LDS Holds General Conference Without a President After Russell M. Nelson’s Death
Russell M. Nelson, the oldest‑ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, died at age 101 at his Salt Lake City home on Sept. 28, 2025; he led the church since 2018 after decades in top leadership and oversaw major policy changes while facing scrutiny over the church’s handling of sexual‑abuse reports. The church convened its Oct. 4, 2025 general conference without a sitting president — the first in at least a century — with 93‑year‑old Dallin H. Oaks, the longest‑tenured apostle, widely expected to be named president after Nelson’s Oct. 7 funeral, and attendees still reeling from a recent deadly attack on a Michigan congregation.
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📌 Key Facts
- Russell M. Nelson, 101, died at his Salt Lake City home on Sept. 28, 2025; the church announced his death (spokesperson Candice Madsen) and reports say it occurred after 10 p.m. local time.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held its twice‑annual general conference on Oct. 4, 2025 without a sitting president — the first such conference in at least a century — in Salt Lake City.
- Dallin H. Oaks, 93 and the longest‑tenured member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is expected to become the next church president under established succession rules; a formal announcement is likely to follow Nelson’s funeral.
- Nelson’s funeral is scheduled for Oct. 7, 2025, the Tuesday after the general conference.
- Nelson had been in top church leadership since 1984 and served as president since January 2018, overseeing policy shifts including the church’s name‑usage initiative, the repeal of the 2015 baptism ban for children of gay parents, and a new youth program that replaced the Boy Scouts.
- His tenure drew scrutiny over the church’s handling of sexual‑abuse reports, as reported in an Associated Press investigation.
- Before his church presidency, Nelson was an internationally recognized heart surgeon who helped develop an artificial heart and lung machine; he is survived by 10 children, 57 grandchildren and more than 160 great‑grandchildren.
- The conference and broader church community were marked by grief intensified by a recent deadly attack on a congregation in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan (four killed); multiple U.S. political figures and public commentators, including Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. John Curtis and Mitt Romney, issued tributes and reactions.
📚 Contextual Background
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported that it has nearly 47,000 members in Michigan and almost 7 million members in the United States.
📰 Sources (5)
Latter-day Saints hold first general conference without a president in at least a century
New information:
- The church convened its twice‑annual general conference on Oct. 4, 2025 without a sitting president — the first such conference in at least a century.
- Russell M. Nelson's funeral is scheduled for the Tuesday after the conference, with Dallin H. Oaks expected to be announced as the next president thereafter.
- The piece explicitly ties the conference to the recent deadly attack on a congregation in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan (four killed), noting its emotional impact on attendees.
- Provides operational details and context: location (Salt Lake City), church membership (~17 million worldwide), and ages (Oaks 93; Nelson 101).
Former judge is likely the next leader of the Mormon church and its 17 million members
New information:
- Dallin H. Oaks — 93 and the longest‑tenured member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — is expected to become the next president of the Church.
- The article states the formal announcement of the new president will likely come after President Nelson's funeral on Oct. 7, 2025.
- Provides a direct quote from Oaks addressing the recent Michigan church attack and paying tribute to Nelson.
Russell M. Nelson, oldest president of the LDS Church, dies at age 101
New information:
- Article specifies time: reports Nelson died at his Salt Lake City home after 10 p.m. local time.
- Provides family counts: lists 10 children, 57 grandchildren and more than 160 great‑grandchildren.
- Notes professional contribution: describes Nelson as an internationally recognized heart surgeon who helped develop an artificial heart and lung machine.
- Includes multiple named reactions/quotes from U.S. political figures (Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. John Curtis, Mitt Romney) and public commentators.
Russell M. Nelson, oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at 101
New information:
- Church spokesperson Candice Madsen said Nelson died at his home in Salt Lake City on Saturday night.
- Article explicitly notes Nelson became the first president of the faith to reach 100 years in 2024 and that Dallin H. Oaks is expected to be the next president per church protocol.
- Includes a direct tribute quote from Sen. Mike Lee and recounts key institutional changes during Nelson’s tenure (2018 name‑usage initiative; repeal of the 2015 baptism ban policy; youth program replacing Boy Scouts).
- Summarizes scrutiny during his tenure over handling of sexual‑abuse reports, citing an Associated Press investigation.
Russell M. Nelson, oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies
New information:
- Russell M. Nelson died at age 101 at his home in Salt Lake City; announcement made Sept. 28, 2025 by church spokesperson Candice Madsen.
- Dallin H. Oaks is expected to become the next president under established Quorum of the Twelve Apostles succession rules.
- Nelson served in top church leadership since 1984, became president in January 2018, and led policy shifts including name‑usage guidance, changes to baptism policies for children of gay parents, and a new church youth program after disassociating from the Boy Scouts.