SALT LAKE CITY — Visitors lined Temple Square on Monday, waiting their turn to pay their respects to the late Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson, who died on September 27 at age 101.
The church viewing, which precedes Tuesday's funeral services, will continue through the day until 8 p.m.
Video below remembers the remarkable life of Russell M. Nelson:
Jennifer Black and her family came from Washington to honor Russell and attend the viewing.
“He changed my life literally,” said Black. “He’s helped me know the Savior better.”
Black brought her daughter, Emma, who shared her feelings about the opportunity to be able to attend.
“I’m feeling sad that he died, but I’m feeling happy that I’m going to be able to meet him,” Emma said.
President Nelson was the 17th president in the 195-year history of the Church, serving in the role since 2018.
How will LDS Church select new president after Nelson's passing?
Michelle Olson and her mom, Janine McMillan, were also at the viewing, which is common for the family as they've attended three viewings of previous Church presidents.
“I loved President Nelson,” Olson shared. “He has been such an instrumental part of my life. I know he is a prophet of God.”
McMillan added that Nelson also had a profound impact on her life.
“He was so gifted, so talented, so knowledgeable,” she said. “He knew so much, but he still loved and accepted, didn’t want judgment, and wanted peace and preached peace. He changed church members' lives, including my own.”
Additional Temple Square visitors share their thoughts:
Matt and Samantha Johnston came from Provo for the viewing.
“He touched a lot of lives. He definitely touched mine. And so I think people just wanted to come see him and say goodbye," Matt said.
"It was meaningful to see so many people because I know a lot of people probably traveled for this," Samantha added.
Vineyard resident Cristal Gutierrez added: “I really love him. I’m going to miss him so much.”
“Me and my friend, we were talking in line about kind of the last few years of his life and he was pushing on, 'Hey, we need to be peacemakers,'" Luke Harmuth said, "And we need to look at each other with charity, and once you really do that, then you start to treat people in a different way, in a higher way."
“It’s special as a mom," added Mayerling Cueti. "I just try to guide my two boys through the right path, so I wanted him to know that I love the prophet, I loved President Nelson and I will love the new prophet and all the others that may come.”
Tuesday's funeral will be held at the Conference Center on Temple Square at noon.
