LDS Family Home Evening // Our Latter-day Prophet, Russell M. Nelson

What You'll Need: scriptures, printed life pictures poster, puzzle activity page, quote fill-in page, pen or pencil.

Scripture: Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all [the Prophet's] words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. - Doctrine & Covenants 21:4-5

Opening Song: We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet (LDS Hymn #19)

Lesson:

NOTE: You may choose to start this lesson by reviewing how a new LDS Latter-day Prophet is called using the free download found here.

Heavenly Father calls Latter-day Prophets to lead his church and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Today we are going to learn about our current Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.

(display Russell M. Nelson's Life in Pictures poster)

CHILDHOOD

President Nelson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah.  As a boy, Russell’s parents taught him that family should always come first. In the evenings he would play games, read, or sing with his parents and siblings.

He remembers that during school, he would go home for lunch, and at least once a week his mother tried to feed him beef liver. Russell did not like the taste or the texture of liver. He would wait until his mother looked away, then stuff the liver in his pocket. On his walk back to school, he would throw it away in an empty lot. “This maneuver was a little hard on pockets, but it was, nevertheless, very successful,” he says.

TEEN YEARS

Russell played football in high school, but often sat on the bench during games, because he did not want to damage his hands. He was very protective over his hands and feared someone might step on them with their cleats. His coach, no doubt annoyed, kept Russell on the bench. Forty years later, Russell performed surgery on his coach with those hands.

COLLEGE AND MARRIAGE

President Nelson is a great singer and plays piano and the organ very well.  He spent a lot of time in choirs and musicals growing up. When Russell was in college he was asked to be in a school play.  When he came to practice, Russell heard the most beautiful singing. It was the voice of the lead soprano: Dantzel White. He said, “She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen, and I sensed that she was the one whom I would marry”.

Russell and Dantzel were married 3 years later and had a large family of ten kids; nine daughters and one son.

When he was 22 years old, he finished medical school with high honors. He then worked hard to become an expert heart surgeon.

ADULTHOOD

During the Korean War, he served two years of military medical duty in Korea, the United States, and this country. After his war service he continued to be an amazing doctor. President Nelson worked on a team that made medical history: After three challenging years, they developed the first machine that performed the functions of a patient’s heart and lungs during open-heart surgery. As a doctor, he has helped thousands of sick people. But he says, “The real power to heal is a gift from God.”

Once, in a meeting, the Prophet at the time, Spencer W. Kimball, spoke about missionary work in many parts of the world. He asked everyone at that meeting to learn Mandarin Chinese.President Nelson followed that council. Mandarin is a very hard language to learn, but Russell M. Nelson listened to the Prophet and followed his council. His desire to speak to people in their own languages also prompted him to learn French, Russian and Spanish.

Later, President Nelson, who was not an apostle at the time, performed open-heart surgery on President Kimball and said this about the experience: "I shall never forget the feeling I had as his heart resumed beating, leaping with power and vigor. At that very moment, the Spirit made known to me that this special patient would live to become the prophet of God on earth."

President Nelson LOVES being in the outdoors. Skiing is one of President Nelson's "greatest loves". He also has fond memories of summer vacations with his family and spending one day a year horseback riding with his children.

Later in their life Russell's wife, Dantzel Nelson, passed away. President Nelson married Wendy L. Watson, an author and Brigham Young University professor, in April 2006.

A NEW PROPHET

President Russell M. Nelson was called in January 2018 as the 17th Latter-day Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  At the announcement of his Presidency, President Nelson said, “I declare my devotion to God our Eternal Father and to His Son, Jesus Christ. I know Them, love Them, and pledge to serve Them—and you—with every remaining breath of my life.”

He challenged the members of the church to follow the savior. He said, “Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to women, men, and children everywhere.”

Bear your testimony about the new Prophet. Share with your family that each of them can receive personal revelation that Russell M. Nelson is God's chosen Prophet on the earth.

(For tips on sharing your testimony please click here.)

Activity: 

FOR SMALL KIDS // Heart Puzzle 
(included in Lesson download)

FOR OLDER KIDS & TEENS // President Nelson Quote Fill-In
(included in Lesson download)

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