President Russell M. Nelson
President Nelson’s 36 Years of Influencing World Leaders and Sharing the Gospel throughout the Globe.
In his nearly 34 years serving in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles prior to becoming President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then Elder Russell M. Nelson was able to visit 134 countries and dedicate or participate in the dedication of 31 of those countries for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Since becoming the President of the Church in January 2018, President Nelson has traveled to 28 of the 195 officially recognized nations around the world.
To say he is well traveled would be an understatement. But what is perhaps more impressive than simply the number of stamps he has added to his passports in his role as a leader of a worldwide Church is the number of world leaders he has been able to personally meet and influence.
Born “a natural diplomat”—as both President James E. Faust and Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have referred to him—President Nelson has had many opportunities throughout his life, first as a world-renowned surgeon and then as a worldwide religious leader, to enhance his natural gift for knowing how to read both people and situations.
During his 95 years of life, President Nelson has also had the unique opportunity to personally interact with all but the first six of the 16 modern-day Church Presidents who preceded him. And while he has undoubtedly learned a great deal from the examples of such leaders in his life, the thing that has perhaps most influenced his abilities as a successful world leader and diplomat is his simple belief that “everyone is a child of God and deserves to be treated that way.”
The feasibility of a pope meeting (and then sharing an embrace) with a Latter-day Saint prophet in the capital of Catholicism would have seemed unlikely just a generation ago. But the President Nelson/Pope Francis meeting — defined by respect and a shared commitment to ease suffering — reveals the Church’s deepening global footprint of influence. Source
Queen Elizabeth
“The Christmas story retains its appeal since it doesn’t contain theoretical explanations for the puzzles of life,” the 92-year-old monarch said. “Instead, it is about the birth of a child and the hope that birth 2,000 years ago brought to the world. Only a few acknowledged Jesus when he was born, now billions follow him.” Queen Elizabeth DECEMBER 28, 2018
“But in time, through his teaching and by his example, Jesus Christ would show that in small steps, taken in faith and hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions and bring harmony and understanding.” Queen Elizabeth DECEMBER 25, 2019
Benjamin Netanyahu
“The remarkable alliance between Israel and the United States has always been above politics. It must always remain above politics. Because America and Israel, we share a common destiny, the destiny of promised lands that cherish freedom and offer hope. Israel is grateful for the support of American — of America’s people…” Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech to U.S. Congress MARCH 3, 2015
Donald J. Trump
“Christians give thanks that the Son of God came into the world to save humanity. Jesus Christ inspires us to love one another with hearts full of generosity and grace.” Pres. Donald J. Trump NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, DECEMBER 5, 2019
Abraham Lincoln
“When I left Springfield I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ. Yes, I do love Jesus.” Abraham Lincoln: the Christian, William J. Johnstone, 1915
John Quincy Adams
“In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.” John Quincy Adams, An Oration Delivered Before the Inhabitants of the Town of Newburyport at Their Request on the Sixty-First Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1837 (Newburyport: Charles Whipple, 1837), pp. 5-6.
Thomas Jefferson
During his presidency Jefferson frequently negotiated with Indian tribes and he even created a little book called Philosophy of Jesus that was made up of cut and pasted Bible verses that he used as a primer to teach the Indians about Jesus. He even believed that Christian missionaries to the Indians was so important that he provided the missionaries at government expense.” That little book is called the Jefferson Bible by revisionist historians. What Christians Want to Know
“In extracting the pure principles which he taught, we should have to strip off the artificial vestments in which they have been muffled by priests… We must reduce our volume to the simple evangelists, select, even from them, the very words only of Jesus… There will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man. I have performed this operation for my own use, by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and arranging the matter which is evidently his, and which is as easily distinguishable as diamonds in a dunghill…” Excerpts from the Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson in a letter to John Adams dated October 12, 1813:
“The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus Himself are within the comprehension of a child.” Jefferson, Thomas (1830). Memori, Correspondence, and Miscellanies vol. 4. Boston: Gray and Bowen. p. 242.
“Jefferson used The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth as a chief source of moral instruction, very likely reading a passage every evening before retiring to bed. He wrote in 1819, “I never go to bed without an hour, or half hour’s previous reading of something moral, whereon to ruminate in the intervals of sleep.” The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth
President Barak Obama
“The understanding (of) Jesus Christ dying for my sins spoke to the humility we all have to have as human beings, that we’re sinful and we’re flawed and we make mistakes, and that we achieve salvation through the grace of God. But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people and do our best to help them find their own grace,” he added. “So that’s what I strive to do. That’s what I pray to do every day. I think my public service is part of that effort to express my Christian faith.” CATHOLIC REVIEW JANUARY 19, 2012
Rev. Billy Graham
The Service of Your Fellow Beings: “The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.” – Billy Graham, Faith Produces Works. Quoted page 145 Annotated Book of Mormon
The Cause of Christians: “Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don’t be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do” – Billy Graham, April 23, 2012.
“The greatest moments of Native history lie ahead of us if a great Spiritual renewal and awakening should take place. The Native American has been a sleeping giant, he is awakening. The original Americans could become the evangelists who will help win America for Christ! Remember these forgotten people” – Billy Graham, March 1975.
Pope St. John Paul II
“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live” – Pope St. John Paul II (1920-2005).
Norman Vincent Peale
“The Gateway to Christianity is not through an intricate labyrinth of dogma, but by a simple belief in the person of Christ” – Norman Vincent Peale (1888-1993).
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
“I keep a Bible open on my desk, and I try every morning to try and get in a little bit of time with the Book,” Pompeo said, describing how the texts sacred to Christians influences his disposition, engagement with others and decisions. “We should all remember that we are imperfect servants serving a perfect God who constantly forgives us each and every day.” Newsweek by Andrew Whalen Oct 2019
George Washington
“Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me thy servant, who humbly prostrate myself before thee. George Washington (1907). “Washington’s Prayers”
“Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God and guide this day and forever for His sake, who lay down in the grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. George Washington (1907). “Washington’s Prayers”
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and only through Him may we live with our Father in Heaven again. Read “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”, The Book of Mormon and you may know Him personally.
