Just a month ago, President Russell M. Nelson, Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reached the remarkable age of 100. This month, we were blessed to hear his counsel during the Sunday evening session of General Conference. His talk, titled “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” is available on the Church’s website, but what touched me most deeply wasn’t recorded in the transcript online.
During his talk, President Nelson made a brief but powerful statement:
“My eyes are getting older. So today, I will present my message with the aid of a desktop teleprompter.”
Although this wasn’t central to his message, it added profound weight to everything that followed. It reminded me of his lifetime of service to God and, thus, his service to each of us. It was a moment that immediately brought to my mind a similar historical incident involving George Washington.
At the end of the Revolutionary War, before Washington became the first president of the United States, he faced a critical moment. A group of Continental Army officers, frustrated and on the verge of a military coup, threatened our new nation. Washington, aware of the gravity of the situation, addressed the officers, urging them to consider the consequences of their actions. Samuel Shaw, an aide-de-camp, described the scene:
“[Washington] stood single and alone. There was no saying where the passions of an army, which were not a little inflamed, might lead. . . . Under these circumstances, he appeared, not at the head of his troops, but as it were in opposition to them, and for a dreadful moment the interests of the army and its General seemed to be in competition.”
Despite Washington’s eloquent words, the officers remained with hardened hearts. But then, in a moment, those same hearts were softened when Washington reached for a letter from Congress to read aloud. Struggling with the text, he admitted to the officers that he now needed spectacles, saying:
“Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for, I have grown not only gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”
This simple, unscripted gesture—a glimpse of his humanity—moved the officers. They saw the toll that his selfless service had taken on him, and it softened their hearts. Washington, through his vulnerability, showed that he had given everything for the cause, even his health and eyesight.
In many ways, President Nelson’s recent admission mirrors this historic moment. His acknowledgment of his physical limitations wasn’t planned, nor was it a performance. Rather, it was a humble reflection of his devotion—heart, mind, body, and soul—to serving God. By allowing us to see his human frailty, he showed us the power of dedicating one’s life to a higher purpose.
Just as Washington stood against the passions of an army, President Nelson stood against the natural man’s passions. He pleads with us to bridle our worldly desires, to turn our hearts to Christ, and to prepare for His Second Coming.
While I know that President Nelson’s message was vital, I admit that, over time, I may forget his specific words. But I will never forget the image of the Lord’s Prophet, humbly acknowledging his own mortality. His lifetime of sacrifice and service stands as a living example of how to truly serve God.
Written by: Jax McKinney
Senior Contributor at the Cougar Chronicle
The Cougar Chronicle is an independent student-run newspaper and is not affiliated with Brigham Young University or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Cover Photo Source: https://www.ldsliving.com/which-book-of-mormon-chapter-does-pres-nelson-read-with-visiting-diplomats-and-religious-leaders/s/12299
