President Russell M. Nelson’s Temple Vision: The Revelation Behind the Historic Expansion of Temples Worldwide

President Russell M. Nelson and the Historic Expansion of Latter-day Saint Temples

President Russell M. Nelson and temples are at the center of this remarkable interview with Elder Larry Y. Wilson, a former General Authority Seventy who served as executive director of the Temple Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Wilson had a rare opportunity to work closely with the First Presidency, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and especially President Nelson during the beginning of one of the largest periods of temple expansion in Church history.

Throughout the conversation, Elder Wilson shares personal experiences that strengthened his testimony of living prophets. He describes the moment President Nelson challenged a 15-year temple plan, stories of revelation surrounding temple locations and Church leadership, President Nelson’s compassionate one-on-one ministry, and the growing sense that the Lord is hastening His work in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ.

TL;DR: President Nelson’s Temple Vision and the Hastening of the Lord’s Work

The central message of this video is that President Russell M. Nelson’s unprecedented emphasis on temples was rooted in a much larger prophetic vision. When Church leaders presented him with a carefully researched plan for approximately 60 future temples, President Nelson told Elder Larry Y. Wilson that he would feel better if there were “another zero” after the number—pointing toward a vision of roughly 600 temples. Elder Wilson describes this as an early indication that President Nelson understood the need to dramatically expand temple access as part of preparing the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Watch the Full Interview About President Russell M. Nelson and Temples

The 15-Year Temple Plan That President Nelson Dramatically Expanded

Elder Larry Y. Wilson explains that before President Nelson became President of the Church, leaders had already been working carefully on future temple planning.

After returning from service in the Asia Area Presidency, Elder Wilson was assigned to the Temple Department. In 2016, he became its executive director.

Church leaders had created a Temple Planning Committee and developed a long-range plan based on the pace of temple construction at the time. President Thomas S. Monson had been moving forward at roughly four or five new temples per year.

The committee developed a 15-year plan containing approximately 60 new temples.

They were proud of it.

The plan had been carefully developed and favorably received by senior Church leaders.

Then President Russell M. Nelson became President of the Church in January 2018.

Within approximately 30 days, the committee presented its plan to him.

“I Would Feel Better If There Were Another Zero”

Elder Wilson personally made much of the presentation.

President Nelson listened carefully as they explained the data, the computer model they had developed, and the reasoning behind the locations they were recommending.

When the presentation ended, President Nelson looked at Elder Wilson and said:

“Larry, I would feel better about your plan if there were another zero behind that number of the total temples.”

Elder Wilson immediately began doing the math.

They had planned for approximately 60.

Another zero meant 600.

He remembers wondering whether President Nelson literally meant that number or was simply suggesting they think bigger.

Looking back, Elder Wilson believes President Nelson meant exactly what he said.

The temple plan was substantially revised, and the pace of temple announcements soon accelerated dramatically.

How President Nelson Combined Information With Revelation

One of the most important insights in the interview is Elder Wilson’s description of how President Nelson approached revelation.

President Nelson often emphasized that good information can precede good revelation.

He did not simply walk into the meeting and disregard all the work that had already been done.

Instead, he listened.

The temple planning model considered numerous factors, including:

• Church membership
• Growth of the Church
• Member faithfulness
• Tithing
• Distance to the nearest temple
• Cost of traveling to the temple
• Geographical accessibility
• Local circumstances affecting temple attendance

President Nelson wanted to understand how the committee reached its conclusions.

Only after receiving all the information did he give the direction that dramatically changed the scale of the plan.

Elder Wilson does not claim to know the exact moment revelation came to President Nelson, but the experience strengthened his conviction that careful preparation and prophetic revelation can work together.

Why the Church Builds Temples in Certain Locations

The interview also provides a rare look at some of the practical factors involved in deciding where temples are needed.

Distance alone does not tell the whole story.

Sometimes a temple may appear geographically close but still be inaccessible because of national borders, travel restrictions, expense, or political conditions.

Why Haiti Needed Its Own Temple

Elder Wilson uses Haiti as an example.

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the same island. A temple already existed in the Dominican Republic, so on a map Haitian members did not appear extremely far away.

But many Haitian Saints could not simply cross the border and attend the temple.

Therefore, Church leaders gave additional consideration to situations where political or geographic barriers made existing temples effectively inaccessible.

This helps explain why temple planning is about much more than simply drawing circles on a map.

The goal is to bring temple blessings closer to actual people.

The Russia Temple Announcement: Revelation Before All the Details Were Known

One of the most fascinating examples involves the temple announced for Russia.

