Richard G. Scott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Richard G. Scott |
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Scott in 2007
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| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 1, 1988 – September 22, 2015 | |
| Called by | Ezra Taft Benson |
| LDS Church Apostle | |
| October 6, 1988 – September 22, 2015 | |
| Called by | Ezra Taft Benson |
| Reason | Death of Marion G. Romney |
| Reorganization at end of term |
Ronald A. Rasband, Gary E. Stevenson, and Dale G. Renlund were ordained following deaths of Scott, L. Tom Perry, and Boyd K. Packer |
| Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| October 1, 1983 – October 1, 1988 | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| April 2, 1977 – October 1, 1988 | |
| Called by | Spencer W. Kimball |
| End reason | Called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Gordon Scott November 7, 1928 Pocatello, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | September 22, 2015 (aged 86) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Education | George Washington University |
| Spouse(s) | Jeanene Watkins (d. 1995) |
| Children | 7 |
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Richard Gordon Scott (born November 7, 1928 – died September 22, 2015) was an American scientist and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which is one of the highest leadership groups in the Church.
Richard G. Scott was born in Idaho and grew up in Washington, D.C.. He studied mechanical engineering at George Washington University. After graduating, he served as a full-time missionary for his church in Uruguay. He learned to speak Spanish fluently during this time.
When he returned, he married Jeanene Watkins. He then started working as a nuclear engineer for the U.S. government. In 1965, he was asked by his church to lead a mission in Argentina. After this, he worked for a private engineering company. In 1977, he began serving full-time for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became an Apostle in 1988 and served in that role until he passed away in 2015.
Contents
Early Life & Education
Richard G. Scott was born in Pocatello, Idaho. His parents were Kenneth Leroy Scott and Mary Eliza Whittle. When he was five, his family moved to Washington, D.C. His father worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
At first, his father was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his mother was not very active in the church. However, things changed when Ezra Taft Benson, a church leader, became the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Benson named Richard's father as his assistant. This connection helped Richard's father join the church and his mother become more active. Years later, as the church president, Ezra Taft Benson would call Richard G. Scott to be an Apostle.
As a young person, Richard sometimes went to church, encouraged by his local church leaders. He felt a bit out of place socially and in sports at school. But he was very good at his studies. He was a class president, played the clarinet, and was a drum major in the marching band.
During his high school summers, Richard worked different jobs to save money for college. He cut down trees, repaired railroad cars, and worked as a dishwasher and cook's assistant.
College & Missionary Service
Richard graduated from George Washington University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was dating Jeanene Watkins, whose father was a U.S. Senator. Jeanene told him she would only marry a returned missionary in an LDS temple. This changed Richard's plans, and he decided to serve a mission.
He was called to serve in the Uruguay Montevideo Mission. During his mission, he felt a sense of belonging and purpose that he had missed before. Jeanene also served a mission in the northwestern United States. After they both finished their missions, they were married in the Manti Temple on July 16, 1953.
Richard and Jeanene had seven children. Five of them lived to adulthood. Their first son and second daughter passed away when they were very young. Jeanene Watkins Scott died in 1995 after a short illness.
Career as an Engineer
A few weeks after returning from his mission in Uruguay, Richard Scott had an important interview with Hyman G. Rickover. Rickover was known as the "father of the nuclear Navy." The interview seemed difficult at first. When Richard mentioned his mission, Rickover asked, "and what do I care about your mission?" When asked about the last book he read, Richard honestly said it was the Book of Mormon.
Richard thought he wouldn't get the job. But Rickover told him to wait, explaining that he was testing Richard's confidence and honesty. Richard was then offered a job working on the design of the nuclear reactor for the Nautilus. This was the very first nuclear-powered submarine for the U.S. Navy.
While working for Naval Reactors, Richard became a key engineer for reactor materials. He also completed studies similar to a doctorate in nuclear engineering. He helped develop the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, which was the first commercial nuclear power plant on land. He worked with Rickover until 1965.
In 1965, Richard and his family moved to Córdoba, Argentina. He was called to be a mission president for the church's Argentina North Mission. One of the missionaries serving under him was D. Todd Christofferson, who would later also become an Apostle.
After returning from Argentina, Richard joined a private consulting firm that specialized in nuclear engineering. He worked there until 1977, when he was called to serve full-time for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Church Service
Richard G. Scott served in many different roles within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His ability to speak Spanish was very helpful in many of his assignments.
Before serving as a mission president, he was a local church clerk and a counselor in a stake presidency (a regional church leader). He also served as a regional representative in various areas, including Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of the United States.
In April 1977, he was called as a general authority and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. In 1983, he was called to the Presidency of the Seventy, which is a leadership group within the Seventy. As a Seventy, he helped manage the church's Genealogy Department and oversaw church operations in Southern Mexico and Central America.
On October 1, 1988, Richard G. Scott was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He filled a spot that became open after the death of Marion G. Romney. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, he was seen by church members as a prophet, seer, and revelator.
In April 2015, Richard G. Scott was hospitalized for a short time. The church reported that his memory was fading due to his age, and he was not able to fully participate in meetings.
Richard G. Scott passed away on September 22, 2015, at the age of 86. His death, along with the deaths of fellow Apostles L. Tom Perry and Boyd K. Packer in the months before, created three openings in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This was the first time there had been so many openings since 1906. New Apostles were called to fill these positions at the next general conference.
Writings and Teachings
Richard G. Scott often spoke at church educational events and at the church's general conferences. He was known for his kind and understanding talks. He often looked directly into the camera and encouraged people to make positive changes in their lives. He taught about the Savior's love and willingness to forgive. He encouraged people to repent and move forward.
In 2007, he wrote a book called Finding Peace, Happiness and Joy. This was his first book written as an Apostle. It shared many of the ideas from his talks, such as finding happiness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
See also
In Spanish: Richard G. Scott para niños
