SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Leaders of the world’s religions typically stay at the top well beyond retirement age, but it’s not often that you find centenarians at the helm of major faith groups.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had this status since Monday, when its president, Russell M. Nelson, celebrated his 100th birthday. Three years ago, he became the oldest president of the Utah-based religious community ever and is now the first to reach the 100-year mark.
“Age, wisdom and spiritual authority go together,” said Angie (*100*), program director for leadership education at Duke Divinity School.
Pope Francis is 87. The Dalai Lama is 89. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide, is 84. Ali al-Sistani, the Grand Ayatollah and highest-ranking religious leader of the world’s 200 million Shiite Muslims, is 94.
The church is commemorating Nelson’s 100th birthday with a special broadcast in his honor. In addition, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican and member of the church, declared Monday “President Russell M. Nelson Day” in the state.
“President Nelson is a leader not only in Utah but around the world. He has worked tirelessly to build bridges of understanding and kindness and has lived a life of family, faith and selfless service,” Cox said in a statement.
The president of the denomination commonly known as the Mormon Church oversees everything from the church’s multi-billion dollar financial investments to its doctrine and policies. He is also considered a prophet of God and serves until death.
Traditionally, the modern president is chosen from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, one of the faith’s highest governing bodies, and from the longest-serving member. Nelson was elected to the Quorum in 1984 and spent four decades in the upper echelons of church leadership.
In 2018, at age 93, he became the church’s 17th president, the second-oldest ever to hold the office. Scholars and those who have known him for decades say he wasted no time in transforming the church, including overhauling worship services and building modern temples.
Nelson’s advanced age is not a cause for concern, especially because of his energetic leadership, said Patrick Mason, professor of religion and history at Utah State University. He described the church’s meaningful support services for its older members as one of its strengths.
“There is a general feeling that with age comes wisdom and stability. There are people who have experienced a lot. People find comfort in that,” Mason said.
Although the church continues to expand worldwide and its membership grows, Nelson’s 100th birthday reflects the broader makeup of its aging white male leadership. Nelson’s two top counselors – one of whom is his presumptive successor – make up what the church calls “the first presidency” and are both over 90 years aged. In all, six of the 15 men in the church’s top leadership bodies are 80 or older.
Over the years, some have argued that the church would benefit from younger leadership in a changing world. Others have defended the status quo and praised the wisdom and spiritual maturity that aging church leaders bring to their roles.
“The limitations that are a natural consequence of advancing age can actually become remarkable sources of spiritual learning and insight. The very factors that many believe limit the effectiveness of these servants can become their greatest strengths,” said Quorum member David Bednar in a 2015 general conference sermon.
He also emphasized the opportunities he had to learn from the other members, who were all older than him at the time.
(*100*), the Duke leadership expert, said good spiritual leaders are those who “are always trying to guide and nurture younger leaders.”
This is the case in all faiths. In Hinduism, for example, ageing leaders of various sects choose and guide their successors, but remain lively and involved in day-to-day operations.
Ordinary church members say they are impressed by Nelson’s leadership skills at 100 years aged and are blessed to still see and hear him speak.
“To live to 100 years old and still be so involved in the day-to-day operations of the church is pretty amazing,” Hannah Dunn said in an interview outside Temple Square in Salt Lake City a week before the milestone birthday. “I think it shows that he has been strengthened by his ministry.”
Church member Mark Chavez praised Nelson’s administration for building numerous modern temples around the world and for appointing people from different countries to leadership positions, ushering in a more international era for the US-based religion.
“He blesses us with the wisdom of his own generation as well as the Word of God, and I believe he has made the church welcoming to people from all over the world,” Chavez said.
Beyond building temples and appointing leaders, Nelson became known for leading the church during the COVID-19 pandemic and severing its centuries-long ties with the Boy Scouts of America when the BSA decided to admit openly gay youth members and adult volunteers, as well as transgender boys and girls.
Nelson’s church said it welcomed LGBTQ+ members but insisted that same-sex marriage was a sin.
Last month, the church issued modern guidelines for transgender members. They are no longer allowed to serve as priests or teachers, work with children or stay at youth camps. Since they were previously not allowed to be baptized, they are now only allowed to utilize private restrooms in church meetinghouses.
One of Nelson’s first orders as president was to urge members of the faith community to stop using the abbreviations “Mormon” and “LDS” as a substitute for the full name of the religion.
Nelson was born in Salt Lake City in 1924 and converted to the religion as a youthful adult. As a physician, he served two years as a medical officer in the Army during the Korean War at the age of 22. He then resumed his career, serving as director of thoracic surgery training at the University of Utah, among other roles.
“He walks a very fine line between emphasizing doctrine and expressing his love for everyone involved,” says Sheri Dew, Nelson’s biographer and vice chair of the Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by the denomination.
“You may not agree with everything he believes in,” she said. “But any fair assessment of his life would conclude that he was genuinely trying to make the lives of millions of people better.”
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Bharath reported from Southern California.
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