February 1986

Insert: article “Elder Nelson: husband, father are highest titles” by Gerry Avant.  Church News / week beginning February 16, 1985

Feb. 11, 1986

Norma and I were able to bring several family members together in McCall, Idaho to see the ice carnival.  The skill, innovativeness, and artistic gifts of the creators of many of the sculptures was most impressive.  This, in spite of the fact that the temperatures warmed up and it rained so that the sculptures could not maintain their complete form throughout the whole carnival.

While in McCall I was very sick with the flu.  I had not eaten for 4 days and was still running an afternoon temperature.  Norma and I proceeded with our plan to do genealogy work in Salt Lake City.   By this time I was feeling much better.  The new genealogical library is magnificent – the finest in the World our efforts we very productive.

We attended the Mormon Tabernacle choir broadcast.  I cannot listen to the choir, but what the tears begin to flow because there just isn’t a more beautiful body of voices that project as one.

Insert: picture of a sculpture (VW bug with ladder – no caption)

Feb. 22, 1986

I am placing this resume of Elder Russell Nelson’s life in my journal because as I read it I was struck by many similarities in our lives.  I would not be presumptuous enough to declare my stature comparable to his.  The similarities make me wonder about the manner in which our Heavenly Father watches over us and influences our lives.

Elder Nelson made the decision to be a doctor when he was 15.  So did I.  He followed the line of research and applied it to his clinical work.  Although his choice of work was more exotic than mine he received some of the top honors for his work and was one of the very early heart surgeons to do many procedures.  In the sense, I, too received a top honor the Kappa Delta Award in research, and was one of the original experimenters in total joint implants, and in other orthopaedic procedures.

Elder Nelson has seen the power of the priesthood in his work as I have.  Because of him, and his call as an apostle, I have had cause to reflect upon the service I have given, and sacrifice I have made to be a good physician, and how that has enhanced my skills as a husband, father, and priesthood holder.

I am so deeply grateful for men like Elder Nelson, who stand as magnificent examples.

Insert: picture / caption: This picture was taken on the last day our visit to Salt Lake City – Feb. 13, 1986.  Here, I am standing in front of the Monte L. Bean Bldg at BYU where we visited the Rameses II exhibit of ancient Egyptian artifacts.

Monte Bean was a patient of mine, for who I fashioned a total hip replacement operation.  He accumulated great wealth in Seattle through the development of a large grocery store, drug store, & hardware store chain.  He graciously donated this beautiful bldg to the BYU.

Insert: picture missing / caption: 

Feb. 27, 1986 – Our son Rick Farmer and Laurie Nielsen of Medofrd, Oregon were sealed today in the Seattle temple.  I was privileged to be the sealer.  February has been a bad month for me in that I had the flu twice.

On the day of the sealing I felt well enough to do the sealing and attend the luncheon afterwards.  By evening, however, I was flat on my back again and was not able to attend the reception.

Rick & Laurie made a beautiful couple and I was grateful that the sealing went well.