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Mormon church appoints 93-year-old ex-surgeon as president

FILE - In this April 1, 2017, file photo, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perform in the Conference Center at the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City. The Mormon church's twice-a-year conference will take place this weekend amid a tumultuous political climate in the U.S. and without the participation of the religion's 90-year-old president who is dealing with ailing health. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
FILE - In this April 1, 2017, file photo, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perform in the Conference Center at the morning session of the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City. The Mormon church's twice-a-year conference will take place this weekend amid a tumultuous political climate in the U.S. and without the participation of the religion's 90-year-old president who is dealing with ailing health. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

By Associated Press 1 min read

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A 93-year-old former heart surgeon with three decades of experience with the Mormon church’s top leadership panel has been officially named the faith’s president.

High-ranking Mormon D. Todd Christofferson announced the selection of Russell M. Nelson as president Tuesday in an address from Salt Lake City that broadcast to Mormons around the world.

Nelson’s selection follows a longstanding succession plan that makes the longest-tenured member of the faith’s Quorum the next church’s president.

Nelson becomes the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Utah-based faith counts nearly 16 million members worldwide.

He succeeds Thomas S. Monson, who died Jan. 2.