Elder Wilson explains that Russia was on the long-term temple list, but it was not near the top, and a specific city had not yet been selected.

As leaders brought a group of temple recommendations to President Nelson before general conference, President Nelson told them:

“We need to add Russia to the list.”

They added it.

Later circumstances have made building a temple in Russia extremely difficult, and Elder Wilson says he does not know when construction will become possible.

But he believes the announcement communicated something important to Russian Saints: the Lord has not forgotten them.

The Old Way and the New Way of Announcing Temples

Elder Wilson explains that in earlier periods, a temple would generally not be announced until substantial preparation had already taken place.

The Church might already have:

• A specific site
• Property secured
• Government approvals
• Major planning completed

President Nelson’s approach sometimes reversed that order.

The prophetic announcement could come first.

The Church would then begin working through the details.

That required faith that the Lord would eventually open the necessary doors.

President Nelson Saw Temples as Preparation for a Millennial Day

When asked what the atmosphere felt like during those temple meetings, Elder Wilson describes it as:

“Electric with the revelatory feeling.”

He sensed that President Nelson understood the Church was approaching an important period of preparation.

The interview does not attempt to predict the timing of the Second Coming.

Instead, it emphasizes preparation.

Elder Wilson believes President Nelson saw that there were things that needed to be in place before the Savior’s return—and dramatically expanded temple access was one of them.

Temples allow God’s children throughout the world to make covenants, receive sacred ordinances, participate in the gathering of Israel, and bind families together eternally.

President Nelson’s Leadership Was Deeply Consultative

Elder Wilson also describes President Nelson as a leader who actively sought counsel.

This was not a leader who simply entered a room, announced what he had decided, and dismissed everyone else’s perspective.

He listened.

He asked questions.

He invited people to share their experiences.

President Nelson Asked Sister Joy D. Jones, “What Do You Think?”

Elder Wilson shares one revealing experience involving a policy that prevented women with dependent children at home from serving as temple workers.

Church leaders were considering whether that policy should change.

Sister Joy D. Jones, then serving as General Primary President, was in the meeting.

President Nelson turned to her and asked:

“Joy, what do you think?”

Sister Jones explained that she had personally been in a situation where her children were still living at home but were attending school during the day. She would have had time to serve in the temple but had been prevented from doing so by the policy.

She supported changing it.

President Nelson listened to her experience. The First Presidency discussed the issue and decided to change the policy.

Elder Wilson saw this as a meaningful example of prophetic leadership through councils.

A Powerful Revelation Experience With Elder Russell M. Nelson

Elder Wilson’s testimony of President Nelson’s revelatory gifts began long before President Nelson became President of the Church.

Approximately 25 years earlier, Elder Wilson was an Area Seventy in California and was assigned to accompany then-Elder Russell M. Nelson in reorganizing a stake.

They interviewed approximately 25 men.

After completing the interviews, they prayed about whom the Lord wanted to serve as the new stake president.

Elder Nelson then asked Elder Wilson for a shortlist.

Elder Wilson selected several names.

Elder Nelson agreed.

Then Elder Nelson asked:

“Who’s the new stake president?”

Elder Wilson identified one man.

Elder Nelson confirmed the impression.

Elder Wilson thought their revelatory work was complete.

Then Elder Nelson surprised him.

“Who’s the First Counselor?”

Elder Nelson asked Elder Wilson who should be the first counselor.

Elder Wilson was startled because counselors are normally recommended by the newly called stake president.

Nevertheless, he prayerfully chose another man.

Elder Nelson agreed.

Then came another question:

“Who’s the second counselor?”

Elder Wilson identified another man.

Again, Elder Nelson agreed.

When the new stake president was called, Elder Nelson did not tell him whom they had identified.

Instead, he told the man he was free to recommend whomever he felt inspired to choose as his counselors.

The new stake president left to pray.

When he returned, he independently recommended the exact two men Elder Nelson and Elder Wilson had previously identified.

Elder Wilson was deeply impressed.

He felt he had witnessed revelation operating through multiple people while still preserving the stewardship of the newly called stake president.

President Nelson’s Ministry Was Global and Personal

Another major theme of the video is President Nelson’s ability to combine enormous global responsibility with personal attention to individuals.

When Elder Wilson later moved to Salt Lake City as a General Authority Seventy, he and his wife felt somewhat like outsiders.

They were coming from California and were not deeply connected to the world of Church headquarters.

Elder Wilson says nobody was more personally welcoming than Elder Nelson.

Whenever Elder Nelson saw him, he would greet him by his preferred name:

“Hello, Larry Y.”

Then he would ask:

“How’s Linda?”

