On Monday, President Russell M. Nelson turned 100! He is the first president of the church to reach this milestone. To celebrate President Nelson’s birthday, there was a birthday celebration broadcast online. If you haven’t already watched it, I would encourage you to watch it. While some people might have gotten something else out of the celebration, three lessons stood out to me.
The Importance of Love for Those Not of Our Faith
Sadly, within the church, I’ve heard some people say things that make it clear that they think that simply being a member of the church makes them better than other people. There are people who will avoid associating with those who do not share their religious beliefs or who will not allow their children to play with people who are not members of the church. To me, that’s sad. There are amazing, wonderful, Christlike people of other religions.
One of the biggest things I noticed about President Nelson’s birthday celebration is that he has friends of other religions. I counted three leaders of other religions who spoke as part of the celebration. The one took up several minutes. These are people who respect President Nelson and who he also respects. While it is important to have friends who have high values, it’s important to remember that there are great people within other religions. To me, this was one of the most important reminders of the whole celebration. Religious respect and tolerance are so important in our world today.
Family Is Important
In a church focused on the family, we might not think that we need to be reminded of the importance of the family. Throughout the celebration, it was clear that President Nelson’s family is important to him. Many (if not all) of his living descendants sang as part of the celebration. Some spoke about his great dedication to them and their family. One great-granddaughter talked about how he’s super busy but still finds time to attend important events, including baptisms, blessings, and marriages. With that many descendants and so many church obligations, Present Nelson’s got legitimate reasons why he could easily make excuses to not be as involved with some of those family events.
Along with a lesson about the importance of the family, President Nelson’s presenting us with a lesson about the importance of not making excuses. It is often the people with the busiest schedules who always find the time for one more obligation.
I Have Much More to Learn
President Nelson’s musically talented. He is smart. He can speak multiple languages. He’s very spiritual. He’s a tech-savvy man. Up until a few years ago, he skied. President Nelson has a long list of accomplishments. At one point during the celebration, I turned to a family member and half-jokingly asked if there was anything President Nelson hasn’t done. It would appear not.
We are encouraged to continue to learn throughout our lives. I guess if someone has followed that advice, at 100 years old, that person would have a lot of knowledge. If I ever feel like I’ve gained enough knowledge, I need to remember President Nelson’s continual desire to learn more and be more. After having watched his birthday celebration, it is clear that I have much more to learn.
My Encouragement for You From President Nelson’s Birthday Celebration
I encourage you to pick one of these lessons or another one you personally gained from President Nelson’s birthday celebration. Take that lesson, and develop it in your life. You could befriend a coworker or a neighbor who doesn’t share your religious beliefs. You might decide to make time with your family a greater priority. Maybe, you’ll decide it’s time to quit making excuses and accomplish more in your life. You might decide that it’s time to develop a new skill or hobby. Maybe, it’s time for you to go back to school and get the degree you’ve been wanting to get. Pick something, or multiple things, and do a little better than you’re doing right now.
