Inspirational Words and Memories From the Life of Richard G. Scott

Richard G. Scott served as a General Authority for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 38 years with almost 27 of those years spent serving as part of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles before passing away on September 22, 2015.

Many people who think that religion and science work in opposition to each other might be surprised to learn that Elder Scott earned his first degree in mechanical engineering and later got a degree in nuclear engineering. He was proof that you can be a man of science and hold strong religious beliefs at the same time.

In 2008 he also received an honorary Doctor of Christian Service degree from Brigham Young University.

Personally, I always appreciated the quiet and humble manner that Richard G. Scott had as he addressed people about a wide range of spiritual topics, providing advice that could literally change lives.

He dedicated his life to testifying of Jesus Christ and serving his Savior through service to his fellow men. His words and example strengthened many testimonies and helped inspire others to do those things necessary to fortify their relationships with their Savior.

I have compiled some of my favorite quotes from Elder Scott in this hub. These quotes hold great meaning for me in my life. I hope that you will enjoy them as much as I do.

Anyone who had the opportunity to hear Elder Scott speak can tell you that he was an extremely powerful witness of Jesus Christ.

He constantly reminded us of the importance of strengthening our personal relationships with Christ and of the positive effect that this relationship would have in our temporal lives as well as throughout eternity.

I know that as I have followed Elder Scott's advice to focus on serving Christ, my life has been filled with joy and fulfillment in ways that I never would have imagined.

I'm not perfect, but my desire to become like my Savior has helped me to become a person that I never could have become on my own.

• “True enduring happiness with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the most challenging difficulties comes from a life centered in Jesus Christ.”
• “The best way to make a permanent change for good is to make Jesus Christ your model and His teachings your guide for life.”
• “Your peace of mind, your assurance of answers to vexing problems, your ultimate joy depend upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Elder Scott really helped me to learn how to create an atmosphere in my life that allows me to receive and recognize spiritually sensitive information. If I want to receive spiritual insights I have to make time for quiet study, prayer, and reflection.

In fact, the picture above is actually a photo I took of one of my old journals from about a decade ago. Elder Scott's quote touched me so much that I wanted to keep it in the front of my journal as a reminder to me that I want to be the type of person that Heavenly Father trusts with revelation and inspiration.

As I've gone through my life, I've treasured this knowledge that he has given to me because it has allowed me to receive personalized spiritual treasures from my Heavenly Father.

I don't think you could ever put a price on these valuable words of wisdom spoken by Elder Scott.

• "Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change."
• "Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. That practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light."
• “Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily.”

I don't know if other people would agree that these are some of Elder Scott's most profound quotes, but I love that he was always encouraging us to explore our talents and try new things.

He recognized that our lives weren't meant to become stagnant and the only way to avoid that stagnancy is to constantly strive to become better.

Oftentimes this means trying to do things that we never had the courage to do before. This can be scary, but this is the way that we make our dreams into realities.

• "Repeatedly I have been impressed to learn that to reach a goal never before attained, one must do things never before done.”
• “Attempt to be creative for the joy it brings… Select something like music, dance, sculpture, or poetry. Being creative will help you enjoy life. It engenders a spirit of gratitude. It develops latent talent, sharpens your capacity to reason, to act, and to find purpose in life. It dispels loneliness and heartache. It gives a renewal, a spark of enthusiasm, and zest for life.”
• “You become what you want to be, by consistently being what you want to become each day.”