- [Pres.

Nelson] I declare my devotion to God, our Eternal Father and to His Son, Jesus Christ.

I know them, love them, and pledge to serve them and you with every remaining breath of my life.

- [Kelton] Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are remembering their former leader, President Russell M. Nelson who passed away at his home in Salt Lake City over the weekend at the age of 101.

[Music] - [Scott] I just always loved the love that he showed to everyone.

He was always outgoing.

Always had a smile on his face, was willing to to wave, just make everyone feel like they were important.

- [Pres.

Nelson] We teach that God's love for his children is infinite.

Regardless of race, nationality, or gender, he loves all of them.

- [Kelton] Nelson had served in top church leadership positions since the mid 1980s.

Professionally, Nelson was a heart surgeon and known worldwide as a pioneer in the field of open heart surgery.

The church members I spoke with remember him best for his spiritual guidance and his faith.

- [Auzja I feel like he'll be remembere by the youth of our generation for all of the values that we all hope to have in ourselves and instill in the next generation.

- [Scott] Especially important today is his idea of we all need to be peacemakers, that we need to be there.

We need to love everyone.

We need to find ways to build connections and not destroy bridges with others.

- [Annie] I just think that he'll be remembered for the vast amount of change that was brought during that time.

I mean, we had the pandemic that was supe big in our history, and it was, it was really cool that he was like a world renowned cardiothoracic surgeon that had some great insight into that.

- [Kelton] Now, the church likely won't formally announce Nelson's successor until after his funeral, but there is a long tradition within church history of the current president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, assuming the presidency of the church.

In this case, that is Dallin H. Oaks, who had served with Nelson in the First Presidency and who has been an Apostle since 1984.

- [Scott] I just think it's a blessing that we have this process to know that there' a living prophet on the earth, that even though President Nelson passed away sadly today, that it doesn't mean that it's the end of of a line or a legacy.

It's the continuation of prophets that we have in these last days.

- [Kelton] Reporting for PBS Utah and Utah Insight.

I'm Kelton Wells.