President Dallin H. Oaks opens conference with tribute to President Russell M. Nelson: ‘I love him’

President Russell M. Nelson, who died Sept. 27, was a model disciple of Jesus Christ, President Dallin H. Oaks said Saturday morning as he opened the 195th Semiannual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“I love Russell M. Nelson and have learned more about the gospel and gospel leadership from my long friendship and association with him than from any other leader I have personally known,” said President Oaks, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “He is our model as a servant and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

President Nelson’s death triggered the instant dissolution of the First Presidency, and his counselors, President Oaks and Elder Henry B. Eyring, returned to their places in the Quorum of the Twelve.

Church members again sustained President Oaks on Saturday as the quorum president, the same as they did at every ward, stake and general conference for the past seven-and-a-half years.

That quorum is now the most senior body in the church and is directing the church until the First Presidency is reorganized, a period known as an apostolic interregnum, Elder Eyring explained as he conducted the morning session.

1 of 92

2 of 92

3 of 92

4 of 92

5 of 92

6 of 92

7 of 92

8 of 92

9 of 92

10 of 92

11 of 92

12 of 92

13 of 92

14 of 92

15 of 92

16 of 92

17 of 92

18 of 92

19 of 92

20 of 92

21 of 92

22 of 92

23 of 92

24 of 92

25 of 92

26 of 92

27 of 92

28 of 92

29 of 92

30 of 92

31 of 92

32 of 92

33 of 92

34 of 92

35 of 92

36 of 92

37 of 92

38 of 92

39 of 92

40 of 92

41 of 92

42 of 92

43 of 92

44 of 92

45 of 92

46 of 92

47 of 92

48 of 92

49 of 92

50 of 92

51 of 92

52 of 92

53 of 92

54 of 92

55 of 92

56 of 92

57 of 92

58 of 92

59 of 92

60 of 92

61 of 92

62 of 92

63 of 92

64 of 92

65 of 92

66 of 92

67 of 92

68 of 92

69 of 92

70 of 92

71 of 92

72 of 92

73 of 92

74 of 92

75 of 92

76 of 92

77 of 92

78 of 92

79 of 92

80 of 92

81 of 92

82 of 92

83 of 92

84 of 92

85 of 92

86 of 92

87 of 92

88 of 92

89 of 92

90 of 92

91 of 92

92 of 92

Both leaders shared sadness over President Nelson’s death at the start of the conference, which is originating from the Conference Center in a rainy Salt Lake City and being broadcast around the world.

“President Nelson leaves a tremendous legacy,” Elder Eyring said. “He will be remembered for his love and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and his kind and gentle nature. He has been an influence for good throughout the world.”

President Oaks said the Quorum of the Twelve has spent the past eight days designing a schedule for conference and President Nelson’s memorial and funeral that respected him and maintained the integrity of general conference.

“My dear brothers and sisters, we meet as we mourn the death of our beloved President Russell M. Nelson,” he said. He added, “We honor him by following the planned conference schedule.”

Those plans were assigned and approved by President Nelson after months or preparation, President Oaks said.

The church held a memorial service for President Nelson on Wednesday, and President Oaks asked speakers to keep tributes to him this weekend to a minimum, deferring elaborate tributes for his funeral at noon MDT on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Conference Center.

“President Nelson understood the value of general conference to provide direction to the Saints in the coming months,“ President Oaks said.

He said the schedule was created with the approval of the Nelson family.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, and to the Nelson family,” Elder Eyring said.