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Perfection Pending and Other Favorite Discourses
Book by Russell Marion Nelson
239 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
13 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Russell M. Nelson
35 books230 followersRussell Marion Nelson is the 17th president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Prior to his service as head of the Church, President Nelson served as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He is also a retired American physician and cardiothoracic surgeon.
A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Nelson received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah (1945, 1947). He is a member of honorary scholastic societies Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha. He served his residency in surgery at Mass. General Hosptial in Boston and at the University of Minnesota, where he was awarded his Ph.D. degree in 1954. Shortly after medical school, he began working with the team of doctors which created the first heart-lung machine. In 1951, the machine was used in the first open-heart operation on a human being. Four years later, Nelson was the first doctor in Utah to perform successful open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine.
Nelson served a two-year term of medical duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, being stationed in Korea, Japan, and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Later he worked for a year at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Nelson returned to Salt Lake City in 1955 and was initially on the academic staff of the College of Medicine at the University of Utah, where in November of that year he performed the first cardiac operation in Utah utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass. That operation was performed at the Salt Lake General Hospital (SLGH) on an adult with an atrial septa defect.
In March 1956, Nelson performed the first successful pediatric cardiac operation at the SLGH, a total repair of tetralogy of Fallot in a four-year-old girl. In 1959, he joined the staff of the Salt Lake Clinic, became associated with the LDS Hospital, and continued to make major contributions to the development of the thoracic specialty both in the clinical sciences and as the second director of the residency program.
Nelson's surgical volume was sufficiently large that it was a critical component of the residents' experience. He was an innovative and facile surgeon responsible for many improvements in cardiac operations. He also established a research laboratory at LDS Hospital.
By the late 1960s, Nelson's experience with artificial aortic valve implantation was such that he was able to report a large series of patients with an exceptionally low operative mortality.
In a unique combination of spiritual and professional obligations, Nelson performed heart surgery on LDS Church president Spencer W. Kimball.
A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Nelson received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah (1945, 1947). He is a member of honorary scholastic societies Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha. He served his residency in surgery at Mass. General Hosptial in Boston and at the University of Minnesota, where he was awarded his Ph.D. degree in 1954. Shortly after medical school, he began working with the team of doctors which created the first heart-lung machine. In 1951, the machine was used in the first open-heart operation on a human being. Four years later, Nelson was the first doctor in Utah to perform successful open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine.
Nelson served a two-year term of medical duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, being stationed in Korea, Japan, and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Later he worked for a year at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Nelson returned to Salt Lake City in 1955 and was initially on the academic staff of the College of Medicine at the University of Utah, where in November of that year he performed the first cardiac operation in Utah utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass. That operation was performed at the Salt Lake General Hospital (SLGH) on an adult with an atrial septa defect.
In March 1956, Nelson performed the first successful pediatric cardiac operation at the SLGH, a total repair of tetralogy of Fallot in a four-year-old girl. In 1959, he joined the staff of the Salt Lake Clinic, became associated with the LDS Hospital, and continued to make major contributions to the development of the thoracic specialty both in the clinical sciences and as the second director of the residency program.
Nelson's surgical volume was sufficiently large that it was a critical component of the residents' experience. He was an innovative and facile surgeon responsible for many improvements in cardiac operations. He also established a research laboratory at LDS Hospital.
By the late 1960s, Nelson's experience with artificial aortic valve implantation was such that he was able to report a large series of patients with an exceptionally low operative mortality.
In a unique combination of spiritual and professional obligations, Nelson performed heart surgery on LDS Church president Spencer W. Kimball.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 22, 2024
It was like have Pres. Nelson as your Sunday school teacher.
December 24, 2018
Wonderful book and discourses. The concept of perfectionism has always been something I've struggled with. After reading this book, that commandment seems a little less daunting.
January 4, 2020
I loved listening to these talks by the prophet! My favorite was his discourse on the 12 tribes of Israel. He made it simple yet powerful!
June 26, 2020
This book deepened my understanding of each of its topics. I particularly like when President Nelson uses his knowledge of language roots and science to explain difficult concepts.
June 29, 2024
Better the second time. The author explains complex principles in simple terms.
August 9, 2024
Perfection pending??
President Nelson gives great insight into a host of principles and gives hope for those who are wondering the question "be there for perfect even as I am perfect." Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said. I couldn't put the book down it was so well written.
President Nelson gives great insight into a host of principles and gives hope for those who are wondering the question "be there for perfect even as I am perfect." Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said. I couldn't put the book down it was so well written.
December 15, 2024
It was weird to listen to Pres. Nelson sounding so young. This was a great reinforcer that we need the Savior to be whole.
