As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Russell M. Nelson in 2007 said: “Some time ago I was assigned to a stake conference where the stake presidency was reorganized. I was a guest at the home of Barbra and Brian, At the conference, Brian was released from the stake presidency and sustained as the new stake clerk. I wondered how his wife would feel about this. Before driving home she greeted him with a big hug, a kiss, and a enthusiastic response. “Brian, all these years you have wished that the clerk’s records could be better than they were. Now you can do it! You will do that work better than anyone else. I am so excited! I am proud of you, Brian!”
From my vantage point, I could see him straighten up, stand taller, and beam in the glow of her encouraging love. From Barbara I learned this great lesson—a man’s perception of his own worth can be shaped by his wife’s attitude.
On another occasion, I was asked to interview a couple I shall identify as Carla and Carl. I had requested the meeting to determine if he might possibly serve as a mission president to go to a land foreign to them. Carla could feel Carl’s fright as he began to shrink in his seat and express doubts about his capacity. While placing any of her own fears aside, Carla interrupted, saying, “Carl, you can do whatever they ask of you.” Then she turned to me and said, “He’s a righteous man. He knows how to receive revelation. The Lord will help him and I will stand beside him 100 percent.”
From Carla I learned another great lesson. With the help of the Lord and a supportive wife, a man can do infinitely more than he could ever do without that support. (“Fostering Families of Faith,” Western Idaho Stake Conference Broadcast, November 11, 2007) (Quoted here from “Teachings of Russell M. Nelson”,Deseret Book 2018, p.199-200).
