Russell M. Nelson, the 98-year-old president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, decried sexual abuse in a short message to the group’s biannual Basic Convention Saturday in Salt Lake Metropolis.
In his transient Saturday morning handle, the impartial Salt Lake Tribune newspaper reported, Mr. Nelson decried abuse as “a grievous sin.” The remarks got here after the Related Press investigated claims that an LDS Church bishop, or native lay pastor, did not report the case of a church member who confessed to raping his two younger daughters to authorized authorities.
“Let me be completely clear: Any type of abuse of ladies, youngsters or anybody is an abomination to the Lord,” Mr. Nelson added. “He grieves and I grieve each time anybody is harmed. He mourns, and all of us mourn, for every one that has fallen sufferer to abuse of any sort. Those that perpetrate these hideous acts usually are not solely accountable to the legal guidelines of man however will even face the wrath of God.”
Mr. Nelson, who grew to become the oldest chief in LDS church historical past on April 14, was seated in a tall chair behind the lectern, one thing that shortly generated an official remark from the headquarters of the 16.8 million-member denomination.
The church — whose members are popularly often called Mormons — launched a photograph of the chief seated on the podium and directed inquirers to Mr. Nelson’s official Fb web page.
“Some seen that I sat on a chair to ship my message this morning. What a assist that was!” he wrote. “I’ll admit that typically even small changes—akin to a chair—assist these of us who ‘age on stage’,’” he added.
“I’ll not ski black diamond runs anymore, however whether or not standing or seated, I enjoyment of talking and listening to phrases of reality,” Mr. Nelson stated.
The conferences, that are held in April and October of every yr and are broadcast globally, characterize a gathering level for members of the church to listen to religious messages from leaders.
Mr. Nelson, a famous coronary heart surgeon and medical researcher earlier than his full-time church service, turned 98 on Sept. 9. He grew to become church president on Jan. 14, 2018, following the dying of his predecessor, Thomas S. Monson, age 90.
