Spiritual Commitments
In addition to his medical work, Nelson served frequently as a leader in the LDS Church. Before being appointed an apostle, he spent over six years (December 6, 1964 – July 11, 1971) as a stake president in Salt Lake City, during which time Joseph B. Wirthlin served as his second counselor. Nelson also served for eight years as the general president of the church's Sunday School, and four years as a regional representative of the Twelve.
Nelson was called to be an apostle by Church President Spencer W. Kimball, to whom he had served as a personal physician for many years. Nelson was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 7, 1984 in an LDS Church general conference. He was ordained apostle on April 12, 1984 by Gordon B. Hinckley. At the same conference, Dallin H. Oaks was also sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Nelson and Oaks filled the vacancies in the Quorum that were created by the deaths of LeGrand Richards and Mark E. Petersen.
As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Nelson is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
Assigned in August 2007, Nelson is currently a member of the Church Boards of Trusteees/Education, the governing body of the Church Educational System. He serves as the chairman of the executive committee of the Church Boards of Trusteees/Education.
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