Honoring Richard G. Scott
Richard G. Scott passed away yesterday afternoon. My very first thought was how happy he must be to be with his dear wife, Jeanene, again! One thing that always stood out to me was his love and devotion to her. Although she passed away twenty years ago, he spoke of her often and always with such adoration. Elder D. Todd Christofferson called their marriage was a true love story. That was surely evident in Elder Scott's words during April 2011 General Conference. He said, "I am confident that when, in our future, I see her again beyond the veil, we will recognize that we have become even more deeply in love. We will appreciate each other even more, having spent this time separated by the veil."
In a Deseret News article, Elder Scott's son Michael said, "The most profound thing I learned as his son is what an ideal marriage should be in watching my parents. It’s nothing they ever said ... they just lived it. Seeing how he lived in private, his marriage, the way he treated all of us as children, he was consistent in what he taught and how he lived."
Elder Scott's words show his deep love for the Savior. He said, “As one of His Apostles, authorized to bear witness of Him, I solemnly testify that I know that the Savior lives, that He is a resurrected, glorified personage of perfect love.” He spoke often about the peace that comes as we center our lives on Jesus Christ. He encouraged devotion to family, temple attendance, prayer and scripture study. He taught about the blessings that come from obedience and because of the Atonement.
Some of my favorite quotes of Elder Scott's are:
"As you dedicate time every day, personally and with your family, to the study of God’s word, peace will prevail in your life. That peace won’t come from the outside world. It will come from within your home, from within your family, from within your own heart. It will be a gift of the Spirit. It will radiate out from you to influence others in the world around you. You will be doing something very significant to add to the cumulative peace in the world." (October 2014)
"A strong testimony gives peace, comfort, and assurance. It generates the conviction that as the teachings of the Savior are consistently obeyed, life will be beautiful, the future will be secure, and there will be capacity to overcome the challenges that cross our path. A testimony grows from understanding truth distilled from prayer and the pondering of scriptural doctrine. It is nurtured by living those truths with faith anchored in the secure confidence that the promised results will be obtained." (October 2010)
"Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior." (October 2011)
"Living an obedient life, firmly rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, provides the greatest assurance for peace and refuge in our homes. There will still be plenty of challenges or heartaches, but even in the midst of turmoil, we can enjoy inner peace and profound happiness." (April 2013)
"I have no power to describe the peace and serenity that come from the assurance that as I continue to live worthily, I will be able to be with my beloved Jeanene and our children forever because of that sacred ordinance performed with the proper priesthood authority in the house of the Lord." (April 2011)
If you would like to read more about Elder Richard G. Scott, you can follow the links below.
A biography of Elder Scott's life from lds.org
A short biography of Elder Scott from mormomnewroom.org
