Russell M. Nelson, LDS President, Dies at 101 as Church Mourns Michigan Tragedy
Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has passed away at the age of 101. His death comes as the church grapples with a tragic shooting and fire at a Michigan chapel, leaving at least two dead and several injured. The next president is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, following church protocol.
Nelson, who led the church since 2018, oversaw significant changes. He advocated for the abandonment of shorthand names like 'Mormon' and 'LDS', and repealed policies that barred baptisms for children of gay parents. He also expanded leadership diversity, appointing non-American leaders to the top governing body and forming a partnership with the NAACP. However, his tenure was not without controversy. He faced scrutiny over the church's handling of sexual abuse reports and its past policy banning Black men from the lay priesthood.
Meanwhile, a gunman opened fire during a Sunday service at an LDS chapel in Michigan. After shooting several people, he set the building ablaze. The gunman was later killed by police. The identity of the next president, traditionally the longest-serving member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has not been officially announced yet.
Russell M. Nelson's death marks the end of an era for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His successor, expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, will inherit a church grappling with tragedy and change. The Michigan shooting serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing religious institutions in today's world.
