A Tender Farewell to President Russell M. Nelson

In a hushed Conference Center, President Dallin H. Oaks welcomed mourners gathered to honor the life of President Russell M. Nelson. With warmth and dignity, he spoke of a beloved prophet who “passed away peacefully at home on September 27, 2025, at 101 years of age.” His passing, President Oaks noted, closed a sacred chapter in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—one marked by devotion to the Lord and tireless service to His children.

Expressions of love and sympathy poured in from leaders, families, and members across the globe, uniting in prayer for the Nelson family. The Conference Center was adorned with flowers, each arrangement a quiet reminder of comfort, while countless unseen acts of preparation helped make the service possible.

President Oaks extended his welcome not only to those gathered in Salt Lake City but also to the many watching by broadcast around the world. He tenderly acknowledged the family prayer, offered earlier by David R. Webster, a son-in-law, and then turned attention to the sacred music that would shape the spirit of the service.

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square lifted their voices in Our Prayer to Thee, a hymn with words penned by President Nelson himself—a fitting tribute to a man whose life was defined by prayer, faith, and consecrated discipleship.

President Nelson’s daughter, Sister Marjorie N. Louder, then offered the invocation. Her words carried the affection of a daughter’s love, mingled with the reverence of a disciple’s plea. With emotion, she invited the Spirit to rest upon all present and upon those watching from afar, that each might feel the peace and love of God. Gratitude filled her prayer as she reflected on her father’s life and legacy, a man who “gave his all to honor Thy Son and point others to Him.”

Sister Laurie N. Marsh — Remembering a Joyful Father

Following the invocation, Sister Laurie N. Marsh, another daughter, rose to speak. Her words became a portrait of gratitude, her voice filled with affection for a father whose life radiated faith and joy. She expressed thanks for her parents, for her father’s long years of service, and for all who had sustained and blessed his family—including his beloved wife, Wendy, whom she called “critical” in helping him fulfill his responsibilities over the past two decades.

Again and again, she returned to a single theme: joy. “When I think of our dad, I think of joy,” she testified. President Nelson had not only taught about joy in his ministry but had embodied it each day, filling his home with laughter, music, and faith.

Sister Marsh recalled cherished memories steeped in the gospel—family prayers, scripture study, temple worship, vacations, ski trips, and tender traditions like Sunday-night apples and popcorn. Even simple moments, such as riding a ski lift on a bright winter day, became occasions for her father to breathe deeply and declare, “The Church is true.”

Her reflections captured the essence of a man who lived for family and faith, extending that same warmth to all he served. She reminded the congregation of the prophetic invitations her father had given in recent years—Hear Him, Think Celestial, Let God Prevail, Be Peacemakers, and Focus on the Temple—each centered on helping disciples discover joy in Jesus Christ.

Though she acknowledged how deeply she would miss her father’s presence, she affirmed that his faith endures in those he loved and led. “He will always be cheering each and every one of us on,” she said, testifying that for President Nelson, and for all Latter-day Saints, “Jesus Christ is joy.”

Russell M. Nelson Jr. — A Prophet and a Father

President Nelson’s son, Russell M. Nelson Jr., then stood with visible emotion to honor both a prophet and a father. Quoting Nephi’s words, he described himself as “born of goodly parents,” taught and guided by a man who lived his faith in public and private alike.

With gratitude, he thanked his mother, Dantzel, whose influence helped shape his father, and Wendy, who had faithfully walked by his side during his prophetic ministry. He also expressed appreciation to the many staff and supporters who enabled President Nelson to serve so tirelessly.

Brother Nelson spoke of his father’s ministry to “the one.” As a boy, he accompanied him on home visits and witnessed how his father listened, taught, and loved. Decades later, even as an Apostle, President Nelson’s eyes could still recognize the burdens carried in familiar faces, and his heart moved him to act.

He recalled his father’s testimony of the temple as the “crowning jewel of the Restoration” and his first message as prophet: an invitation to stay on the covenant path. He reminded mourners that the Restoration was not a past event but a living reality, and that his father embodied that truth with relentless energy.

Above all, he testified that his father had kept his prophetic promise: to serve God and His children with every remaining breath. “He did just that,” he said. Though the sorrow of parting was sharp, he reminded listeners of his father’s teaching—that mourning is one of the purest expressions of love.

In closing, he reflected on the sacred bond he shared with his father through their name, a bond symbolizing both personal commitment and discipleship in Christ. Extending the thought to all believers, he urged each to honor the name of Jesus Christ by keeping covenants and choosing to be peacemakers.

Sister Camille N. Johnson — A Prophet’s Tender Ministry

Sister Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President, then spoke with reverence and love. She called President Nelson a “covenant son of God, disciple of Jesus Christ, and prophet to the world.” With warmth, she expressed gratitude to Sister Wendy Nelson for her devotion, and to the family for sharing their father with the Saints.

