While addressing the sisters in the October 2019 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson said “I’d like to claim every one of you as part of my family.”
This warm sentiment is wholeheartedly felt by many who know him. As Sister Kathy Christofferson said in a new Church News video, “To be with President Nelson is . . . it’s like being with an old friend. He’s so genuinely engaging. It’s like he could be your grandfather or your father.”
This video was recently released in honor of President Nelson’s birthday. The prophet will turn 96 on Wednesday, September 9. Several members of the Quorum of the Twelve including Elders Jeffrey R. Holland, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, and Gerrit W. Gong also share remarks about the prophet. The video includes footage filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic.
► You may also like: ‘There’s never an end’: The surprising response President Nelson gave to a Primary child’s question that changed my understanding of the gospel
Full of love, the prophet is also full of unrelenting enthusiasm to proclaim the message of the restored gospel to the world. Among the many actions President Nelson has taken in the last six months, he issued a new proclamation, extendedworldwide invitations to fast with him in response to COVID-19, as well as asked us to ponder the question: “How do you hear Him?”
► You may also like: First Presidency discusses ‘clouds of sorrow’ brought on by the pandemic and the silver linings that can be found
As President Nelson approaches the next year of his life, we can certainly expect more invitations to follow. His excitement is palpable. “I can just hardly wait to bounce out of bed each morning and see what the day will bring. The message is the same with or without the birthday. We invite all people to come unto Christ, to become more like Him, to experience the joyous blessings of the holy temple, and to have eternal life,” he told Church News.
Watch the video at Church News.