SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has died at the age of 101, church officials announced late Saturday night. He was 101

Nelson died Saturday night at his home in Salt Lake City, church spokesperson Candice Madsen said in a statement.

The former heart surgeon had a vibrant and transformative tenure, especially in 2018, his first year , when he made a surprising announcement calling on people to stop using the shorthand names “Mormon” and “LDS” as substitutes for the full name of the religion, a sharp shift after previous church leaders spent millions to promote the moniker over decades.

Nelson also made headlines the next year when he repealed rules that banned baptisms for children of gay pare

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