BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — William Sill, an LDS paleontologist recognized as much for his spiritual insight as his scientific work, has been presented the National Medal of Honor by the Argentine Congress.
The recent presentation took place in the Congressional Blue room in the presence of senators and members of congress from the San Juan Province and distinguished personalities from the cultural circles of Argentina. The biggest contribution of Dr. Sill was the creation of a protected area and the Provincial Park of Ischigualasto or "Valle de la Luna" (Valley of the Moon) and its recent designation as a World Heritage Site.
In making the presentation, Sen. JoséLuis Gioja said: " We want to give a special recognition to a man who, though not from San Juan, has tirelessly worked for our San Juan and especially for Ischigualasto.Today our 'Valle de la Luna' has been designated as a Heritage of Mankind, in a large part, thanks to the work of William Sill. He is a renowned scientist, a tireless investigator, a defender of human rights, a Mormon patriarch and, above all else, is in love with San Juan."
With these words Sen. Gioja presented the medal to the professor of paleontology at San Juan National University who has spent most of his adult life and scientific career studying and protecting an obscure but scientifically significant part of Argentina. The valley's designation as a World Heritage Site is the result of the long, hard work by him and his associates and collaborators.
Brother Sill, who holds a doctorate from Harvard University and is a former Yale University professor, has had an extraordinary influence on the people of San Juan as well as members of the Church in Argentina. Elder Carlos E. Agüero, Area Authority Seventy and counselor in the South America South Area Presidency, commented:
"He is a model of excellence in academic and scientific as well as secular and religious teaching. It is not easy for one to open the world of paleontology and maintain firm concepts and principles revealed in the scriptures, unless one has an immoveable and profound testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, as does Patriarch William Sill.
"In every circle and under every circumstance, he has declared himself a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, active and holding an immoveable faith of the revealed truth. This has been a heritage for the youth of the Church who have heard him, including subjects where some say there is a conflict between science and religion.
"In these last years, even with serious physical impediments, he has always been willing to travel to different places in the area to speak and teach about different activities. The youth, the Church Educational System, leaders and Area Presidency, express our immense gratitude for everything that we have received from him."
Brother Sill filled a mission to Argentina from 1958-61, and after graduating from BYU married Nelida Salinas of San Juan, Argentina. They have four children.
The scientist, who has completed advance studies in England, Germany, Israel, Egypt and South Africa, returned with his family to Argentina in 1969 as a visiting professor with the University of Tucuman, and has remained ever since. He founded the Natural Ischigualasto Park in 1971, and in 2000 represented Argentina at UNESCO where the park was named a Heritage of Mankind. He is the author of 24 scientific papers and two books.
In the Church he has served as a bishop, high councilor and institute director. He is patriarch of the San Juan Chumbas Argentina Stake.
He described the Ischigualasto Depression as "a rough, desert valley with little vegetation, extreme temperatures and wind blowing almost constantly. For science, it is a paleontologic treasure, one of the most important and richest deposits in the world. The first paleontologists to arrive there called it a paleontologic dream. The magic of Ischigualasto is not only due to the fossils found in such abundance there, but something in the complete context of the place that touches the human spirit, that uncovers the layers of civilization and awakens the primordial instincts.
"Almost everyone who goes walking for two or three days in the valley returns, attracted once again by the previous experience. Here is such a profound silence that the beats of your own heart sound like drums. On a moonless night, there is a blanket of stars so brilliant that the rocks and bushes project their shadows. At dawn, the valley is painted with a range of incredible delicate colors; at dusk, the setting sun sets fire to the colored hillsides. There are places with hidden waterfalls and natural pools where one can swim. The flocks of 'guanacos' (wild llamas) do not fear man, and condors follow our every move. At night, we sleep in a dry creek bed, the mule tethered and the burro close to the fire so as not to be attacked by a cougar. "Each time is like the first time. Every day is a new experience. One never tires, there is always something new, and when one leaves, he feels as though something is missing; he longs to be back. But one cannot explain to someone else why he wants to return, you have to experience it for yourself, not explain it."
Robert Oate, one of his first assistants recorded: "What a great time! I worked six years with Dr. Sill. We traveled 45 times to camp, explore and do research. At that time, the university gave us an old pickup and fuel, and the rest of the expenses we paid out of our own pockets." In Brother Sill's scientific work, his crowning point and foremost characteristic is that he is a man of faith. He said, "We are children of God, and our relationship to Him is a family relationship and, therefore, one day we'll return to His presence together with His Son, our older brother Jesus Christ."
President Ruben Romeu of the San Juan Argentina Chimbas Stake said: "Patriarch William Sill is an exceptional person, who has a great love for our people." One of the most difficult experiences Brother Sill had was when he tried to reach one of the most inaccessible areas of the valley and his mule fell off the side of a mountain with a drop of more than a hundred meters. The knocks produced internal lesions in Brother Sill's legs, from which he recovered. However, the consequences of that accident impeded his walking normally. These physical limitations have not stopped him. He drives all over the valley on an off-road vehicle or travels to different parts of the world doing what is necessary so that Ischigualasto could become a World Heritage Site.
In 2003, he and his wife will move back to Las Vegas, Nev., close to their children and grandchildren, but he has plans drawn up to continue producing improvements and installations for his beloved Ischigualasto. He is also preparing to continue giving paleontologic conferences as well as to serve in the Church. The time for being in San Juan has ended, and Brother Sill, with deep emotion, explained:
"I have been working here now for 33 years. I arrived here in 1969, having just graduated from Harvard University and as a professor of Yale, which I had to quit in order to stay in San Juan and work in Ischigualasto. At first, I worked alone and, later, with San Juan University, teaching park rangers how to protect the area and writing laws for its preservation."
"The foundation of all of my work is my knowledge of spiritual things which is as strong or stronger than the academic things. This knowledge of spiritual things has come from being an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ and later serving as a missionary. I feel extremely thankful for the power and protection that I have received as I have studied in depth the evolutionary theory, biology, geology and other elements, and still been able to maintain this foundation of spiritual knowledge. I feel profoundly grateful for the life that I have had, to live in San Juan and to work in Ischigualasto. I still have deep feelings when I walk in that area. I know its hidden places, places where no one has walked before, beautiful places that produce a feeling of spiritual uplifting. I feel blessed and truly grateful for all of this."