January 2, 2020
This is a compilation of several talks.
From Perfection Pending:
we must remember that men are that they might have joy, not guilt trips!
Jesus asked for more than Mortal Perfection. Our Heavenly Father has ETERNAL perfection. No one is PERFECT, or COMPLETE until they are FINISHED (not freedom from error). Just prior to the lords crucifixion he claimed his own state of perfection yet to be in the future. His eternal perfection would not be until after his resurrection.
From Integrity of Heart:
Integrity denotes a state of completeness. With the heart a flaw leads to improper function. And improper function leads to further failure. Therefore the ultimate objective for any heart surgery is to restore structural integrity.
The lord said all things unto me are spiritual and not at any time have I given unto you a law that was temporal. Thus temporal or physical laws that relate to our divine creation often have a spiritual application.
From Perfection Pending:
we must remember that men are that they might have joy, not guilt trips!
Jesus asked for more than Mortal Perfection. Our Heavenly Father has ETERNAL perfection. No one is PERFECT, or COMPLETE until they are FINISHED (not freedom from error). Just prior to the lords crucifixion he claimed his own state of perfection yet to be in the future. His eternal perfection would not be until after his resurrection.
From Integrity of Heart:
Integrity denotes a state of completeness. With the heart a flaw leads to improper function. And improper function leads to further failure. Therefore the ultimate objective for any heart surgery is to restore structural integrity.
The lord said all things unto me are spiritual and not at any time have I given unto you a law that was temporal. Thus temporal or physical laws that relate to our divine creation often have a spiritual application.
January 31, 2009
One thing that I enjoyed about reading Elder Nelson's discourses was that I didn't realize how educated he is. Of course I knew he was a heart surgeon, but I was surprised at how knowledgeable he was about Greek. I would like to go back through and read some of the points he made and make notes about them in my scriptures.
My favorites:
11. "With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Especially because the illustrations were so illustrative (redundant but also true)
17. Why This Holy Land?
19. Thanks for the Covenant
20. Shepherds, Lambs, and Home Teachers
I didn't realize that Christ was using different words in his instructions to Peter. His explanation was helpful.
21. Constancy Amid Change
My husband doesn't like writing in books, so I'm writing these so I can go back and browse the ones that especially stood out to me.
My favorites:
11. "With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible"
Especially because the illustrations were so illustrative (redundant but also true)
17. Why This Holy Land?
19. Thanks for the Covenant
20. Shepherds, Lambs, and Home Teachers
I didn't realize that Christ was using different words in his instructions to Peter. His explanation was helpful.
21. Constancy Amid Change
My husband doesn't like writing in books, so I'm writing these so I can go back and browse the ones that especially stood out to me.
February 24, 2009
A beautifully-written book that teaches written by a world-class heart surgeon awho discusses such topics as avoiding and overcoming addictions, tolerance and love, and the atonement of Jesus Christ. This amazing man spoke at my half-brother's funeral and visited my brother when he was dying from bone cancer. Elder Nelson is a great example of the things he teaches. He even planted pansies beneath my brother's bedroom to cheer him when he was dying.
January 25, 2021
The book starts with a more hopeful definition of perfection as completeness, which sets a nice tone for all the other subjects of discourse. I should have reviewed closer to reading it, but the thoughts that have stayed with me are: it is never okay to lose your temper, and my children are precious, enjoy them for who they are now.
September 10, 2007
Sermons from Elder Nelson. I especially like how well referenced his talks are. He almost always has the most references of any general authority talk at conference. I look forward to his footnotes as much as the talk.
June 17, 2009
Love this book! It remains my favorite collection of discourses. I don't think there's a single page that isn't marked up or without writing in the margins. Deep, highly uplifting and exquisitely comforting!
July 16, 2012
I feel bad giving a church book only 3 stars, but while the doctrine is true, and Nelson is a prophet, seer and revelater, I didn't connect strongly on any of these discourses. Still good Sunday reading, though.
March 1, 2020
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this. This book felt dense in content such that I could only get through it one or two chapters at a time and one I could gain more from by rereading.
Content: clean
Content: clean
March 22, 2011
I liked this book but it's been so many years ago and I really don't remember it that well.
February 1, 2016
Great read. Russell is a genuine saint and makes me want to be better. I skimmed much of the book, but would like to read again sometime(: Has 239 pages.
April 1, 2019
While I love Pres Nelson and his words, I wasn’t a big fan of the discourses selected and order it was out in. It just felt disconnected or something.
January 6, 2021
Enlightening and inspirational. I love President Nelson's outlook on life and what we should be doing and found many an inspiration and help.
June 21, 2011
I highly recommend this!!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews