More than 13,000 BYU students, faculty and staff members sang “Happy Birthday” for President Russell M. Nelson during a campus devotional on Tuesday — his 101st birthday.
“We love President Nelson, and we honor him this morning,” BYU advancement vice president Keith Vorkink said with a smile. “In fact, what could be a more appropriate honor than for a full Marriott Center to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to President Nelson.”
Happy shouts rang out in the Marriott Center during the song for the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYU posted the moment on its Instagram account.
Afterward, the crowd of 13,702 cheered. Vorkink pumped both arms in the air at the podium. BYU athletic director Brian Santiago smiled broadly and fist-bumped a colleague.
“We’ve got some good energy in the Marriott center this morning. It’s great,“ Vorkink said.
“President Nelson, we wish you a happy birthday. BYU loves you, and we’re grateful for you,” he said.
The devotional kicked off a new BYU semester and a yearlong celebration of the university’s 150th anniversary, which Vorkink and others tied to President Nelson, who is also chairman of the BYU board of trustees.
“As we think of President Nelson, we think of the prophetic influence that has always set the course for this university,” Vorkink said. “President Nelson’s emphasis on education and the pursuit of knowledge, so that we can serve the world better, is ever with us as it echoes through the spirit of support given to Church Education and to BYU over the many years of its long history. We hope you feel that spirit as we are gathered here today.”
President Nelson also was mentioned in the opening prayer provided by Ryan Wall, a junior majoring in exercise science from Mapleton, Utah.
“Father, we’re especially grateful today for our prophet, President Nelson, as he completes 101 years of life,” Wall prayed. “And we pray that thou wilt bless him with more strength and health, that he can continue to lead our church and guide us in the right way.”
Jacie Glenn, a master’s student in piano performance, played “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet.”
Vorkink called the hymn “a wonderful reminder of the guidance of the Lord through a living prophet.”
BYU’s social media accounts also honored President Nelson on Tuesday, with a video of students wishing him a happy birthday.
Time magazine published an essay by President Nelson for his 101st birthday. He shared his birthday wish that people would follow divine truths that he said would help the world be steadier and more joyful.