Elder Dallin H. Oaks, right, gestures to President Gordon B. Hinckley as President Hinckley passes him and Elder Russell M. Nelson while leaving the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square following the afternoon session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 177th Annual General Conference March 31, 2007. Keith Johnson, Deseret News
Editor’s note: After a lifetime of dedicated service, President Russell M. Nelson died on Sept. 27, 2025, at the age of 101. This article is part of a series exploring different facets of President Nelson’s exemplary, faith-filled life.
On the morning of April 6, 1984, Russell M. Nelson was making rounds at the hospital he worked at as a doctor when he was summoned to the phone. D. Arthur Haycock, the secretary of Church President Spencer W. Kimball, asked him to come by the office of the First Presidency.
“Of course, I’ll be happy to — but where is it?” he replied.
It wasn’t long before he would become more than familiar with the Church Administration Building and the offices within.
At that meeting, he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling a vacancy that had lasted more than a year following the death of Elder LeGrand Richards on Jan. 11, 1983. Elder Nelson was sustained during general conference on April 7, 1984, and ordained five days later on April 12.
In an interview with the Church News in 2015, President Nelson said that there was no way to describe that experience of being called as an Apostle. “It is the most sacred thing that can happen to a man in this life,” he said. “It is life-changing, yes. But, hopefully, he, in turn, will be able to change the lives of many other people toward the Lord. This is what we do. We are servants of the Lord.”
He would serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for 34 years. During this time, he fulfilled many assignments, including serving on the Church Board of Education, supervising the Church in Africa and Eastern Europe and dedicating or rededicating two temples.
Elder Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, at the Curitiba Brazil Temple dedication on June 1, 2008. | Gerry Avant, Church News
During some of his first years as an Apostle, he served as an adviser to the Young Women organization and supported the development of the Young Women values and Personal Progress program. Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, Young Women general president at the time, wrote: “I learned from him the value of counseling together. He would ask significant questions and then listen and coach with encouragement.”
Following the deaths of three senior Apostles in 2015 — President Boyd K. Packer, Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Richard G. Scott — President Nelson was called and sustained as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
1 of 22
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, right, joins Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Frankfurt Germany Stake in 1987 at the time of the dedication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
2 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson converses with young men after Priesthood leadership training in Samara, Russia, Oct. 23-25, 2009. | Photo by Alexander Stalnov
3 of 22
Photo by Sister Julie Mckellar
4 of 22
Photo courtesy of Philippine area
5 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson communicates with child at Sal Branch, Cape Verde, in 2004. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
6 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson, center, with Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer, right, and President Randall K. Bennett walk along the Volga River in Samara, Russia, in October 2009. | Photo by Alexander Stalnov
7 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve visits with members in the Philippines. | Photo courtesy of Philippines Area
8 of 22
As grand marshal in commemorative parade, Elder Russell M. Nelson tosses candy to spectators during the 50th anniversary at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii, Sept. 14, 2013. | Photo by R. Scott Lloyd
9 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy Nelson shake hands with New Zealand members during a tour of the Pacific Area, Feb. 12-24, 2014. | Photo courtesy of Pacific Area
10 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, visit a long house in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Several families live in one long house, typical housing in the East Malaysia. The visit came during Elder Nelson's to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in March 2010. | Asia Area public affairs
11 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson greets Mrs. Nurijah Wahid, widow of former Indonesian President Abdurachman Wahid (Gus Dur) in her home in March 2010. Elder Nelson was on a ministry assignment to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. | Asia Area public affairs
12 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson meets with students at Uniformed Services University in Washington, D.C.. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. From left are Megan Donahue, David Cowart, Scott Fleming and his wife, Camille Fleming. | Page Johnson
13 of 22
The president of Bolivia, left, meets with Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, center, and Jay Jensen in October l994. | Church News archives
14 of 22
New Apostle Elder Henry B. Eyring, who was called as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gets a hug from Elder Russell M. Nelson after being sustained in April 1995 general conference. | Deseret News file photo
15 of 22
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, right, gestures to President Gordon B. Hinckley as President Hinckley passes him and Elder Russell M. Nelson while leaving the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square following the afternoon session of the 177th Annual General Conference March 31, 2007. | Keith Johnson, Deseret News
16 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson greets New Zealand members during a tour of the Pacific Area, Feb. 12-24, 2014. | Provided by the Pacific Area
17 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quroum of the Twelve visits Europe in June 2013. | Photo provided by Renee Evans Starr, Photo provided by Renee Evans Starr
18 of 22
President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is helped by Elder Russell M. Nelson at the groundbreaking for the Brigham City Temple in Brigham City, Utah, Saturday, July 31, 2010. | August Miller, Deseret News
19 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson and his wife Wendy pose with a Latter-day Saint woman after visiting her ger, also known as a yurt, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in February 2009. | Picasa
20 of 22
On May 29, 2015, Elder Russell M. Nelson went with his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, and others, to the park in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he read the prayer he offered on Feb. 13, 1990, blessing the nation. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
21 of 22
Arriving at the Payson Utah Temple for its dedication, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Wendy Nelson pause to greet Kirsten Boley, 9. | Church News archives
22 of 22
Elder Russell M. Nelson talks about the change in ages for missionaries after the Saturday morning session of General conference Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Following this call, he reflected on the support he had received from other members of the quorum over the previous 31 years, noting his interactions with Elder Bruce R. McConkie in particular. “Occasionally, I would have an idea I wanted to discuss or had a question. I would knock on his door, and he was always gracious, always warmly welcoming.”
The other Apostles were equally compassionate and willing to share, President Nelson said. “We learned from one another. That continues. Even now, as I’m sitting in the quorum president’s chair, I go to my meetings early so I can learn from my Brethren. It’s not a matter of seniority. It’s a matter of spirit-to-spirit communication. It’s a glorious fringe benefit of this call to have the companionship of fellow Apostles and be taught by them.”
Every member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posed for an iconic photograph in the Rome Italy Temple Visitors' Center in Rome, Italy, on Monday, March 11, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
