President Russell M. Nelson

To no informed observer’s particular surprise in the wake of the deaths, first, of Elder L. Tom Perry and, then, President Boyd K. Packer, Elder Russell M. Nelson, who is now the senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been set apart as the president of that Quorum:

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/russell-m-nelson-new-president-of-the-quorum-of-the-twelve-apostles

I’ve been somewhat acquainted with Elder — now President — Nelson over a number of years now.  For a time, when I was serving on what was then called the “Middle East Advisory Committee” of the Church, he was its chairman.

Formerly an internationally-recognized cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon who holds both an M.D. and a Ph.D., he was an impressively accomplished person even before his call to the Twelve.  Moreover, he’s very affable.

 Posted from Santa Fe, New Mexico