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Prophet
President Nelson has led the Church of Jesus Christ since January 14, 2018
Since becoming the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January
14, 2018, President Russell M. Nelson has used general conference, social media and other means
to extend several invitations to Latter-day Saints worldwide — invitations to act in faith.
President Nelson reiterated many of these invitations in a recent social media post on January 1 for
those making resolutions for the coming year. His suggestions included strengthening one’s
spiritual foundation, letting God prevail, eliminating contention and being persistent in efforts to
“hear Him.”
At the close of the October 2021 general conference, President Nelson — a world-renowned heart
surgeon and medical researcher before entering full-time Church service in 1984 — pleaded with
listeners worldwide to counter the lure of the world by making time for the Lord every day.
“Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ,” he said.
To mark his four years as leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the following
is a look at some of President Nelson’s historic invitations.
The doctrine of the gathering of Israel has captured President Nelson’s attention for the more than
36 years he has served as an Apostle, he said during the October 2020 general conference.
“Anytime we do anything that helps anyone — on either side of the veil — to make and keep their
covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.”
One of the Hebraic meanings of the word “Israel” is “let God prevail,” President Nelson said.
Following an invitation for Latter-day Saints to lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of
prejudice, he asked: “Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be
the most important influence in your life?”
The gathering is “the most important thing taking place on earth today,” President Nelson told
youth during a worldwide devotional in June 2018, inviting them to enlist in the Lord’s youth
battalion to gather Israel. “This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for
which you were sent to earth.”
He challenged the youth to read daily from the Book of Mormon to learn more about the gathering.
He also extended five invitations he promised “will change you and help change the world”: hold a
seven-day fast from social media, make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord, stay on the covenant
path, pray daily that all of God’s children might receive gospel blessings, and stand out and be a
light.
During his address in the general women’s session in October 2018, President Nelson extended “a
prophetic plea” to the women of the Church to participate in the gathering of Israel. He invited the
women to hold a 10-day fast from social media, read the Book of Mormon before the end of the
year, attend the temple regularly and participate fully in Relief Society.
#GiveThanks
To bring hope and healing during a time of global instability and uncertainty in November 2020,
President Nelson prescribed a “fast-acting and long-lasting” spiritual remedy to the world. He
extended two invitations related to the “healing power of gratitude.”
“First, I invite you — just for the next seven days — to turn social media into your own personal
gratitude journal. Post every day about what you are grateful for, who you are grateful for and why
you are grateful,” he said in a November 20, 2020, video message, inviting all to use the hashtag
#GiveThanks.
“Second, let us unite in thanking God through daily prayer. Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray
by first expressing gratitude to God, and then petitioning Him for the things we need. Prayer brings
forth miracles.”