President Russell M. Nelson gave 44 general conference addresses during the seven years he served as prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and 70 during the time he was an apostle.
President Nelson’s messages as prophet focused on temple and family history work, the gathering of Israel, overcoming contention through peacemaking, personal revelation and maintaining a faithful, eternal perspective.
Temple and Family History Work
In his October 2021 talk, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” President Nelson promised that during trying times, safety can be found by making and keeping temple covenants.
In a prerecorded video, he likened the renovations of the Salt Lake Temple to the strengthening of personal spiritual foundations.
“Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear,” he said. “As you are true to your covenants made in the temple, you will be strengthened by His power.”
He announced plans to construct 200 temples during his time as prophet, further emphasizing temple worship.
Personal Revelation
President Nelson also taught about the need for members to learn to receive personal revelation in order to spiritually survival.
His counsel that “in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost,” was quoted by President Eyring, Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, Elder Andersen, Elder Ballard and others during various general conferences.
In his talk, “Hear Him,” during the bicentennial celebration of the First Vision, President Nelson renewed his call to do whatever it takes to learn to receive personal revelation.
Gathering Israel
In June 2018, President Nelson and Sister Wendy Nelson encouraged youth to participate in the gathering of Israel, which President Nelson described as “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause and the greatest work on earth.”
He explained that gathering Israel is doing anything that helps God’s children receive the gospel of Jesus Christ through temple and missionary work.
He again stressed the importance of missionary work in the April 2022 general conference, when he stated that for latter-day saint young men, serving a mission is a priesthood responsibility and for sisters, it is a powerful, but optional, opportunity.
Overcoming Contention and Peacemaking
Another prominent theme of President Nelson’s addresses was peacemaking and alleviating contention.
In his April 2023 general conference talk, “Peacemakers Needed,” President Nelson encouraged listeners to manage differences of opinion with respect and love. He said this conduct is how disciples of Christ distinguish themselves from others.
“One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people,” he said.
In his final address to the Church in April 2025, President Nelson spoke of gaining confidence through increased virtue and charity. He expressed gratitude to those who took his previous counsel to heart, but said that there is still a need for improvement.
“True charity towards all men is the hallmark of peacemakers! It is imperative that we have charity in our discourse, both public and private,” he said. “I thank those of you who took my previous counsel to heart. But we can still do better.”
Having an Eternal Perspective through Covenants
President Nelson called on members to “think celestial” in his October 2023 general conference talk.
He said that having an eternal perspective will lead members to make decisions that will help them attain their goals.
"Your choices today will determine three things: where you will live throughout all eternity, the kind of body with which you will be resurrected and those with whom you will live forever. So, think celestial.”
President Nelson’s initial First Presidency message as the prophet included his desire to begin with the end in mind. In this message, he urged members to make and keep temple covenants in order to maintain an eternal perspective and receive blessings in the future.
“Now, to each member of the Church I say, keep on the covenant path,” he said. “Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women and children everywhere.”