From Heart to Heart

President Thomas S. Monson passed away the first of January. It's a little strange to have him gone since he was such a stalwart member of leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for so long.

President Russell M. Nelson has now taken the helm at the young age of 93. To look at him you would not believe it. I had a colleague tell me he still snow skis which is quite remarkable. After all he was a heart surgeon and knew a little something about how the body operates to keep it healthy and functioning.

Many years ago my father-in-law, who was a book binder by trade, pulled from their scraps at work a damaged copy of President Nelson's autobiography. He must have commissioned the bindery to print and bind it for his family because you can't find it anywhere.

Heart to Heart -- Top Right Corner

I was allowed to read this book and fell in love with President Nelson who was nothing more than a man, husband, and father at the time. I was intrigued with his insights he gave on the various organs of the body and their functions. The manner in which he described these left me with no doubt that the body is remarkable through the processes and systems that all work together seamlessly.

The following "event might serve to illustrate that men can do very little of themselves. With an education they can do a little more; with advanced medical degrees and training, a little more yet can be done. The real power to heal, however, is a gift from God, and he has deigned that some of the power may be harnessed via the authority of his priesthood to benefit and bless mankind when all man can do for himself may not be sufficient to accomplish all that may be needed that His will might be done.

When doctors attend social functions it is not uncommon to hear someone lightly jest, 'Isn't it nice to know there is a doctor here; he'll know just what to do if there should be trouble.' Medical training can indeed inspire confidence when people are in need. But I recall an occasion when many doctors gathered together could do little but stand helplessly when one of them was suddenly stricken.

This circumstance occurred in Manzanillo, Mexico, in February 1978. Dantzel and I were attending a medical meeting there with colleagues and classmates from our graduating class. Suddenly, one of the doctors became gravely ill with massive bleeding into his stomach. Around him were his learned colleagues representing a wide spectrum of medical specialties and with experiences, skills, and wisdom that each had accumulated in over thirty years of practice. Our colleague was bleeding! As we watched life's blood being projected from him, we helplessly realized that we were in a resort hut in a remote fishing village. there was no hospital; the nearest was in Guadalajara, many mountainous miles away. It was night; no planes could fly. Transfusions were out of the question because of lack of equipment. All the combined knowledge and concern there could not be converted to action to help our friend as we saw his life ebbing before our eyes. We were literally powerless to stop his bleeding.

He knew this. Ashen, pale, and clammy cold, he asked for a blessing. Several doctors there held the Melchizedek Priesthood and eagerly responded to his request. I was asked to seal the anointing. The Spirit dictated that he be blessed that the bleeding would stop, that he could continue to live and return to his home and his profession to continue to bless the lives of those who needed him.

The following morning, he was better. The bleeding had stopped. His blood pressure and heart rate had returned to normal. He was able to return to his home and his work. How he and we gave thanks to the Lord for this remarkable recovery.

Important as the body is, it is merely the place in which one dwells. The spirit inhabiting that tabernacle of flesh and bone is supreme. The gifts of the Spirit such as faith, love, knowledge, kindness, courtesy, charity, compassion, and gratitude are all nurtured by prayer and strengthened by daily exercise. Spiritual supremacy is achieved by contact with the Father of our spirits through daily prayer, study and pondering of the scriptures, and obedience to the commandments given us by God that we may have joy."

I imagine that many parts of this book will be put into his official biography which will allow many to read what I've read and loved.