President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Russell M. Nelson is seen at the 189th Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 6, 2019. George Frey/ Getty Images/ AFPWASHINGTON — Russell Nelson, who headed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2018, died on Saturday night at age 101, the church announced. "With sorrow we announce that Russell M. Nelson, beloved President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away peacefully... at his home in Salt Lake City," it said in a statement, using the church's official name. Utah Republican senator Mike Lee lauded Nelson as a "bold, visionary leader prepared by God to testify of Jesus Christ in the very times in which we now live." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims a total membership of more than 17.5 million people.