Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away peacefully in his home on September 27, 2025. His funeral services were held on October 7, 2025. Thousands of members of the Church flooded to the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah to remember and honor the Prophet. The services began with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s performance of the hymn, “Our Prayer to Thee,” the lyrics of which were written by President Nelson himself. A deeply touching tribute, the voice of the Prophet seemed to echo in the mouths of the choir.
Following the choir, the first speaker was Laurie N. Marsh, President Nelson’s daughter. She reflected, “When I think of our dad, I think of joy.” Sharing personal stories about President Nelson’s love of music, his devotion to his first wife Dantzel, and his dedication to temple attendance, Sister Marsh ended her remarks by testifying of her father’s prophetic foreordination and the reality that “Jesus Christ is joy.”
Russell M. Nelson Jr., President Nelson’s only son, followed. The central theme of his message was the importance of family and the temple in his father’s life. He said, “Family was a top priority for our dad,” and, “the crowning jewel of the Restoration is the temple.” Brother Nelson concluded by inviting all in attendance to more fully take upon themselves the name of Christ and honor it, as his father had done.
After the family contributions, the final four remarks came from Church leaders who served alongside President Nelson. Sister Camille N. Johnson, General Relief Society President, remembered, “He treated me with the kindness and tenderness of a loving father, even though I was not his daughter.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland described President Nelson as “the man for whom the word ‘gentleman’ was created.” With his characteristic tenderness and humor, Elder Holland recounted anecdotes from his time serving and traveling with the Prophet. To him, President Nelson was “the holder of hands and the healer of hearts.”
Elder Henry B. Eyring was the penultimate speaker, sharing how his own mother received life-saving and prolonging operations from President Nelson no less than 9 times. Elder Eyring also highlighted the late Prophet’s ability to recall details about people he met, how he sought out counsel from those around him, and his desire to go the extra mile in his service.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, senior Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, concluded the funeral services by recounting the change he saw in President Nelson following his call to become President of the Church: “I saw President Nelson as a decisive Church decision-maker,” he said near the beginning of his remarks. Elder Oaks also shared President Nelson’s devotion to testifying of The Book of Mormon. According to Elder Oaks, President Nelson melted the hearts of various religious and world leaders by showing interest in them on a personal level. Near the conclusion of his remarks, Elder Oaks stated that President Nelson was “one of Israel’s most powerful missionaries in action.”
The spirit of love that permeated the funeral services was evidence of President Nelson’s profound impact on both the Church and the world at large. While it is true that “the only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life,” the feeling at the funeral services was one of hope. The Lord’s work will move forward, and all those who have passed through the doors of death will live again through Jesus Christ. President Nelson knew it, and those of us who remember him must carry the message forward.
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