Magdalena Nilsson of Havinge, Sweden

By Lawrence Cummins

More than just about anything, Magdalena Nilsson loves to run. And this delightful, yet determined, bundle of energy is very good at it. Over the last few years, she has won several championship medals for her running. She has also earned medals for her gymnastic performances. Magdalena’s mother and dad run, too, as do her older brother, Sebastian, and her sisters, Charlotta, Anna-Maria, and Alexandra. The whole family enjoys boating, skiing, and gymnastics.

The children’s mother, Ingrid Nilsson, serves as ward organist and also as a Primary counselor and a Relief Society teacher. Per Nilsson, the children’s father, serves as second counselor in their ward bishopric. “Magdalena is the best missionary in our family,” Brother Nilsson says. “She often takes nonmember friends with her to Primary. She seems to have a sense of history and enjoys reading the Book of Mormon. Sometimes she reads parts of it to her friends.”

Music is important to Magdalena, who has been trained to sing for public gatherings. She sings with a choir and often has solo parts. At school she is especially interested in math, English, drama, drawing, and, of course, music.

“I enjoy going to church,” says Magdalena, “because it helps me learn to do what’s right.” She has gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel by praying and studying the Book of Mormon and by her service to her family and to others.

An abiding spirit of togetherness and love is felt by all who enter the Nilssons’ home, where the children help with the planning and preparation for family home evenings, family excursions, and holidays.

Magdalena is particularly interested in holiday traditions. One of her favorite holidays is the midsummer festival, which is held in Sweden during the longest day of the year—in June—when the sun dips below the horizon for what seems like only a moment, then rises again. During this celebration the people sing, feast, and dance around a flower-decked pole called a majstang. In the magic of the occasion, wistful young girls often tuck seven kinds of wildflowers under their pillows, hoping to dream of the man that she will marry.

Photography by Richard M. Romney and Per Nilsson

Bicycling helps Magdalena (top) keep strong and healthy. She has won several medals (bottom) in gymnastic competitions—and for her running (opposite).

Magdalena is active in sports, but she also enjoys helping with family chores (top), playing piano (bottom), and sharing time with her parents, her brother, and her three sisters (right).