After 43 years of being married and 50 years together in love, BYU-Hawaii Health Center Dr. Douglas Nielson and his wife, Madelyn, said the key to their marriage is the honor they give to the covenants of the temple and the blessings they have received from them. The best part of their marriage, they said, is their five children and their temple covenants. “Our greatest thing is having been sealed together in the temple,” said Doug. “Keeping our covenants and remembering the promises has gotten us through many, many hard times.”The two recounted the beginning of their story. Douglas Nielson and Madelyn Hollingshead met at Beaver High School in Beaver, Utah, in 1965. At the beginning of her first year in high school, Madelyn was a J.V. cheerleader and Doug was the star J.V. basketball player. They were always around each other, and one night after a school assembly, Doug swooped in and began flirting with Madelyn. “It was one of those love at first sight things,” he said. After love at first sight, they went on a date. She told the story: “My sister let me borrow her pretty new sweater and skirt, and we met at the school dance. I danced with him and afterward, he took me to dinner that night.” She ended, “He kissed me goodnight on the porch. Then I stood by my bed and I knew I had just been with the man I was going to marry someday. It was amazing.”Having dated through high school, she waited for him while he was in Taiwan on his LDS mission. She said one of her sweetest memories happened in the Summer of 1971, as Elder Nielson came home from his mission. The two went for a hike together up the mountains in Beaver. They stood at the top of the mountains, and “he told me that he knew he loved me. He really loved me,” she said. He described the memory as well: “The sun was setting and the full moon was coming up over the mountains. I was standing there in awe of the glories of God’s creations and overwhelmed with my love for her and the eternal possibilities of us being together.” She was on the Cougarette dance team at BYU until she traded that title for “wife” on July 21, 1972, in Minersville, Utah. “It wasn’t hard for me,” she said about giving up the extracurricular activities she was a part of. “I loved him.”That love carried them through all manner of hard times, they said. “One of the important things I want to share about our marriage is that without [Madelyn] there, I would have never made it through medical school,” He said. “It’s the power of the faithful, devoted companion.”Looking at Madelyn, he said, “There have been many joyous and happy times together, but the thing that we look at that has strengthened us is the power of the trials we have faced together.” Two years ago, Madelyn had a stroke. For a while, she did not have the use of her left arm or leg. Because of their devotion to their temple promises and to each other, they have been able to remain together and get through this tremendous trial, he said. She added, “He told me he would always take care of me.” Doug said by going to the temple together and remembering the promises made there, their marriage and love will last through any trials that come their way. Uploaded Feb. 12, 2015.
Writer: Jessica Everett
