Russell M. Nelson
President Russell M. Nelson, leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, was a young physician completing his surgical residency in Boston, when he was called to join the U.S. Army. The Korean War was raging, and the military desperately needed doctors, especially surgeons. During his military service, Nelson was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he formed a surgical research unit at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
In addition to his military service, young Dr. Nelson also served in his local church community. J. Willard Marriott, who at that time led the Church in the DMV, asked Nelson to fill a leadership role in the small but growing congregation in the District. He acted as a counselor to the bishop of the Washington Ward, which met in the historic chapel at Columbia Road & 16th Street NW. As a volunteer counselor to the bishop, Nelson helped manage nearly every aspect of the church community, from planning Sunday meetings, to administering to the spiritual and temporal needs of parishoners. His experiences in Washington helped build the foundation of his career as a groundbreaking heart surgeon, and shaped President Nelson’s lifelong commitment to service.

