RAY LYMAN
Grandchild 1: I'm sure you know the story that the Elder Dr. Russell Nielsen has told many times about the heart operation he reluctantly performed on my grandpa. Grandpa Ray approached him first and told him how he was supposed to do the exploratory operation and he knew so through prayer. Dr. Nielsen didn't want to but Grandpa convinced him he was supposed to do. He knew it. God told him. So after signing all the liability papers it's chilling to hear Dr. Nielsen relate how he didn't really know how to operate but he was guided by God like God had an open instructional guide showing him step by step how to operate.
Grandchild 2: Grandpa Ray had ten more years so obviously it was successful . He was the second one to have that surgery, and the other guy died. He was in the same room as Ray so it must've been pretty disconcerting for him. Heavenly Father was the difference. The dr. told him he responded so well to the surgery because of the life he had lived.
2003 Ensign Elder Russell M. Nelson “Personal Experience with Prayer”
Many of us have had experiences with the sweet power of prayer. One of mine was shared with a stake patriarch from southern Utah. I first met him in my medical office more than 40 years ago, during the early pioneering days of surgery of the heart. This saintly soul suffered much because of a failing heart. He pleaded for help, thinking that his condition resulted from a damaged but repairable valve in his heart.
Extensive evaluation revealed that he had two faulty valves. While one could be helped surgically, the other could not. Thus, an operation was not advised. He received this news with deep disappointment.
Subsequent visits ended with the same advice. Finally, in desperation, he spoke to me with considerable emotion: “Dr. Nelson, I have prayed for help and have been directed to you. The Lord will not reveal to me how to repair that second valve, but He can reveal it to you. Your mind is so prepared. If you will operate upon me, the Lord will make it known to you what to do. Please perform the operation that I need, and pray for the help that you need.”
His great faith had a profound effect upon me. How could I turn him away again? Following a fervent prayer together, I agreed to try. In preparing for that fateful day, I prayed over and over again, but still did not know what to do for his leaking tricuspid valve. Even as the operation commenced,22 my assistant asked, “What are you going to do for that?”
I said, “I do not know.”
We began the operation. After relieving the obstruction of the first valve,23 we exposed the second valve. We found it to be intact but so badly dilated that it could no longer function as it should. While examining this valve, a message was distinctly impressed upon my mind: Reduce the circumference of the ring. I announced that message to my assistant. “The valve tissue will be sufficient if we can effectively reduce the ring toward its normal size.”
But how? We could not apply a belt as one would use to tighten the waist of oversized trousers. We could not squeeze with a strap as one would cinch a saddle on a horse. Then a picture came vividly to my mind, showing how stitches could be placed—to make a pleat here and a tuck there—to accomplish the desired objective. I still remember that mental image—complete with dotted lines where sutures should be placed. The repair was completed as diagrammed in my mind. We tested the valve and found the leak to be reduced remarkably. My assistant said, “It’s a miracle.”
I responded, “It’s an answer to prayer.”
The patient’s recovery was rapid and his relief gratifying. Not only was he helped in a marvelous way, but surgical help for other people with similar problems had become a possibility. I take no credit. Praise goes to this faithful patriarch and to God, who answered our prayers. This faithful man lived for many more years and has since gone to his eternal glory
Grandchild 1: I'm sure you know the story that the Elder Dr. Russell Nielsen has told many times about the heart operation he reluctantly performed on my grandpa. Grandpa Ray approached him first and told him how he was supposed to do the exploratory operation and he knew so through prayer. Dr. Nielsen didn't want to but Grandpa convinced him he was supposed to do. He knew it. God told him. So after signing all the liability papers it's chilling to hear Dr. Nielsen relate how he didn't really know how to operate but he was guided by God like God had an open instructional guide showing him step by step how to operate.
Grandchild 2: Grandpa Ray had ten more years so obviously it was successful . He was the second one to have that surgery, and the other guy died. He was in the same room as Ray so it must've been pretty disconcerting for him. Heavenly Father was the difference. The dr. told him he responded so well to the surgery because of the life he had lived.
2003 Ensign Elder Russell M. Nelson “Personal Experience with Prayer”
Many of us have had experiences with the sweet power of prayer. One of mine was shared with a stake patriarch from southern Utah. I first met him in my medical office more than 40 years ago, during the early pioneering days of surgery of the heart. This saintly soul suffered much because of a failing heart. He pleaded for help, thinking that his condition resulted from a damaged but repairable valve in his heart.
Extensive evaluation revealed that he had two faulty valves. While one could be helped surgically, the other could not. Thus, an operation was not advised. He received this news with deep disappointment.
Subsequent visits ended with the same advice. Finally, in desperation, he spoke to me with considerable emotion: “Dr. Nelson, I have prayed for help and have been directed to you. The Lord will not reveal to me how to repair that second valve, but He can reveal it to you. Your mind is so prepared. If you will operate upon me, the Lord will make it known to you what to do. Please perform the operation that I need, and pray for the help that you need.”
