Death is always a sad thing, even if we can take solace in the fact that it is not the end of one’s existence. When the person who dies is righteous, then we can find joy in the eternal rewards they are reaping. In that spirit, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of a great man named Russell M. Nelson. He had just turned 101 years old, making him the oldest President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in history.

An Exemplary Life

Growing up, I got him confused with M. Russell Ballard more than once. Both were apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ for many years. Russell M. Nelson was a doctor, and he pioneered open-heart surgery in the 1950s. In 1984, at the age of 59, he was ordained an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he went on to become the President of that Church in 2018 at the age of 93.

President Nelson lived an exemplary life full of faith and good works. He survived an armed attempt on his life, saved thousands lives in his medical practice, and changed millions of lives with his Christ-centered teachings.

Because of him, the world is far better prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ than ever before. He taught us to focus on teaching the Gospel in our homes, be peacemakers in an increasingly divided society, listen to the Lord’s promptings, obey the Holy Spirit, and prepare ourselves for worshipping in the Lord’s temple.

A Great Temple Builder

President Nelson announced temples at a breakneck speed during his tenure as prophet, seer, and revelator. In just seven years, he announced more than 200 temples around the world. I love attending one that he announced in 2019: the Orem, Utah Temple. And there’s another one that’s nearly ready to be dedicated just down the road from me in Lindon, Utah.

Two hundred temples announced in seven years! To put that into perspective, that’s a little more than the 188 temples that were announced by the 14 previous prophets combined from 1830 to 2018. It’s amazing to see the great hastening taking place.

Temples bless every area they are built in. Even if we can’t enter them yet, we can enjoy great blessings that come from having them in our communities. They are houses of the Lord that emanate a sweet spirit of calm and kindness. And everyone is invited to prepare themselves to come into those places where divine revelation flows like a river.

Preparing to Meet God

President Nelson brought temples to the people and encouraged people to bring themselves to the temple. What an incredible man. He is with God now. And I hope that we will all be as prepared to meet God as he was by living equally exemplary lives of service and goodness.

This is the Deja Reviewer bidding you farewell until we meet again.

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