with fire victims Rick and KathieTurner by the burned LDS Chapel in Paradise, California on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, two months after the Camp Fire destroyed 1,400 homes and hundreds of businesses. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News
Attendees look on as President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints enters the chapel in Chico, California on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News, Deseret News
Marnette Barton cries while meeting President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a meeting in Chico, California on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks in Chico, California on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, two months after the Camp Fire destroyed 1,400 homes and hundreds of businesses. 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 talks fire victim Robert Harrison and his family in Paradise, California on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, two months after the Camp Fire destroyed 1,400 homes and hundreds of businesses. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife Sister Wendy Nelson greet Governor Jorge Ulloa Aguillon outside at the LDS Concepcion Chili Temple in Concepcion, Chili on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hugs 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 and how wife Sister Wendy Nelson greet attendees after a devotional in Lima, Peru on Oct. 20, 2018. Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Sergio Rubin, Argentine journalist and biographer of Pope Francis, interviews President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Montevideo, Uraguay 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 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 Henry B. Eyring, President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy Nelson listen to the Ensign Choir sing 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

Faith in God is, and has always been, the preeminent force for good in this world, wrote President Russell M. Nelson in an op-ed article published Feb. 10 in The Arizona Republic.

“If there is anything I’ve learned in my 94 years of living, it is that a life with God is far better — more filled with hope — than one without Him.”

In the editorial, titled "Viewpoints: LDS president urges spirituality in an increasingly secular world during Phoenix-area visit," President Nelson, 94, wrote that the most profound thing he has witnessed during his lifetime is the unrivaled difference that belief in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, has in a person’s life. “There is simply nothing to compare with the refining, ennobling strength and meaning that come into the life of a devoted believer and servant."

In the op-ed President Nelson wrote about his visit last month to Paradise, California, where he met with and comforted those affected by Camp Fire, which left 86 dead and destroyed more than 18,000 structures. He also wrote about the recent death of his daughter, Wendy Nelson Maxfield, to cancer.

“Whatever your faith tradition or personal circumstances, as a servant of the Lord I invite you to look to Him and make Him the center of your life.”

Read the entire op-ed here.

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