President Russell M. Nelson has introduced a number of important modifications, declarations, and updates since taking on the role of prophet in 2018.
His predecessor, Thomas S. Monson, passed away on January 2, 2018. TheFirst Presidencywas restructured on January 14, 2018, with Nelson appointed as president.
Nelson, initially summoned as anApostle On April 7, 1984, he spoke to members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the first time as prophet during the April 2018 general conference.
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In his message, he stated, “I am hopeful about what lies ahead. There will be numerous chances for each of us to grow, give back, and spread the gospel to every part of the world. … If we are to have any chance of sorting through the many different voices and human philosophies that challenge truth, we need to learn how to receive divine revelation.”
He then announced that home and missionary teaching initiatives would be discontinuedthrough a more individualized method referred to as “ministering.”
We have decided to stop home teaching and visiting teaching as they have been traditionally practiced,” he said. “Instead, we will adopt a more modern and sacred method of caring for and serving others. We will call these activities ‘ministering.’
He also emphasized the importance of utilizing the Church’s complete name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For many people around the world, the Lord’s Church is currently known as the ‘Mormon Church.’ However, we who are part of the Lord’s Church understand that Jesus Christ is its leader,” he stated. “When we stop using the Savior’s name, we are gradually ignoring everything that Jesus Christ accomplished for us — including His Atonement.
During the general priesthood meeting, President Nelson stated that the high priests and elders in every ward would be merged into a single elders quorum.
We have sensed a strong need to enhance the way we serve our members,” he stated. “To achieve this more effectively, we must reinforce our priesthood quorums to provide clearer guidance for the love and support that the Lord wishes for His followers. These changes come from the Lord. As we put them into action, we will be more successful than before.
These modifications enable the bishop to assign additional duties to the elders quorum and Relief Society leaders, allowing the bishop and his counselors to concentrate on their main responsibilities — specifically overseeing the young women, and the young men who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, Elder Ronald A. Rasband continued.
In October 2018, President Nelson deliveredchanges to the Sunday gathering timetableto enhance families and individuals by means of a home-focused and church-aided initiative.
Starting in January 2019, church services included a one-hour sacrament meeting along with a 50-minute class that alternated weekly between Sunday School and Priesthood, Relief Society, and Young Women’s gatherings.
In April 2019, Dallin H. Oaks, under the leadership of President Nelson, stated that children of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender parentspossibly baptized without the approval of the First Presidency if parents gave permission.
Previously, our handbook described same-gender marriage by a member as apostasy,” Oaks stated. “Although we still view such a marriage as a significant violation, it will no longer be considered apostasy in terms of Church discipline. Instead, immoral behavior in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships will be handled similarly.
In September 2019, the religious organization introduced an initiative aimed at children and young people.
The program’s vision, described by President Nelson in a booklet, sought to “enhance the next generation’s belief in Jesus Christ, and support children, young people, and their families in moving forward on the covenant path as they face life’s difficulties.”
In October 2019, President Nelson revised the questions used in temple recommend interviews, allowing faithful members to enter the temples, “so individuals of all ages can gain a clearer understanding of the standards for temple worship and get ready to enter the temple.”
During the same overall conference, he also announced the following changesin the Church’s guidelines regarding witnessing ordinances, such as baptisms conducted in chapels and temples:
- Any individual who has been baptized and is a member of the Church is eligible to act as a witness for the baptism of a living person. This adjustment applies to all baptisms conducted outside of temple settings.
- A baptism performed on behalf of a deceased individual can be observed by any person who possesses an active temple recommend, such as one with limited usage.
- Any member who has received a temple recommend can act as a witness for both living and proxy sealing ceremonies.
In May 2019, President Nelson approved a new guideline allowing couples who are legally married to be sealed in a temple without delay.
Earlier, the couples were required to wait for a year.
“This shift in policy should not be viewed as reducing the importance of temple sealings. The sealing of a husband and wife within the temple holds eternal meaning and represents the pinnacle of the covenant path,” stated the First Presidency in a release.
In November 2019, President Nelsonlaunched a new guide for missionaries, replacing the manual last updated in 2010.
Clergy members often consult the manual to determine the best way to address various circumstances.
In April 2020, President Nelsonrevealed and detailed a new emblem to identify the faith.
As per Nelson, the new emblem was “an extension of the initiative he believed was inspired to begin in August 2018, aimed at highlighting the Church’s divinely disclosed name.”
The symbol represents the resurrected, living Lord reaching out to embrace everyone who comes to Him,” President Nelson stated. “This symbol should be recognizable to many, as we have long associated the restored gospel with the living, resurrected Christ.
Since that time, the emblem has appeared on Church publications and resources as specified by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
At that general conference, President Nelson also introduced a new declaration, “The Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.”
The latest declaration was released to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s First Vision and detailed the fundamental doctrines of the Latter-day Saints.
While serving as a prophet, President Nelson declared the construction of 200 new temples.
He has also been responsible for much of the restoration work at Temple Square, which began in 2019.
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