At 94, Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has proved a far more vigorous and transformative figure than scholars expected when he took office a year ago, pushing through a flurry of surprising changes on such matters as gay members and the name of the faith.
Nelson made his biggest public move yet Thursday when the church rescinded rules banning baptisms for children of gay parents and branding same-sex couples apostates subject to excommunication. Those 2015 policies had generated widespread backlash.
He has also launched a campaign calling on people to stop using the shorthand names “Mormon” and “LDS,” shortened Sunday worship by an hour, and revised sacred temple ceremonies to give women a more prominent role and include more gender-inclusive language.