His great faith had a profound effect upon me. How could I turn him away again? Following a fervent prayer together, I agreed to try. In preparing for that fateful day, I prayed over and over again, but still did not know what to do for his leaking tricuspid valve. Even as the operation commenced,22 my assistant asked, “What are you going to do for that?”
I said, “I do not know.”
We began the operation. After relieving the obstruction of the first valve,23 we exposed the second valve. We found it to be intact but so badly dilated that it could no longer function as it should. While examining this valve, a message was distinctly impressed upon my mind: Reduce the circumference of the ring. I announced that message to my assistant. “The valve tissue will be sufficient if we can effectively reduce the ring toward its normal size.”
But how? We could not apply a belt as one would use to tighten the waist of oversized trousers. We could not squeeze with a strap as one would cinch a saddle on a horse. Then a picture came vividly to my mind, showing how stitches could be placed—to make a pleat here and a tuck there—to accomplish the desired objective. I still remember that mental image—complete with dotted lines where sutures should be placed. The repair was completed as diagrammed in my mind. We tested the valve and found the leak to be reduced remarkably. My assistant said, “It’s a miracle.”
I responded, “It’s an answer to prayer.”
The patient’s recovery was rapid and his relief gratifying. Not only was he helped in a marvelous way, but surgical help for other people with similar problems had become a possibility. I take no credit. Praise goes to this faithful patriarch and to God, who answered our prayers. This faithful man lived for many more years and has since gone to his eternal glory
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Married Paulina Eliza Phelps Jan. 16, 1846, Nauvoo, Ill. (daughter of Morris Phelps and Laura Clark), who was born March 20, 1827, Lawrenceville, Ill.
Their children:
Oscar Morris b. Dec. 16, 1847, m. Phebe Medora Benson April 5, 1869;
Mason Roswell b. July 5, 1851, d. May 31, 1866, Parowan, Utah;
Clark b. Oct. 5, 1853, d. April 7, 1854, Salt Lake City;
Charles Rich b. Feb. 18, 1857, m. Barbara Alice Ward July 8, 1876;
William Horn b. Feb. 19, 1859, m. Julia Hannah McGregor Oct. 26, 1888;
Solon Ezra b. Aug. 9, 1863, m. Luella Ward Feb. 8, 1884;
Laura Paulina b. Aug. 19, 1865, m. Porter van der Clark Dec. 31, 1883.
Family resided Salt Lake City and Parowan, Utah.
Their children:
Oscar Morris b. Dec. 16, 1847, m. Phebe Medora Benson April 5, 1869;
Mason Roswell b. July 5, 1851, d. May 31, 1866, Parowan, Utah;
Clark b. Oct. 5, 1853, d. April 7, 1854, Salt Lake City;
Charles Rich b. Feb. 18, 1857, m. Barbara Alice Ward July 8, 1876;
William Horn b. Feb. 19, 1859, m. Julia Hannah McGregor Oct. 26, 1888;
Solon Ezra b. Aug. 9, 1863, m. Luella Ward Feb. 8, 1884;
Laura Paulina b. Aug. 19, 1865, m. Porter van der Clark Dec. 31, 1883.
Family resided Salt Lake City and Parowan, Utah.
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2-22-62 And I wish you to be able to say in all coming generations that brother Amasa Lyman told you the truth, a little truth, and your salvation and mine in the future will be the best evidence that it was so.
(from the latest records I have, which are limited, Amasa's children number over 6,400 descendants)
(from the latest records I have, which are limited, Amasa's children number over 6,400 descendants)
AML Quote of the Week: 3-22-62 Go forth feeling that you are like little children, for we have all much to learn; and yet when you go among the people like children as you feel, and limited as is the knowledge you may possess, you are nevertheless God’s representatives on the earth, and the representatives of principles that involve in themselves all that there is of glory in the heavens above or the earth beneath to bless and exalt humanity; and let this thought ever lead you to cherish a feeling above doing wrong, that you may be ever above the influence of temptation and the power of the Arch-enemy of mankind. And then you can combine in yourselves, in your feelings, in your actions and in your ministrations the simplicity of the child with the grandeur of a God; and by pursuing this course, the little ability you have will lead you ultimately to be clothed upon with all that there is of greatness and glory to bless the honest, humble servants of God. In this way I wish you to minister, to act, and to live, whether at home or abroad; and when you open your mouths to speak think upon these things, and they will exist within you as a fountain of water springing up unto everlasting life, that always pours out its current to quench the thirst of the poor, weary traveler; and when you have drunk once, do not think you will never require to drink again. When we learn the truth, that which we do learn we have never got to change; it will always be the same. But will we stop learning truth? No; but when we learn any one degree as applied to one thing, it awakens a desire within us to learn more, since by learning of this truth which has imparted to us so much bliss we can realize that by learning another truth we can enjoy more happiness and possess more ability.
AML Quote from Last Week: 2-22-62 I wish to ask you again to-day to remember that the improvement of yourselves is a thing you should ever have in view. In the most trifling thing you write, endeavour to have it as correct as if it was going to be published in a newspaper, with your name on it.