President Russel M. Nelson’s funeral services were broadcasted at noon in the Marriott Center for students to watch on Oct. 7.
BYU President C. Shane Reese had previously announced that noon classes would be canceled to allow students to view the broadcast of the services.
Luke Dobberfuhl, a BYU student that attended in the Marriott, had not thought too much about coming to the viewing of the funeral services in the Marriott Center — but ultimately decided to, after his classes were canceled for it.
“I had this image of him being a super kind and caring person, and everything they said in there solidified that,” Dobberfuhl said.
Dobberfuhl continued that it can sometimes be hard to see the apostles as human because it feels like they are on a different level. Thoughts shared by President Dallin H. Oaks helped him see how President Nelson was real and relatable.
Maren Coffelt, a BYU student present for the broadcast, said President Nelson had been one of the most influential prophets in her life. She wanted to attend so she could pay her respects for the life he lived.
“I think it helped me realize what a well-rounded guy he was," Coffelt said. "He had a really successful career life, and he held a lot of things in really high importance, and I was really impressed by that, as well as his dedication to Jesus Christ. It seems like he just really put that first above everything else."
Sequoia Harris, another BYU student, said she attended the Marriott Center event in remembrance of the beloved prophet.
“Every single person talked about his smile and just the joy that he had and how he chose joy, and I love that about him,” Harris said.
Harris continued that she felt a special spirit during the funeral services.
“I always love a funeral because you can feel them there, you can feel their presence,” Harris said.
Macy Arner, a BYU student, said that President Nelson became the prophet when she was in the youth program. He played an influential role in the growth of her testimony.
“No matter what he was doing in his life and throughout his life," Arner said, "Christ was always the center.”
Arner expressed that she could feel a lot of love in the room listening to the speakers talk about how much love President Nelson had for others.