Thousands of Latter-day Saints commemorated the life of President Russell M. Nelson at his funeral on Oct. 7 at noon in the Conference Center on Temple Square.
President Nelson’s daughter and son, Laurie N. Marsh and Russell M. Nelson Jr., spoke at the service. Other speakers included Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Henry B. Eyring and President Dallin H. Oaks.
Marsh’s remarks focused on the joy that her father embodied throughout his life.
“When I think of our dad, I think of joy,” Marsh said. “Daddy always chose to be happy and that made him so fun to be around.” She explained that his happiness came from focusing on Jesus Christ and putting Him first.
Marsh said their family motto was Matthew 6:33, which urges, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
She also reflected on memories of her father such as family vacations, fishing, skiing and singing together.
Nelson Jr. highlighted the role of ministering in President Nelson’s life.
He recalled going on visits with his father. One time, after President Nelson had become an apostle, they visited their home ward and saw people they had ministered to years earlier. President Nelson noticed that they looked sad and went to minister to them after the meeting.
“There was no assignment, there wasn’t even a request. He could just see it in the faces of those that he knew and loved,” Nelson Jr. said.
Nelson Jr. also said, “The sting of physical separation is real, but we shouldn’t be too sad.”
Quoting his father, he added, “Mourning is a perfectly natural response,” and “the only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.”
Referencing the Bible’s parable of the Good Shepherd, President Johnson said, “President Nelson always called me by name.”
She noted that President Nelson was “quick to observe.” One time, he discerned that something was wrong when she was struggling with a challenge that only her close family members knew about.
“(God) knows. He loves you, so do I,” he told her.
Elder Holland expressed gratitude for Sister Wendy Nelson and the Nelson family, acknowledging that they gave up their husband and father during President Nelson’s years of Church service.
“He always responded to duty. Yes, Russell Nelson belonged to the Church,” Elder Holland said.
Elder Holland said President Nelson treated everyone with “unfailing kindness,” and served as his example.
“President Nelson was a lamp, rather than the feeble lamp lighter I was trying to become,” he said.
Elder Eyring recognized how well President Nelson could remember other people in detail and how willing he was to listen.
“He sincerely wanted to hear what others thought,” Elder Eyring said. “He sincerely sought for and received counsel. He received revelation from the inspiration of others.”
He recalled a time when President Nelson remembered the specifics of the medical operations that he performed on Elder Eyring’s mother.
President Oaks called President Nelson his “best friend and most effective teacher.”
Having served in the apostleship with President Nelson for 34 years, President Oaks said he noticed a change in President Nelson after he became prophet. He said President Nelson could make decisions quickly because of his profession as a heart surgeon.
When he anticipated President Nelson’s service as a prophet, President Oaks said, “Figuratively speaking, I tightened my seat belt a few more notches and said to myself, being a counselor in this First Presidency is going to be fun.”
Rylee Rampton of Lehi and Garrett Spaulding of Logan were both at the funeral and expressed their gratitude for President Nelson. They said that he inspired them to serve missions.
“All of his teachings have been really impactful, and he’s made me very excited about missionary work,” Rampton said.
Hearing the speakers at President Nelson’s funeral strengthened Spaulding’s testimony of the prophet.
“There was a lot of power behind all the people’s words that they shared and a lot of like, just very strong testimonies towards his influence that he had on their lives,” he said.
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square opened the service by singing “Our Prayer to Thee,” a song written by President Nelson. Other musical selections included “Peace Like a River,” “Let Us All Press On” and “It Is Well with My Soul.”
Upon the conclusion of the service, crowds of people lined the streets outside the Conference Center to wave goodbye to President Nelson’s funeral procession. The group started quietly singing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” as they drove by.
President Nelson and his late wife, Dantzel White Nelson, had 10 children, 57 grandchildren, 171 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy Nelson, eight of his children, Marsha Workman, Gloria Irion, Brenda Miles, Sylvia Webster, Laurie Marsh, Rosalie Ringwood, Marjorie Lowder, Russell M. Nelson Jr., 57 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.