President Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke during the Sunday morning session of the October 2021 general conference. Like the ongoing renovations to the Salt Lake Temple, he invited listeners to strengthen personal spiritual foundations. The following is a summary of what he said.
Notable quotes from President Nelson
“It is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures — perhaps measures we have never taken before — to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.”
“As we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.”
“Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear.”
Summary of President Nelson’s talk
Just like major renovations are needed to reinforce the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple to withstand the forces of nature, it is now time to implement extraordinary measures to strengthen personal spiritual foundations.
If individuals are going to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, they must have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
“So, I ask each of you: ‘How firm is your foundation? And what reinforcement to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed?’”
The temple lies at the center of strengthening faith and spiritual fortitude because everything taught in the temple increases understanding of Jesus Christ.
When renovations on the Salt Lake Temple are completed, there will be no safer place during an earthquake in the Salt Lake Valley than inside the temple. Likewise, “the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants.”
When an individual’s spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, he or she will have no need to fear. “As you are true to your covenants made in the temple, you will be strengthened by His power. Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable.”
About President Nelson
- President Russell M. Nelson became the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 2018.
- A renowned surgeon, President Nelson assisted on the first-ever human open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine. In June 2018, the University of Utah honored President Nelson with an endowed chair in surgery.
- He and his late wife, Sister Dantzel White Nelson, who died in 2005, have 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and 140 great-grandchildren. He married Sister Wendy Watson in 2006.
President Nelson in the news
- In honor of President Nelson’s 97th birthday on Sept. 9, several senior Church leaders shared lessons they have learned from his leadership, ministering and example.
- President Nelson — along with his counselors in the First Presidency, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring — spoke at the funeral of Elder Dean M. Davies, a General Authority Seventy and former member of the Presiding Bishopric, on Sept. 4.
- At the Seminar for New Mission Leaders in June, President Nelson taught how ‘repeated, miraculous’ tutoring prepared Joseph Smith for his prophetic calling.
President Nelson’s recent social posts
- President Nelson published his first post on his Spanish Instagram account on Sept. 15 and asked the question: “Do you want to know the secret for a life full of peace and prosperity? The answer is very simple.” He shared a video of him speaking Spanish to members in Lima, Peru, in 2018.
- With the reopening of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple on July 5, every temple in the world has now reopened and resumed some level of operations, President Nelson wrote on Facebook. He expressed gratitude for scientists, health care workers and leaders. “May we cherish the blessings of the House of the Lord and attend the temple as often as our circumstances permit,” he wrote.
- President Nelson tweeted on June 14 about hosting leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and United Negro College Fund at Church headquarters. “We welcome these opportunities to build friendship and discuss shared initiatives that will continue to foster understanding and mutual respect,” he wrote.
