President Nelson remembered during Music And The Spoken Word

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Through word and song, Sunday morning’s episode of Music And The Spoken Word with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra on Temple Square was a tribute to President Russell M. Nelson.

“Today we remember the life of Russell Marion Nelson, who served as the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Derrick Porter, program announcer for Music And The Spoken Word. “His life’s mission was to heal hearts and spirits.”

During today’s program, Porter spoke to President Nelson’s life.

“If he were asked which of his titles were most important, including doctor, surgeon, researcher, professor or Lieutenant, he would say first, ‘I am a child of God’,” Porter said.

The Music And The Spoken Word program celebrated five thousand broadcasts in July, and President Nelson was there from the beginning.

“President Nelson watched this broadcast each Sunday, and once mentioned that he recalled the very first broadcast that aired in July 1929,” Porter said. “He was five years old at the time.”

“In a way, he has been here with us throughout this broadcast’s entire journey,” Porter continued. “And so today, on behalf of his friends, of the entire Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, we say farewell, dear friend. May God be with you until we meet again.”

President Nelson also wrote the lyrics for the hymn “Our Prayer to Thee,” which is included in the new hymnbook, ‘Hymns- For Home and Church’.

Remembering President Nelson

Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away at 101 years old on Saturday, Church officials confirmed. His life was dedicated to faith, medicine, and service.

Nelson was internationally renowned as a surgeon and medical researcher, having earned his medical degree from the University of Utah at age 22. He was a pioneering heart surgeon, taking part in the development of the heart-lung machine and performing the first open-heart surgery in Utah in 1955.

President Nelson also wrote the lyrics for the hymn “Our Prayer to Thee,” which was included in the new hymnbook, ‘Hymns- For Home and Church’.

A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Nelson’s funeral.