- Pamela Atkinson recalls President Nelson's transition from surgeon to Apostle in 1984.
- Initially upset by his departure, Atkinson now knows Nelson was divinely called, respecting his unique contributions.
SALT LAKE CITY — There are few who remember The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' President Russell M. Nelson as "Dr. Nelson."
President Nelson worked at the LDS Hospital as a heart surgeon before his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984.
Pamela Atkinson will always remember her first impression of Nelson while he worked as a doctor.
"When I first met him, I thought, 'My goodness, he's such a gentleman,'" Atkinson said.
Atkinson worked as an assistant administrator at the LDS Hospital. She knew Nelson as one who took his work seriously.
"He notices things, little things, like a newspaper for one of his patients," Atkinson said. "And so many people don't realize the importance of these little things, but the patients appreciated it."
One day, Atkinson received a call from President Gordon B. Hinckley's office, asking about the next six months on Nelson's schedule. She let them know his availability, and then a month or so later, Nelson was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
"But, I was really bothered by it and just a touch angry," Atkinson said.
The next Monday morning, Atkinson walked over to Nelson's office and voiced her frustration.
"I said, 'I can't believe you got called to serve your church. What about all your patients? How are we going to manage without you here?' And he put his arm around me and said, 'Pamela, you'll understand one day,'" Atkinson said.
From doctor, to apostle, to prophet, Atkinson said she has come to understand.
"There's absolutely no doubt in many of our minds that he is the man called of God, and I didn't look at it that way at first, but I have come to sincerely believe it," Atkinson said. "There are other surgeons who have stepped up to the plate, but there was only one, Dr. Russell Nelson. Just as there's only one President Russell Nelson."
