Coming Back

In my last conference message, I related my devastating experience many years ago when, as a heart surgeon, I was not able to save the lives of two little sisters. 

With permission of their father, I would like to say more about that family. 

Congenital heart disease afflicted three children born to Ruth and Jimmy Hatfield. 

Their first son, Jimmy Jr., died without a definitive diagnosis. 

I entered the picture when the parents sought help for their two daughters, Laural Ann and her younger sister, Gay Lynn. 

I was heartbroken when both girls died following their operations. 

Understandably, Ruth and Jimmy were spiritually shattered. 

Over time, I learned that they harbored lingering resentment toward me and the Church.

For almost six decades, I have been haunted by this situation and have grieved for the Hatfields.

I tried several times to establish contact with them, without success. 

Then one night last May, I was awakened by those two little girls from the other side of the veil. 

Though I did not see or hear them with my physical senses, I felt their presence.

Spiritually, I heard their pleadings.

Their message was brief and clear: "Brother Nelson, we are not sealed to anyone! Can you help us?" 

Soon thereafter, I learned that their mother had passed away, but their father and younger brother were still alive.

Emboldened by the pleadings of Laural Ann and Gay Lynn, I tried again to contact their father, who I learned was living with his son Shawn.

This time they were willing to meet with me.

In June, I literally knelt in front of Jimmy, now 88 years old, and had a heart-to-heart talk with him.

I spoke of his daughters' pleadings and told him I would be honored to perform sealing ordinances for his family. 

I also explained that it would take time and much effort on his and Shawn's part to be ready and worthy to enter the temple, as neither of them had ever been endowed.

The Spirit of the Lord was palpable throughout that meeting.

And when Jimmy and Shawn each accepted my offer, I was overjoyed!

They worked diligently with their stake president, bishop, home teachers, and ward mission leader, as well as with young missionaries and a senior missionary couple. 

And then, not long ago, in the Payson Utah Temple, I had the profound privilege of sealing Ruth to Jimmy and their four children to them. 

Wendy and I wept as we participated in that sublime experience. 

Many hearts were healed that day! 

-Russell M. Nelson -The Price of Priesthood Power -April 2016 General Conference

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Congrats Olympic Medalists!

Norway:                     13 Gold   12 Silver   10 Bronze     35 Total
Canada:                      10 Gold     8 Silver     9 Bronze     27 Total
Germany:                   13 Gold     7 Silver     5 Bronze     25 Total

United States:              8 Gold     7 Silver     6 Bronze     21 Total

Netherlands:                7 Gold     6 Silver     4 Bronze     17 Total
France:                        5 Gold     4 Silver     6 Bronze     15 Total

O.A. from Russia:       1 Gold     5 Silver     8 Bronze     14 Total 
Austria:                       5 Gold     2 Silver     6 Bronze     13 Total

Switzerland:                3 Gold     6 Silver     3 Bronze     12 Total

Republic of Korea:     4 Gold     4 Silver      3 Bronze     11 Total

Japan:                          3 Gold     5 Silver     3 Bronze     11 Total

Sweden:                      5 Gold     5 Silver                         10 Total

Italy:                            3 Gold     2 Silver     5 Bronze     10 Total

China:                          1 Gold    6 Silver     2 Bronze       9 Total
Czech Republic:          1 Gold    2 Silver     3 Bronze       6 Total
Great Britain:              1 Gold                      3 Bronze       4 Total

Finland:                                                        4 Bronze       4 Total

Belarus:                       2 Gold    1 Silver                           3 Total
Slovakia:                     1 Gold     2 Silver                          3 Total
Australia:                                    2 Silver     1 Bronze       3 Total
Poland:                        1 Gold                      1 Bronze       2 Total

New Zealand:                                               2 Bronze       2 Total
Spain:                                                           2 Bronze       2 Total
Ukraine:                      1 Gold                                            1 Total
Slovenia:                                    1 Silver                           1 Total
Kazakhstan:                                                  1 Bronze       1 Total

Latvia:                                                          1 Bronze       1 Total
Liechtenstein:                                               1 Bronze       1 Total