Her words portrayed a prophet who ministered with personal tenderness. She recalled how he always remembered her name, looked directly into her eyes, and conveyed that both Heavenly Father and the Savior knew and loved her. In one sacred moment of discernment, he comforted her in a way she had never shared with anyone else. “He knows. He loves you. So do I,” he told her—an exchange emblematic of countless unseen acts of love.

Sister Johnson testified of his prophetic invitations, particularly his teaching that priesthood power is equally accessible to women and men who make and keep covenants. She bore witness of how this truth had changed her life and the lives of women across the globe.

Her testimony stretched outward to the worldwide Church, recalling how Saints in Peru wept when President Nelson spoke to them in their own language, and how dignitaries and ambassadors were moved beyond words in his presence. Each encounter affirmed that he was what he claimed to be: a prophet of God.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland — The Price of Love

As he opened his remarks, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland addressed Sister Wendy Nelson and her daughters directly: “You earned every one of those tears. It is the price we pay for love in this world.” His words framed President Nelson’s life as both a gift of love and a sacrifice shared by his family.

He described President Nelson as “the man for whom the word gentleman was created,” a man whose dignity and courtesy extended to everyone—from world leaders to youth just beginning their discipleship. With humor, Elder Holland recalled how even his own mother once declared him only her “second favorite apostle” after experiencing Elder Nelson’s kindness.

Elder Holland offered moving memories of traveling the globe with President and Sister Nelson on their first journey after his call as prophet. He spoke of President Nelson’s desire to walk in Jerusalem where the Savior walked, and of their subsequent world tour where new temples were announced. No matter the fatigue of travel, President Nelson always arrived ready, perfectly groomed, and smiling, eager to meet and love the Saints.

Finally, Elder Holland bore his witness, saluting President Nelson as “the holder of hands and the healer of hearts,” and affirming his divine role as prophet and seer. He testified that the love shared in mortality will one day be renewed in eternal glory through the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.

Elder Henry B. Eyring — A Witness of Prophetic Leadership

Elder Henry B. Eyring followed with a deeply personal and spiritual tribute, framed in the eternal perspective of the Plan of Salvation. Quoting from the Book of Mormon about the state of the soul after death, he testified that President Nelson was now at peace in paradise, resting from earthly cares.

He reflected on his earliest association with President Nelson—not as a fellow leader, but as the son of a patient. His mother’s life had been extended through multiple surgeries performed by Dr. Nelson, who remembered every detail with precision and compassion. Elder Eyring recalled with gratitude the tenderness of a physician who, even decades later, could recount exactly how many times he had operated on her.

As their service deepened in the First Presidency, Elder Eyring bore witness of President Nelson’s prophetic leadership. He testified that he had seen the Holy Ghost guide him in decisions for the Church, and that President Nelson’s openness to counsel and his respect for the views of others allowed revelation to flow in inspired ways.

“President Nelson magnified his calling in a magnificent way,” Elder Eyring declared. With deep feeling, he affirmed that prophets, seers, and revelators are given to the Church by the Lord, and that Russell M. Nelson had fulfilled that role with faith and power.

President Dallin H. Oaks — A Final Tribute

President Dallin H. Oaks then brought the funeral service toward its close with a deeply personal tribute that highlighted both President Nelson’s prophetic decisiveness and his Christlike compassion. Reflecting on their 34 years together in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Oaks explained how he had not anticipated the dramatic shift that came when President Nelson assumed the mantle of prophet in 2018. Suddenly, the thoughtful and reserved apostle became a bold and quick decision-maker, a quality honed from years as a surgeon where every moment counted.

He illustrated this transformation with humor, recalling the First Presidency’s very first meeting. Faced with a routine question about who should write the Ensign introduction, President Nelson simply asked, “Why do we do this? Is this really necessary? Let’s stop doing it.” From that moment forward, decisions were made with clarity and speed, and President Oaks admitted he tightened his figurative seatbelt, realizing that his service as counselor would be both demanding and inspiring.

But President Oaks also emphasized the Prophet’s warmth and love in leadership. He described how President Nelson greeted both Church leaders and global dignitaries with joy, calling them by name, asking about their families, and turning every conversation toward the Savior.

In conclusion, President Oaks shared the words of a Christian leader from another faith who described President Nelson as a prophet, healer, and bridge builder whose ministry touched millions worldwide. Adding his own testimony, President Oaks affirmed that President Nelson’s life stood as a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that his influence, example, and prophetic legacy will continue to bless the Church for generations to come.

God Be with You Till We Meet Again

The service concluded with a tender prayer from President Nelson’s daughter, Sister Gloria N. Irion, who expressed her family’s gratitude to God for the extraordinary life of their father. Her words reflected both reverence and rejoicing as she thanked heaven for his example of love, faith, and compassion.

Her closing petition was both personal and universal: that all who loved President Nelson might now honor his legacy by living the counsel he gave and heeding the invitations he extended as a prophet of God. With conviction, she testified of the Father’s plan of salvation and of the Savior’s Atonement, which makes eternal family life possible.

Holly Wallace

Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.