“As one of the special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world, I testify that He is the Son of the living God. Jesus is the Christ—our atoning Savior and Redeemer. This is His Church, restored to bless God’s children and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.” —Russell M. Nelson (1924–2025).
Brothers and sisters, I feel truly humbled to be celebrating my 101st birthday with my children so close—whether in person or forever in my heart.
Even though those pictured are all adults with children, grandchildren, and even a great grandchild of their own, I still feel the tenderness I felt for them when they were small enough to rock in my arms.
From then to now, I’ve done my best to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. The glad tidings I have taught them are the same lessons I have often shared with you.
God is our Father. We are His children. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This is His Church, which is reflected in the name He gave it. It is only through Jesus Christ’s Atonement that we can repent of our sins and return to God’s presence.
We will find joy in life as we “think celestial” and follow the covenant path that begins with baptism and leads us to The House of The Lord. God speaks to us when we make the effort to hear Him. The world needs peacemakers, so please be kind.
Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for expressing gratitude. Thank you for your prayers. You inspire me to strive to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ.
Living to 101 is a privilege I never anticipated. I was pleased to be able to share a few thoughts in a global publication about what I have learned and observed during this time.
After more than a century of life and decades of studying both the human body and the human soul, I have found this to be true: we are happiest when we remember our divine worth and extend that recognition to others—beginning with our own families.
More than two millennia ago, Jesus Christ preached these same laws of happiness: to love God and to love our neighbor. After 101 years, I can say that these are not abstract theological ideas—they are practical wisdom.
If you would like, you may read in the link below some of the thoughts I penned.
https://t.co/r5y38QUWcB
As followers of Jesus Christ, we should lead the way as peacemakers.
My dear brothers and sisters, let us plead with our Heavenly Father to fill our hearts with greater charity. Let us strive every day to follow the example of our Savior, who is the Prince of Peace.
We all will experience illness, disappointment, temptation, and loss. These challenges can knock our self-confidence.
However, disciples of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind of confidence. When we make and keep covenants with God, we can have confidence that is born of the Spirit.
I’ve spoken recently about the need for peacemakers. On this Father’s Day I feel gratitude for all the fathers who act as peacemakers in their homes and communities.
My own father was an example of this during my childhood. And I have tried my very best to carry over his righteous influence into my own family, which now includes hundreds of people—each of whom I love dearly!
Fathers, as you become peacemakers in your homes, you can literally thwart the influence of the adversary. As you demonstrate the charity that true followers of Jesus Christ manifest, the Lord will magnify your efforts beyond your loftiest imagination.
As you follow the Prince of Peace, you will become His peacemakers.
Consider how your life is different because of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You and I can be sealed to our loved ones for all eternity! Think of the wonder of that! We can each be endowed with God’s power! We can each receive the gift and ministering of the Holy Ghost. We can have angels watch over us. Because of the Spirit of the Lord, we never need to feel alone.
During the dedication of the Syracuse Utah Temple today, I shared that because of our temple worship, we will be blessed with peace, even in our most turbulent times. We will feel closer to our Heavenly Father and to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We will experience greater spiritual confidence.
As we sincerely seek Jesus Christ, we will find Him in His holy house. We will feel His mercy. We will find answers to our most vexing questions. We will better comprehend the joy of His gospel.
I promise you that your time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can. Regular worship here will protect you and your family.
Mother’s Day can evoke a wide range of emotions—everything from deep gratitude for our mothers to worry that you haven’t done enough as a mother to the longing for the privilege of giving birth in this life. Regardless of your situation, I invite every woman to consider the remarkable relationship that the Lord Jesus Christ had with His mother, Mary.
Repeatedly the Savior gave her special care and attention. Consider just three examples from His life and teachings.
The first miracle Jesus Christ performed during His mortal ministry began with a request from His mother during a family gathering. His eager response signaled his love and respect: “What wilt thou have me to do for thee? that will I do…” (See John 2:4, JST.)
The second example came at the most poignant time in the Savior’s mortal life. As he suffered unspeakable pain on the cross, Jesus focused His compassion on the well-being of His mother. Looking down to His Apostle John, standing next to Mary, He said, “Behold thy mother.” His meaning was clear: John was to care for Mary.
Finally, consider the way the Savior compared His concern for His wayward brothers and sisters to that of a mother. “How oft would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.” When a mother pleads with the Lord on behalf of a struggling child, she does so knowing that the Savior understands perfectly what she is feeling.
I am deeply grateful for the remarkable women in my life who have enriched and mothered me, my family, and countless others in life-changing ways. Every woman has within her the essence of motherhood. Every woman is in a position to help build and change lives. May you each know that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son know you, see you, and love you. Happy Mother’s Day!
