Fact Checking Nelson's Tithing Story
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2023 11:41 pm
In the latest GC, Pres. Nelson told a faith-promoting story about paying tithing. The story goes, he was earning a meager $15/mo as a medical intern when his wife, Dantzel, asked if they were paying tithing on that stipend. He said no, was challenged to do so, and began paying $1.50/month. The act, he says, changed him even though it did not change the church.
For those interested, the income side of Nelson's story is verifiable.
After graduating from the University of Utah medical school in 1947, Dr. Nelson did his residency at the University of Minnesota, beginning in the same year.
UMN has online school records going back many decades. This includes minutes of the meetings of its board of regents, school budgets, staff directories and staff bulletins covering the years of Nelson's residency and PhD studies (1947-1954, with a break in 1951 for military service).
Here are some links to some of those documents with the relevant information.
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Oct. 3, 1947 Staff Bulletin
Interns > Surgery > Russell Nelson
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Oct. 1, 1948 Staff Bulletin
Medical Fellows > Russell Nelson
(He was promoted from intern to fellow after August 1948, a bit over 1 year into his residency)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Oct. 1947, Board of Regents Minutes
Russell M Nelson as Medical Intern University of Minnesota Hospitals September 15, 1947 to June 30, 1948 at $158 Term C
(Works out to 9.5 mos @ $158 = $16.63 per month)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
July 1948, Board of Regents Minutes
Russell M Nelson continuation of appointment as Medical Intern University of Minnesota Hospitals July 1 to August 31, 1948 at $30 Term C
(2 months internship extension at $15 per month)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Dec. 1948, Board of Regents Minutes
Russell M Nelson as Medical Fellow Surgery Research Funds October 1-31, 1948 at $115 Term CT and Surgery November 1, 1948 to June 30, 1949 at the rate of $1,380 Term A
(As a new fellow, his monthly pay bumped up by roughly 10x. October @ $1,380 annualized)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Russell M Nelson, Medical Fellow …. $1380 (salary 1948-1949) to $1500 (annual salary 1949-1950)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Feb. 1951, Staff Bulletin
Dr. Russell M. Nelson recently left for the Army Medical Center Graduate School in Washington, D. C.
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Apr. 1951, Board of Regents Minutes
Voted to approve the following terminations of employment :
Russell M Nelson Medical Fellow Surgery -. effective February 28, 1951
(Nelson left for military duty)
Also, maybe of interest, Nelson was listed as follows in the staff directory for 1949-1950.
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Nelson, Russell M, Research Asst Surgery. MeS 511 (6651). 403 7th av se, Mpls 14, Ge 7191
He was mentioned in the UMN annual budget for 1949-1950 as follows.
Nelson, Russell M. Employee number 60278, Department number 2311
2311 - Surgery (Total Budget $121,764, of which Salaries & Wages: $113,014)
Within Department 2311, the Division of General Surgery
Russell M. Nelson, Medical Fellow Payroll: A $1500
Thus, it seems by paying tithing while earning $15/month, Nelson was almost immediately rewarded with a 10x pay increase.
For numerologists, it may be notable that Nelson's badge number 60278 is June 2, 1978. That date is 1 day after the June 1 revelation to end the priesthood ban was given. The revelation would be announced on June 9, 1978 at general conference. Perhaps, in the course of events, Nelson was consulted or given a preview of the revelation to be announced on June 2, being as he was Church Sunday School president at the time and would sit on the stand a week later when the revelation was announced. Is it possible Nelson's future calling, and the end of the priesthood ban, were prophesied his medical residency badge number?
For those interested, the income side of Nelson's story is verifiable.
After graduating from the University of Utah medical school in 1947, Dr. Nelson did his residency at the University of Minnesota, beginning in the same year.
UMN has online school records going back many decades. This includes minutes of the meetings of its board of regents, school budgets, staff directories and staff bulletins covering the years of Nelson's residency and PhD studies (1947-1954, with a break in 1951 for military service).
Here are some links to some of those documents with the relevant information.
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Oct. 3, 1947 Staff Bulletin
Interns > Surgery > Russell Nelson
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Oct. 1, 1948 Staff Bulletin
Medical Fellows > Russell Nelson
(He was promoted from intern to fellow after August 1948, a bit over 1 year into his residency)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Oct. 1947, Board of Regents Minutes
Russell M Nelson as Medical Intern University of Minnesota Hospitals September 15, 1947 to June 30, 1948 at $158 Term C
(Works out to 9.5 mos @ $158 = $16.63 per month)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
July 1948, Board of Regents Minutes
Russell M Nelson continuation of appointment as Medical Intern University of Minnesota Hospitals July 1 to August 31, 1948 at $30 Term C
(2 months internship extension at $15 per month)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Dec. 1948, Board of Regents Minutes
Russell M Nelson as Medical Fellow Surgery Research Funds October 1-31, 1948 at $115 Term CT and Surgery November 1, 1948 to June 30, 1949 at the rate of $1,380 Term A
(As a new fellow, his monthly pay bumped up by roughly 10x. October @ $1,380 annualized)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Russell M Nelson, Medical Fellow …. $1380 (salary 1948-1949) to $1500 (annual salary 1949-1950)
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Feb. 1951, Staff Bulletin
Dr. Russell M. Nelson recently left for the Army Medical Center Graduate School in Washington, D. C.
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Apr. 1951, Board of Regents Minutes
Voted to approve the following terminations of employment :
Russell M Nelson Medical Fellow Surgery -. effective February 28, 1951
(Nelson left for military duty)
Also, maybe of interest, Nelson was listed as follows in the staff directory for 1949-1950.
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/h ... sAllowed=y
Nelson, Russell M, Research Asst Surgery. MeS 511 (6651). 403 7th av se, Mpls 14, Ge 7191
He was mentioned in the UMN annual budget for 1949-1950 as follows.
Nelson, Russell M. Employee number 60278, Department number 2311
2311 - Surgery (Total Budget $121,764, of which Salaries & Wages: $113,014)
Within Department 2311, the Division of General Surgery
Russell M. Nelson, Medical Fellow Payroll: A $1500
Thus, it seems by paying tithing while earning $15/month, Nelson was almost immediately rewarded with a 10x pay increase.
For numerologists, it may be notable that Nelson's badge number 60278 is June 2, 1978. That date is 1 day after the June 1 revelation to end the priesthood ban was given. The revelation would be announced on June 9, 1978 at general conference. Perhaps, in the course of events, Nelson was consulted or given a preview of the revelation to be announced on June 2, being as he was Church Sunday School president at the time and would sit on the stand a week later when the revelation was announced. Is it possible Nelson's future calling, and the end of the priesthood ban, were prophesied his medical residency badge number?