He remembered Elder Wilson’s wife, family, and circumstances.

That pattern of remembering individuals left a deep impression on him.

The Personal Text President Nelson Sent During Elder Wilson’s Heart Treatment

Perhaps the most emotional story comes years after Elder Wilson finished his General Authority service.

By 2023, he was living in Virginia and dealing with serious heart rhythm problems.

Doctors attempted procedures called ablations to correct the arrhythmia.

Two attempts had not worked.

He was preparing for a third procedure when an unexpected message appeared on his phone from a number he did not recognize.

The message said:

“Dear Larry, I put your name on the Thursday prayer roll for the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve meeting. Please know that we extend our love to you for a quick recovery. Russ.”

Elder Wilson was overwhelmed.

President Nelson was approximately 98 years old and carrying the responsibilities of leading a worldwide Church.

Elder Wilson had been away from Church headquarters for years.

Yet President Nelson somehow learned what he was going through, obtained his phone number, remembered him in prayer, and personally reached out.

For Elder Wilson, this experience showed that President Nelson’s ministry did not exist only on general conference broadcasts.

His ministry was one person at a time.

What President Nelson’s Personal Ministry Teaches About Jesus Christ

The interviewer connects President Nelson’s personal attention directly with the Savior.

Jesus Christ ministers to individuals.

He notices people.

He reaches those who may feel forgotten.

For Elder Wilson, seeing a prophet follow that pattern strengthened his testimony of what prophetic ministry can look like.

President Nelson could simultaneously think about hundreds of future temples and still remember one former colleague facing a medical procedure.

Those two sides of his ministry—global vision and personal love—appear repeatedly throughout the interview.

Inside the Church’s Temple Sites Committee

Elder Wilson also provides a fascinating description of the committee responsible for temple matters.

Despite being called the Temple Sites Committee, its work involves much more than deciding where a temple should be built.

The committee deals with:

• Temple sites
• Temple construction
• Temple architecture
• Interior design and decor
• Temple artwork
• Policies
• Matters involving temple ceremonies
• Other aspects of temple worship

Serving as executive director of the Temple Department therefore placed Elder Wilson in close contact with members of the First Presidency and apostles assigned to temple and family history work.

Why There Are More Images of Jesus Christ in Latter-day Saint Temples

The interview includes an interesting discussion about artwork inside temples.

Elder Wilson explains that leaders intentionally worked to improve temple artwork and consider more carefully what images were appropriate for different parts of the building.

Temple Baptistry Artwork

In baptistries, leaders wanted art connected with:

• Baptism
• Priesthood authority
• Young people
• The Savior

The goal was to reinforce the purpose of baptisms for the dead and help young people connect spiritually with the ordinance.

Artwork in Initiatory Areas

For many years, the same painting of Moses and Aaron had been used repeatedly in initiatory areas.

Rather than relying on only one familiar image, leaders commissioned additional scriptural artwork.

One example Elder Wilson mentions is Samuel anointing David.

The goal was to help temple worshippers pause, think about the scriptural symbolism, and see familiar ordinances with renewed spiritual attention.

More Representation Inside Temples

Elder Wilson also describes deliberate efforts to include:

• More images of Jesus Christ
• More images of women
• More people from diverse racial backgrounds
• More people from different cultures

He believes the Church made significant progress in expanding the visual representation found in temples.

The Historic Rome Italy Temple Dedication

Another memorable story concerns the Rome Italy Temple.

While plans for the dedication were being discussed, President Nelson announced that he wanted the entire First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to attend.

Elder Wilson initially wondered whether President Nelson truly meant all 15.

Having every member of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve together outside the United States was highly unusual.

But President Nelson meant exactly what he said.

All 15 attended.

The gathering symbolically emphasized the worldwide mission of apostles and the central place of temples in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

President Nelson’s Musical Talent and Personal Side

The interview also includes several lighter stories that reveal President Nelson outside his formal prophetic responsibilities.

Elder Wilson describes him as an exceptionally talented musician with perfect pitch.

He remembers President Nelson playing the organ during meetings of General Authorities in the temple.

Although a hymnbook was open in front of him, he often appeared to play almost entirely from memory.

On other occasions, Elder Wilson watched President Nelson sit at a piano and play continuously for 30 to 45 minutes.

His music included:

• Church hymns
• Classical pieces
• Broadway songs
• Other music recalled entirely from memory

These personal stories help reveal the human side of a Church leader often seen primarily at a general conference pulpit.

What Elder Wilson Learned About President Dallin H. Oaks

The conversation briefly turns to President Dallin H. Oaks.

