To: All Missionaries in the California Ventura Mission
I
am delighted to inform you that Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum
of the Twelve will be visiting our mission for a missionary conference
on Saturday, April 19th. He will be accompanied by his wife
Wendy Watson Nelson, Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the Seventy, and Elder
Jerryl L. Garns of the Seventy. Please see below biographical
information about Elder Nelson. In preparation for his
visit, you are invited to read at least one of three recent General
Conference talks on missionary work he has given (see attached PDF
copies).
Details regarding Elder Nelson’s visit will be forthcoming.
Elder Russell M.
Nelson was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 7, 1984.
An internationally
renowned surgeon and medical researcher, Dr. Nelson received his B.A.
and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah (1945, 47). Honorary
scholastic societies include Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha
Omega Alpha. He served his residency in surgery at Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston and at the University of Minnesota, where he
was awarded his Ph.D. degree in 1954. He also received honorary degrees
of Doctor of Science from Brigham Young University
in 1970, Doctor of Medical Science from Utah State University in 1989,
and Doctor of Humane Letters from Snow College in 1994.
His professional
work included the positions of research professor of surgery and
director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Utah and
chairman of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at LDS
Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Author of numerous
publications and chapters in medical textbooks, Elder Nelson lectured
and visited professionally throughout the United States and in many
other nations prior to his call as a General Authority.
A host of awards and honors have come to him, including the
Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Utah; the Heart of Gold Award
from the American Heart Association; a citation for International
Service from the American Heart Association; and the Golden
Plate Award, presented by the American Academy of Achievement. He has
been awarded honorary professorships from three universities in the
People’s Republic of China.
Dr. Nelson has
served as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a director of
the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the Council on
Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association,
and president of the Utah State Medical Association.
Elder Nelson has
held numerous positions of responsibility in the Church. He served as
stake president of the Bonneville Stake from 1964 to June 1971, when he
was called as general president of the Sunday
School. Prior to his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, he was serving
as a regional representative assigned to the Kearns Utah Region. He had
previously served as regional representative for Brigham Young
University.
Born September 9,
1924, Elder Nelson is the son of Marion C. and Edna Anderson Nelson. He
and his wife, the former Dantzel White, have ten children. Sister Nelson
passed away in February 2005. In April 2006,
he married Wendy L. Watson.
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