On September 9, 2024, President Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will turn 100 years old. On that day, members and friends of the Church are invited to attend a special birthday celebration.
The 75-minute show will air on Monday, September 9, at 4:00 p.m. MDT.
On June 1, President Nelson encouraged everyone to spend the next 100 days before his birthday looking for ways to reach “the one.”
“One of the places in the scriptures where the Savior uses the number 100 is in the parable of the lost sheep,” President Nelson said. “Even though 99 of His flock were safe with Him, the shepherd went in search of the one that was lost.”
The birthday broadcast will not only provide an opportunity to honor President Nelson’s life and teachings, but also to tell stories of people who were “the ones” and to look back at what was done around the world to respond to President Nelson’s invitation, said a news release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
The livestream can be viewed on broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the church’s YouTube channel.
Live interpretation will be available in Arabic, Cantonese, Cebuano, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Spanish, Tagalog, Tongan and Ukrainian.
President Nelson’s 100th year in office
President Nelson is the oldest President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and also the longest-living Apostle in this dispensation.
One day after President Nelson’s 99th birthday, Church News published an excerpt from his new book, Heart of the Matter: What 100 Years of Life Has Taught Me.
President Nelson wrote about all the innovations, advances, breakthroughs, and growth that occurred during his lifetime.
Reflecting on his centenary trip, he said, “I am grateful to have witnessed a century of unprecedented innovation, and I am optimistic about what the future holds for humanity.”
On the first day of 2024, President Nelson wrote that this would be an opportunity to “wonder and rejoice.”
“On this – my 100th New Year’s Day – I marvel and rejoice at the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ, His life, His ministry, His mission, and much more,” he said, going on to list the wonders of the restored gospel, the faith of Latter-day Saints, Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness, and much more.
In his address to the sisters of Relief Society at the March 17 worldwide devotional, President Nelson said women have a divine gift that enables them to literally change lives.
At the April 2024 general conference, President Nelson encouraged everyone to reflect on the “incredible personal spiritual privileges” that come through the gift of priesthood keys.
On April 21, President Nelson rededicated the Manti Utah Temple in a surprise appearance.
And in his remarks during the 2024 New Missionary Leaders Seminar, President Nelson testified that “the truths of the Book of Mormon are full of power.”
Invitation to President Nelson’s 100th birthday
When President Nelson extended the invitation to his birthday, he explained that he did not need material gifts, but one spiritual gift that would brighten his life would be if everyone in his life would reach out to someone who might be feeling lost or lonely.
“How many of you know someone who might be discouraged?” he asked. “Who might you need to reconcile with or ask for forgiveness from? Has a name been on your mind lately without you knowing exactly why? If you take these questions to the Lord, He will show you how to help someone who needs help.”
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other Church leaders and officers have endorsed President Nelson’s invitation on their social media channels using the hashtag #99plus1, sharing insights into their close working relationships with him and examples of how they or others have been cared for like “the one.”
