Lessons after 101 years: value and respect

Our prophet Russell M. Nelson turns 101 years old. That in itself is a remarkable achievement. It becomes even more special when you know that in those 101 years he worked for 40 years as a top heart surgeon, gaining worldwide fame through his pioneering work, and then was active for another four decades as a church leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was worth it for him to share a personal message, not only with members of The Church of Jesus Christ, but with theentire world, via an op-ed in Time Magazine.

What immediately strikes me is that he gives two wise lessons which, although rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, do not say “faith in Christ”. No, he calls on us to recognize that everyone has value and deserves dignity. Nelson points out, as we believe, that everyone is a child of a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother. That fact alone means that we must have respect for every human being. He rightly points out the positive consequences of this attitude: it brings emotional, mental, and spiritual balance, and the more you embrace this, the more your anxiety and fear for the future will decrease.

Just as our prophet points out, this is an important message especially for young people. I see in my own family how adolescents struggle with fears and uncertainty. There is a lot of research into the causes. I don't think there is a simple answer. Indeed, social media will play a role, but we must not lose sight of the turbulence in the world and the polarization fueled by media and political extremists. At the same time, many people are looking for identity and this search is being exploited from outsidesearch.

Therefore, it is good that President Nelson assures us that we all have worth and that a heart that knows it is loved and remains focused on its purpose beats with steadfastness, confidence, and hope, no matter what happens in life. At the same time, it also means that if we realize our own worth, it is better and easier to approach others with dignity.

President Nelson's second lesson directly refers back to the evangelical truth: love your neighbor as yourself. I quote our prophet with these wise words: “A century of experience has taught me this with certainty: anger never convinces, hostility never heals, and strife never leads to lasting solutions. Too much of today's public debate, especially online, promotes hostility instead of empathy.“

The world needs more peacemakers. And we shouldn't immediately think that we ourselves will stop the wars in Ukraine or Gaza. But we also shouldn't passively stand aside because we can't do anything, because we can do so much more than nothing. It's so tempting, even for me, to make a sharp remark online somewhere. We think we score when we corner someone else, online or not, or deliver a blow. However, we must learn again that we score more points when we show respect, listen to thereasons why someone takes a different stance and accept that we are not in a rat race where we have to convince others that we are right.

That starts with ourselves. We must not wait for someone else to take the first step. We cannot control that, but we do have our own choices in hand. For those who study the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the concept of agency will sound familiar. For those curious about how agency is an essential part of God's plan, I extend a warm invitation to visit. We can be bridge builders and peacemakers ourselves. Even small acts – such as seeking contact across boundaries of faith, culture, or politics – can open doors to healing.

Even as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we need to be more engaged with this. We must not fall into an us-them-attitude. And by that, I certainly don't just mean towards those who are not yet members of the church, but certainly also towards everyone who, regardless of their membership, does not walk entirely straight on the path that Jesus Christ has outlined. Regardless of the choices every person makes, President Nelson teaches us here that we must have respect for the worth of every daughter and son of God.

I am pleased with this message from our prophet. He does not start by saying that faith in Christ is the only step we must take. But he does end by pointing out that this attitude is a direct result of the love for Christ. Or, to put it with his birthday wish:

My faith teaches me that Jesus Christ, more than two millennia ago, preached the same laws of happiness: loving God and loving our neighbor. After 101 years, I can say that these are not abstract theological ideas, but practical wisdom. They have supported me during loss and triumph, uncertainty, peace, war, and healing. If we embrace these eternal truths – honoring our own worth, treating others with dignity, and cherishing our families – our lives and our world will be more stable and joyful.