Eric Johnson on President Russell M. Nelson
In this episode, we welcome back Eric Johnson of Mormonism Research Ministry to discuss the legacy of President Russell M. Nelson. In this episode, we try to take the listener through some of the highlights of the theology and administration of Nelson, the 17th President of the LDS Church, as well as critique them from the perspective of evangelical Christians. From Nelson’s emphasis on the “correct name of the Church”, his administrative flexibility, his emphasis on Temples and temple work, his view of faith as a power, his encouragement of women to be like “Mother Eve”, the Restoration Proclamation – to his ruling theme of obedience to “the covenant path” being the key to one’s exaltation in the eternities, as heavenly parents have gone before – Eric takes us through what stands out most to him from the presidency of Russell Nelson. In a time when the LDS membership is so hungry for charismatic leadership – is there a popular confusion of pragmatic administrative change with the spiritual substance of revelations?
Other resources by Eric Johnson:
- Introducing Christianity to Mormons
- Sharing the Good News with Mormons
- “President Nelson speaks on ‘The Everlasting Covenant’: A Review”
- Hear our previous interview with Eric Johnson here
- Also check out the response to Nelson’s “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys” here
Some talks of President Russell M. Nelson:
“The Correct Name of the Church”
“Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys”
“Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel”
“The Second Great Commandment”
“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives”
- (Revised) Temple Recommend Interview Questions
“Call to the Holy Apostleship”
“Thus Shall My Church Be Called”
“Lessons from the Lord’s Prayer”
Also check out this very helpful archive: here
- “President Nelson’s First Message to Members as Our Prophet” by Danielle B. Wagner
- Interview, including line: “If you think the Church is fully restored, you’re just seeing the beginning...”
Other resources:
“Timeline of President Russell M. Nelson’s life and minsitry” by Sydney Walker
“A by-the-numbers look at the 200 temples announced by President Nelson” by Scott Taylor
“Mormon LGBT ban was ‘revealed’ to the prophet as God’s will, says Elder Nelson”; “Mormon leaders reverse LGBT policy, raising the question: What is revelation?” ;“The top 10 changes President Nelson has made in the LDS Church” by Jana Reiss
The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball (also here)
“Mormon Should Mean ‘More Good’” by Elder Gordon B. Hinckley; also his book What of the Mormons?
On the scandal of exaggerating (to even lying) about stories, see RFM: here, and here
Financial Scandal: here, here, and here
“The Correct [Domain] Name of the Church: Technology, Naming, and Legitimacy in the Latter-Day Saint Tradition” by Spencer P. Greenhalgh
The Mysteries of Godliness by David Buerger
The Harvest of Sorrow by Robert Conquest
The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross by Leon Morris (also here)
Transcript
A full, speaker-identified transcript of this episode is in preparation — transcribed locally and checked against our theological glossary. Check back soon.