May God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Today we remember the life of President Russell Marion Nelson who served as the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Nelson’s life was anything but ordinary and he seemed to leave an indelible mark wherever he went.

But, if he were asked which of his many titles were most important, including doctor, surgeon, researcher, professor or lieutenant, he would say: “First, I am a child of God…; then a son of the covenant; then a disciple of Jesus Christ…” He would continue, “next would come my honored titles as husband and father, then Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.”1

President Nelson met with kings and presidents, queens and princesses. But he also knew and loved the common person. He was their friend. President Nelson was an innovator and a big thinker, an optimist and a builder of bridges. He was an ever-patient teacher and through his messages we learned to “do better and be better.”2 He taught us to “Let God prevail in our lives,”3 to learn to “Think Celestial”4 and to hear the voice of the Lord.5

President Nelson followed the Savior’s admonition to “love one another.”6 He implored us to be peacemakers and to listen to and treat each other with respect, to “replace animosity with understanding and contention with peace.”7

Over the 101 years of his life, President Nelson contributed to the development of the heart-lung machine and pioneered the now proven techniques of open-heart surgery. Together with his wife, Dantzel, they raised ten wonderful children in a happy and loving environment. After Dantzel’s passing, he married Wendy Watson, and together they traveled the globe ministering to thousands.

To the world, above all, he was a disciple and witness of Jesus Christ. His life’s mission was to help other people, to heal hearts and spirits.

President Nelson watched this broadcast each Sunday and once mentioned that he recalled the very first broadcast that aired in July of 1929. He was 5 years old at the time. In a way, he has been here with us, throughout this broadcast’s entire journey. And so today, on behalf of his friends of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square we say, farewell, dear friend. May God be with you till we meet again.