Estimated read time: 7-8 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Monday is President Russell M. Nelson's 100th birthday.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others sang "Happy Birthday" to the church president during a celebration of his monumental birthday Monday afternoon. During the song, balloons were dropped on the stage, and President Nelson picked one up and tossed it toward the audience of family members and church and community leaders.
President Nelson said he is grateful for the countless cards and messages he has received and thanked church members for responding to his invitation to reach out to others.
"I'm overwhelmed with the kindness, generosity and prayers of so many around the world," he said. "You have made my life more wonderful. We have worshiped together and strengthened each other again and again. You have inspired me with your devotion to God and your faith in Jesus Christ."
Tens of thousands of people viewed a broadcast of the event on YouTube and through the church's broadcasting system.
In addition to music sung by the in-person attendees, artists Nathan Pacheco, Jenny Oaks Baker and Jared Pierce added their talents to the celebration with touching musical numbers. President Nelson's descendants also prerecorded a video of them singing a song written for children in the church.
Children and grandchildren
Ashlyn Owens, a great-granddaughter of President Nelson, said even though he was busy in church leadership, he always attended family events and remembered their birthdays or accomplishments and gave each descendant nicknames.
"I've been directly blessed by his incredible example, undying devotion and unfailing love," she said.
Owens said he uses Swedish in greetings to her, remembering where she served her mission and embracing a connection they have.
"He is a truly tremendous man who tenderly cares for and loves each member of this global church. I will be forever proud to call him grandfather and to be his baby Ashlyn. Happy birthday, Grandfather, 100 looks good on you," she said.
President Nelson's daughter, Marsha Workman, said her mind was filled with memories when she was asked to represent her siblings in a tribute to their father. She said all 10 of them feel greatly blessed to have been raised by their parents.
"No harsh words of anger were allowed among us, and we learned constructive ways of dealing with our disagreements," she said.
Workman said their home was centered on love, for each other and for the Savior, and was full of music.
"Thank you, Daddy Dear, for teaching us to love each other and for cherishing us as we cherish you," she said.
President Nelson stood up to hug both women after they spoke.
Church leaders
President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, opened the broadcast in a prerecorded message honoring President Nelson's accomplishments.
"In his effort to hasten the work, he's been the Lord's mouthpiece in receiving and implementing a veritable rush of revelation, as I once called it. He is unfailingly kind and composed, gentle and forgiving," he said.
He said President Nelson has been "uniquely close" to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, traveling around the world with each of them.
President Holland said he met President Nelson at his son's baptism in Israel, when President Nelson agreed to take some photographs. He said President Nelson printed a second copy of the photographs to give to President Holland's mother.
When he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Holland said his mother told him he was her "second favorite apostle."
He said President Nelson is a "Renaissance man" citing his medical career, photography skills and musical skills — noting that he has played organ many times in meetings with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
"We celebrate the sweet robust history-making 100 years of your life. We have come to say we love you," President Holland said.
President Camille N. Johnson of the Relief Society said she feels like part of President Nelson's family. She said his voice has made an "immeasurable difference" for the women in the church. She said he helps women in the church feel "loved and precious and necessary," and that she feels love from the Savior when interacting with him.
"Thank you for teaching us and inviting us to seek the guiding, comforting and testifying presence of the spirit to understand what it means to be covenant women of God," she said.
Monday's broadcast also included a prerecorded conversation between President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring about how much they have learned from President Nelson.
"He is the Savior's representative, and he's acting like the Savior — giving you the feeling he cares," President Eyring said.
President Oaks said President Nelson is a role model and a wonderful teacher. He said he is impressed with President Nelson's decision-making, and said he listens to others' opinions before voicing his own and makes decisions quickly.
"He communicates love for the people with whom he meets and for the people who will be affected by any decision made there. He is a very loving leader. He's easy to love," President Oaks said.
In addition to messages from family and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the broadcast included prerecorded messages from members of other faiths who interacted with President Nelson in his personal life and in his role as prophet.
The Rev. Amos Brown, at the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, said he met President Nelson while the future church president was attending the University of Minnesota. Years later, the Rev. Brown was asked to introduce then President Nelson to the NAACP, and he said he introduced him as his "brother from another mother."
"I felt that kindred spirit immediately when I met him," he said.
The Rev. Brown said President Nelson has led the church to "unparalleled accomplishments" in the nation and the world.
100 years
In the 60 years following his birth in 1924 in Salt Lake City, President Nelson became a husband and father, raised a family of 10 children, and became a world-renowned heart surgeon and medical researcher. He entered full-time church service as a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984 and was set apart as the 17th president of the church on Jan. 14, 2018, over six years ago.
"I do not know why the Lord has allowed me to live this long. There are at least three times in my life when sudden death seemed imminent. Miraculously, in each instance, heavenly help rescued us," President Nelson said in a message recorded for the broadcast.
He said a birthday is not an end but a step and said he is grateful for God's plan. He said even for a 100-year-old man, life passes quickly, and he encouraged members to stay on the covenant path and prepare to return to God.
"The length of your life is not as important as the kind of life that you live," President Nelson said.
He requested a specific birthday present from church members, asking them to reach out to "the one" — referring to the story of Jesus Christ leaving 99 sheep to go look for one lost sheep.
The broadcast included short videos of church members who took on this challenge and people who were blessed by someone reaching out to them, in addition to videos of youth groups around the world wishing President Nelson a happy birthday.
Earlier, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox proclaimed the day as President Russell M. Nelson Day in Utah in honor of the milestone birthday.
"President Nelson is a leader not only in Utah but across the world. He has worked tirelessly to build bridges of understanding and kindness and has led a life full of family, faith and selfless service," Cox said in a declaration. "It is an honor to commemorate his 100th birthday, and we are grateful for the goodness he brings to the world each and every day."
The declaration also says: "As a religious leader, President Nelson has called upon all of us to be peacemakers, emphasizing the importance of opening 'our hearts to those whose lives are different than our own … for we are all children of a loving God.'"
