President Russell M. Nelson poses with his counselors in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring, at a small gathering in honor of his 99th birthday in his office at the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, September 8, 2023. His birthday is September 9. (Photo: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
SALT LAKE CITY — As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prepare for their semi-annual general conference this weekend, the president of the faith said he will not be in attendance due to a recent fall. President Russell M. Nelson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland will both be watching the conference proceedings while continuing to recover from health challenges.
Nelson posted on social media Thursday afternoon that he will be watching the twice annual conference, “through technology just as most [other members] will.” He explained how three weeks ago, he fell and injured the muscles in his lower back. The fall happened two days after his 99th birthday.
A former heart surgeon, Nelson became the faith’s president in 2018 after serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He is the oldest living president of the church in its history.
In recent conferences, Nelson has sat on a chair while delivering his addresses to the church’s 17 million members, and he announced earlier this year he sometimes uses a walker.
In Thursday’s social media letter, Nelson wrote, “This episode has reminded me of the reality that things sometimes change quickly in our lives.” He explained that his healing is “progressing,” but he noted that his physician said there isn’t much data on how someone of his advanced age would recover from something like this.
“I am still not able to sit in a chair for long periods of time,” Nelson said. “However, I am hoping to record my general conference message and look forward to participating in this marvelous October 2023 general conference through technology.”
Nelson’s predecessor, Thomas S. Monson, missed some conference sessions during the final years of his life.
Church spokesperson Doug Anderson said Elder Holland will also be absent and participating in conference sessions by watching them at home. The 82-year-old apostle was recently released from the hospital and continues to recuperate from his recent health challenges that caused him to be absent during April’s General Conference.