Elder Wilson admits that before interacting personally with President Oaks, he found him somewhat intimidating because of his legal background, intellect, and formal public speaking style.

Then Elder Wilson saw him interact with ordinary members.

Before a regional meeting in California, President Oaks asked to have at least 20 minutes in the chapel before the meeting.

Elder Wilson assumed President Oaks wanted quiet preparation.

Instead, President Oaks walked throughout the chapel greeting members and speaking personally with as many people as he could.

Elder Wilson was surprised by his warmth.

It reminded him that watching Church leaders speak at general conference does not always reveal their full personalities or the personal ministry they offer away from the camera.

Why Elder Wilson Calls President Nelson a “Change Agent”

As the interview closes, Elder Wilson reflects on what he will tell his grandchildren about President Russell M. Nelson.

Before President Nelson became President of the Church, Elder Wilson assumed he might largely maintain existing Church patterns.

Instead, he witnessed remarkable change.

Elder Wilson describes President Nelson as a significant “change agent.”

During his ministry, President Nelson emphasized or oversaw major developments including:

• Unprecedented temple expansion
• A greater emphasis on covenant living
• The correct name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• The two-hour Sunday meeting schedule
• A higher and holier approach to ministering
• Greater emphasis on gathering Israel
• Preparation for the Second Coming
• Greater emphasis on personal revelation

For Elder Wilson, these changes did not feel like ordinary institutional restructuring.

He says the revelatory process became remarkably visible.

“Think Celestial,” “Let God Prevail,” and a Higher and Holier Way

Elder Wilson also reflects on President Nelson’s ability to teach profound spiritual principles using memorable phrases.

President Nelson loved words and often explored their meaning carefully.

That led to invitations that became closely associated with his ministry:

• “Think celestial.”
• “Let God prevail.”
• “Be peacemakers.”
• Live in a “higher and holier” way.

Behind each phrase was a consistent invitation.

Members of the Church were being asked to rise spiritually above the attitudes of the world and become more fully centered on Jesus Christ.

President Russell M. Nelson Temples and the Hastening of the Work

Near the end of the video, Elder Wilson connects temple building with something Church leaders have spoken about for years: the hastening of the Lord’s work.

For a long time, he heard people speak about the hastening and wondered how clearly it could actually be seen.

Then the signs became increasingly visible.

He points to:

• The extraordinary growth in the number of announced and operating temples
• Record or near-record missionary numbers
• Increasing convert baptisms
• Worldwide missionary growth
• Greater temple accessibility

For Elder Wilson, these developments seem connected rather than accidental.

He believes the Church is witnessing the acceleration of the gathering of Israel and preparation for the return of Jesus Christ.

What This Interview Teaches About Living Prophets

The strongest message in the interview is not simply that President Nelson announced an extraordinary number of temples.

It is Elder Larry Y. Wilson’s testimony that he personally witnessed prophetic revelation.

He watched skilled Church leaders spend years creating a carefully researched plan.

They brought approximately 60 future temples to the prophet.

The prophet listened.

Then he effectively said:

Think ten times bigger.

Elder Wilson could not foresee at that moment what would follow.

Years later, he looked back on that meeting and recognized it as an early glimpse of the temple expansion that would become one of President Nelson’s defining legacies.

At the same time, the prophet who could envision hundreds of temples could remember Larry Wilson’s wife’s name.

He could send a personal text to someone facing heart surgery.

He could ask a woman in a council meeting for her experience.

He could perceive a future stake presidency and still leave room for the newly called president to seek revelation himself.

For Elder Wilson, those experiences built confidence that Jesus Christ truly leads His restored Church through living prophets.

President Russell M. Nelson’s Temple Legacy Points to Jesus Christ

Ultimately, this video presents President Russell M. Nelson’s temples not as monuments to institutional growth, but as houses of the Lord designed to bring people closer to Jesus Christ.

Every new temple means more people can receive ordinances.

More families can be sealed.

More members can make and keep covenants.

More work can be performed for ancestors.

More communities of Saints can become spiritually established.

And more of God’s children can prepare for the Savior’s return.

Elder Wilson’s experiences suggest that President Nelson was asking a larger question than simply how many temples the Church could reasonably build.

The question was closer to:

How do we bring the blessings of the house of the Lord to God’s children throughout the entire world?

For Elder Wilson, watching that vision unfold became a witness that there truly was “a prophet in the land.”

And the purpose behind that prophetic temple vision remained constant: to help individuals come unto Jesus Christ, make sacred covenants with God, strengthen eternal families, participate in the gathering of Israel, and prepare the world for the return of the Savior.