Russell M. Nelson became the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 14, 2018. This marked a significant transition following the passing of his predecessor, President Thomas S. Monson. He was sustained by church members during the April 2018 General Conference.

Key Timeline

Here's a clear breakdown of the pivotal moments:

  • January 12, 2018 : President Monson passed away, triggering the succession process.
  • January 14, 2018 : Nelson was set apart as the 17th President of the Church by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple.
  • January 16, 2018 : Official announcement made via live broadcast by Elder D. Todd Christofferson.
  • April 2018 General Conference : First addressed members as prophet; sustained by common consent in a solemn assembly.

Milestone| Date| Details
---|---|---
Called as Apostle| April 7, 1984| Began long tenure in church leadership 15.
Set Apart as President/Prophet| Jan 14, 2018| Private temple ordinance 27.
Public Announcement| Jan 16, 2018| Broadcast worldwide 6.
First Conference Address| April 2018| Spoke as prophet to global audience 1.

Context and Impact

Nelson, a former heart surgeon turned apostle, stepped into the role at age 93—the oldest to assume it at the time. His leadership has emphasized temple building (announcing dozens of new ones), global ministry, and doctrinal adjustments to focus on Jesus Christ. By April 2026, he's served over eight years, outliving prior records and continuing active outreach.

From forum discussions like Reddit's ex-Mormon threads, some noted rapid sustainings in local conferences by late January 2018, reflecting the church's streamlined process. No recent changes; this remains the established historical fact.

TL;DR : January 14, 2018—set apart as prophet after Monson's death.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.