An Apostle of the Lord

Today we attended a special stake conference at the Palmyra Stake Center and heard Elder Richard C Scott from the council of Twelve Apostles. There were about 1,600 people in attendance. We were packed as tight as airline passengers in coach. The spirit was very strong.

Elder Scott has been one of my favorites for several years. He is a very gentle and warm man who speaks very tenderly and has a gift for addressing heavy topics in a loving attitude and presentation. Today, in close quaters with him, we witnessed his spirit first hand and also discovered more about him. He has a great sense of humor and counseled us to appreciate our sense of humor in the gospel. He is very down to earth and in tune with the congregation. He was born of an inactive mother and non member father. He is a convert. He is also a very humble man who does not seek glory or brag of his accomplishments.

Elder Scott loved his wife dearly and said he still maintains a relationship with her through the veil. And now in his senior years he feels even closer to her and looks forward to being with her again. He told funny stories about their dating years which he said he rarely does. He credits her with bringing the best of himself out. He counseled husbands to tell their wives daily that they love them either in words or notes. It is important that children see their fathers' love for their mothers. He warned that those men who ignore this or take their spouses for granted may be surprised on the other side when the spouse uses agency to walk away. I think this pertains to both spouses. Tell each other we love each other daily. Many prophets have given this counsel also.

Elder Scott bore his testimony, a very powerful witness, that Christ lives. I was strengthened and uplifted by Elder Scott. What a witness of the true church. Neither the prophet nor the apostles nor any officiating priesthood in the church is paid for their service. They do not seek for their callings or vain glory of such callings. They serve only to serve others not themselves.
Elder Scott is an elderly man. He travels all over the world bearing testimony of the Savior. His bank account does not grow because of this. He reminded us that when he does not wear the mantle of an apostle he is just an ordinary man of no special report. How blessed we are to
see what a real apostle of the Lord is like and hear his humble witness. As I listened to him I
remembered a scripture I read this morning and wrote in my journal. "Beware of the leaven
of the Pharisees and the Saducees". Christ explained to the disciples later that he meant to beware of the doctrines of men. "By their fruits ye shall know them". It was very obvious that Elder Scott is not a man who seeks "vain glory for himself" He is a true apostle of and for Christ.