As a newly called Apostle, I felt the importance of sharing my witness of Jesus Christ’s literal Resurrection. Now, 41 years later, the urgency I feel is even greater.
On this Easter Sunday, I express my gratitude, reverence, and awe for the Savior’s Resurrection. This was the crowning culmination of His Atonement and the source of the greatest joy any of us will ever know.
It is my prayer that today, we can all feel the greater love that comes from knowing that Jesus Christ lives and has made eternal life possible for all who will follow Him. #GreaterLove
Dear brothers and sisters, when challenges in life knock our self-confidence, please remember that disciples of Jesus Christ have access to a different kind of confidence. When we make and keep covenants with God, we can have confidence that is born of the Spirit.
This Easter season, I invite you to remember that the Atonement of Jesus Christ does indeed include His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and His death on the cross at Calvary—but both of these great sacrifices would be incomplete without the crowning act of His glorious Resurrection.
It was at the Garden Tomb that the atoning work of Jesus Christ was fully realized and His victory over sin and death became truly complete. When we talk of the greater love of Jesus Christ for each of us, I testify that Jesus Christ’s Resurrection is the ultimate expression of that love. #GreaterLove
On February 14, 1853, a groundbreaking ceremony in Salt Lake City began a 40-year journey of faith and sacrifice, culminating in the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 1893.
A current and comprehensive renovation to strengthen this sacred house of the Lord for future generations is now nearing completion.
Today, exactly 172 years after the groundbreaking ceremony, I am delighted to announce that the temple will reopen for tours during a public open house from April to October 2027.
We warmly invite our friends to come and learn about God's plan for His children and rejoice in the love of Jesus Christ. Details about this event will be shared as April 2027 approaches.
As houses of the Lord now dot the earth, I invite you to cherish your time and service at the temples closest to you as we prepare for the reopening of the Salt Lake Temple in 2027.
Exactly 25 years ago, on January 1, 2000, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles published “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.” This is the original document: https://t.co/hD3DzqJfQp. I am one of four living Apostles who signed my name to this landmark document, along with Presidents Dallin H. Oaks, Henry B. Eyring, and Jeffrey R. Holland.
Over the last quarter century this testimony has been read, studied, and even memorized by countless disciples of Jesus Christ. My study of this testimony increases my desire, every day, to be more like Him.
As I celebrate my 101st New Year’s Day, I continue to love the opportunity it provides for fresh starts, new perspectives, and new and renewed resolutions.
May I extend an invitation to you as you consider what your resolutions will be this year? I invite you to come to the temple as often as your circumstances allow.
In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him and His gospel. We make covenants that bind us to Him and to our Heavenly Father. Through these temple experiences and others, we are strengthened to achieve our New Year’s resolutions.
My dear friends, may this new year be filled with the light, love, joy, and power of our Savior and Redeemer, who is the Living Christ.
My dear friends, I have always found so much joy in the beautiful Christmas hymns that testify of Jesus Christ’s sacred birth and divine mission.
Whether your voice is young or old, we can all join the angels who sang rejoicing on that “silent night” so long ago, even as we look forward to the day He will come again.
I love you all and wish you “heavenly peace,” not only at Christmas but every day as we strive to walk the path of discipleship.
When I contemplate the privilege of dedicating the Deseret Peak Utah Temple this weekend, I am filled with awe at all the Lord is doing for His people.
When I was born, there were just six operating temples in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Deseret Peak Temple will be the 200th in the world. Just think of it! It took the Church until the year 2000 to dedicate the first 100 temples, and now, just 24 years later, we are dedicating the second 100.
The Lord is truly hastening His work. I am filled with gratitude for the Lord’s mercy in guiding us to bring temples closer to members of the Church throughout the world.
True disciples of Jesus Christ build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire. We can literally change the world—one person and one interaction at a time.
The length of your life is not as important as the kind of life that you live. For each of us, even for a 100-year-old man, life passes quickly. My prayer is that you will let God prevail in your life. Make covenants with Him. Stay on the covenant path. Prepare to return to live with Him again.
I am soon approaching my 100th birthday. One of the places where the Savior used the number 100 in the scriptures was the parable of the lost sheep. Though 99 of his flock were safely by his side, the shepherd went in search of the 1 who was lost.
At age 99, I have no need of physical gifts. But one spiritual offering that would brighten my life is for each of us to reach out to “the one” in our lives who may be feeling lost or alone.
Over the coming months I invite you to consider prayerfully: who do you know who may be discouraged? Who might you need to reconcile with or ask for forgiveness? Has one name been on your mind lately, though you haven’t quite known why? As you bring these questions to the Lord, He will inspire you to know how you can reach out and lift one who needs help.
What a beautiful example the Savior has shown us – that through each of us ministering to just one within our reach, we can spread the love of Jesus Christ throughout the world. #99plus1