An Arizona-born leader within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reflected on the man he knew and who helmed the religious institution until his death Sept. 27.

Russell M. Nelson served as president of the Latter-day Saints and led what may have been Arizona's largest gathering of members of the faith. Nelson, who was 101 at the time of his death, was the oldest to ever serve as church president and died of "causes incident to age" at his Salt Lake City home, the church said in a statement.

"President Nelson was pure kindness and pure love," said Elder Jonathan Schmitt, a former Phoenix-area resident who serves as a counselor in the church's North American Southwest Area Presidency.

Nelson became leader of the Latter-day Saints on Jan. 14, 2018. During his leadership, Nelso

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