The rededication of the Washington D.C. Temple on Aug. 14, 2022, marked the first trip outside of Utah since the COVID-19 pandemic for President Russell M. Nelson, the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After the event President Nelson sat down with media for a brief interview in the nearby visitor’s center.

I asked him how he felt to be out among the people again.

He leaned forward with intentionality.

“I’ve really never left them,” he said.

Those words came rushing back to my mind as, hours ago, I learned about the death of President Nelson — a pioneering heart surgeon who led a global membership of 17.5 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ into his 101st year.

President Nelson was 93 when he took the helm of the church on Jan. 14, 2018. I

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