BORN: 7 November 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Pocatello, Idaho,
United States
(reared
Washington, D.C.)
FATHER: Kenneth Leroy
Scott
MOTHER: Mary Eliza Whittle
Scott
ELDER RICHARD G. SCOTT
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Key Doctrines:
Elder
Scott often speaks tenderly and comfortingly to those experiencing physical and
spiritual trials. Repentance and forgiveness are subjects that he explains
regularly. He
also speaks about the eternal nature of families and marriage.You can hear in his
voice and words how much he understands many of the deep and difficult issues
in our lives.
He suggests: “Establish a personal
study plan to better understand and appreciate the incomparable, eternal,
infinite consequences of Jesus Christ’s perfect fulfillment of His divinely
appointed calling as our Savior and Redeemer.
“Profound personal pondering of the
scriptures accompanied by searching, heartfelt prayer will fortify your
understanding of and appreciation for His priceless Atonement. . . . Understanding of the Atonement and the insight
it provides [will] greatly enhance [your] productive use of all of the
knowledge, experience, and skills [you] acquire in mortal life. . . . Another
powerful way to learn of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is through consistent
temple attendance . . . .” Elder Scott further
explains, “When we obey a law, we receive a blessing. When we break a
law, there is nothing left over from prior obedience to satisfy the demands of
justice for that broken law.” [1]
I learned:
Growing up, his parents encouraged their children to
explore—to tinker with mechanical things, discover how they worked, build them,
and repair them. They even trusted their boys to fix the family car. Elder
Scott smiles as he tells about a time they put a caboose whistle on the
exhaust.
He was class president in high
school, played clarinet in the band, and was drum major for the marching band.
As a teenager, he showed a remarkable spirit of adventure while earning his own
money for college. One summer he worked on an oyster boat off the coast of Long
Island. Another summer he cut down trees in Utah for the Forest Service. He
also repaired railroad cars for the Union Pacific.
His father was not a member of the LDS church. Elder Scott
attended church sporadically at times during his youth but felt out of place,
as being on the sidelines looking in. While dating the girl he later married,
she emphasized the importance of serving a mission. Elder Scott says it was
during his missionary service, in Montevideo, Uruguay, that he was able to fill
"all the voids of loneliness” he had felt since his youth.
He often speaks lovingly of his deceased wife. “They shared
an interest in jazz music, as well as collecting and listening to South
American folk music. Both enjoyed painting, water coloring, and hiking.
Birding—as a couple and as a family—also captured their interest.” He says, “There’s
a bird feeder in the backyard, and when the family eats out on the patio,
there’s always at least one pair of binoculars at the table.” Two of his seven children are also deceased.
While working in the nuclear energy field, Elder Scott
helped design the nuclear reactor for the Nautilus, the first
nuclear-powered submarine. He worked for Admiral Rickover for 12 years. In 1955
he completed the equivalent of a doctorate in nuclear engineering at the Oak
Ridge School of Reactor Technology in Tennessee. (Because of the classified
nature of the work, a university degree couldn't be given.) He also helped in
the developing the first land-based nuclear power plant.
He warns:
“Don’t rationalize away future happiness by taking shortcuts
instead of applying sound gospel principles. . . . Remember: little things lead
to big things. Seemingly insignificant indiscretions or neglect can lead to big
problems. More importantly, simple, consistent, good habits lead to a life full
of bountiful blessings.”
“Recognize the good in others, not their stains. At times a
stain needs appropriate attention to be cleansed, but always build on . . .
virtues.”
“Be wise in how you embrace technology. Mark
important scriptures on your [personal electronic] device and refer back to
them frequently. If you . . . review a verse of scripture as often as
some of you send text messages, you could soon have hundreds of passages of
scripture memorized. Those passages would prove to be a powerful source of
inspiration and guidance by the Holy Ghost in times of need.” [2]
Elder Scott also advises, “As you
ponder—not just read but ponder and meditate—on scriptural passages, the power
of the Holy Ghost will distill truths
in your mind and heart as a secure foundation in this uncertain time in which
we live. . . . Resolve to make the Lord Jesus Christ the living center of your
home. . . . When the Savior is the center of your home, it is filled with peace
and serenity. There is a spirit of calm assurance that pervades the home that
is felt by the children and adults alike . . . The best way to make a permanent
change for good is to make Jesus Christ your model and His teachings your guide
for life.” [3]
[1] Elder RICHARD G. SCOTT of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “He Lives! All Glory to
His Name!” 180th Annual
General Conference, April 2010
[2] Elder RICHARD G. SCOTT of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “For Peace at Home” 183rd Annual General
Conference, 6 April 2013
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