Our stake had a special meeting with Elder Holland. I was hoping Justin would use my notes to write share it with you, he has a much better memory then I do, so with my notes he'd record what he really said, instead of what I think I thought when I wrote the note down. Anyway...
This morning I was reminded of something Elder Holland talked about. He had the rare experience of watching President Hinckley in his last days. He went to work the day before he died. They would tell him to "take a break," "take it easy," "go to Palm Springs and golf." Elder Holland then laughed, and said, "Can you imagine President Hinckley golfing?" Meaning, golfing was not something President Hinckley would use his time to do.
He said that the "Bryan Adams Hit" from a "couple years ago" could be the theme of the brethren. Everything they do, they do for you. The first presidency and the apostles do more than most really old people do. They travel the world, they attend meetings, and teach, they listen, they worry, they council. They do all of that for us. They do it because the gospel is true and right, not some "great deception".
This morning I saw that Elder Wirthlin's funeral is tomorrow, and I thought it was weird that they schedule a funeral for him. Well, when I did some looking I found out he died on Monday. You have to remember that we don't get that kind of news, and I don't check lds.org every day. I love to read Joseph B. Wirthlin talks, they are full of beautiful language, and wonderful insight and imagery. When I searched for confirmation of the event I read this article. He went to work, he talked to his son about going to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on Sunday, he went to bed, and night he took two deep breaths and went to be with his wife (who died in 2006).
From "Come what may, and love it." Oct. 2008
From "Concern for the One" April 2008. . .Understand the principle of compensation. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.
One of the blessings of the gospel is the knowledge that when the curtain of death signals the end of our mortal lives, life will continue on the other side of the veil. There we will be given new opportunities. Not even death can take from us the eternal blessings promised by a loving Heavenly Father.
Some are lost because they are different. They feel as though they don’t belong. Perhaps because they are different, they find themselves slipping away from the flock. They may look, act, think, and speak differently than those around them and that sometimes causes them to assume they don’t fit in. They conclude that they are not needed.
Tied to this misconception is the erroneous belief that all members of the Church should look, talk, and be alike. The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet each has his own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the whole.
This variety of creation itself is a testament of how the Lord values all His children. He does not esteem one flesh above another, but He “inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God.”3
. . . Brothers and sisters, if only we had more compassion for those who are different from us, it would lighten many of the problems and sorrows in the world today. It would certainly make our families and the Church a more hallowed and heavenly place.
From "The abundant Life" April 2006
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a religion of mourning and gloom. The faith of our fathers is one of hope and joy. It is not a gospel of chains but a gospel of wings.
To embrace it fully is to be filled with wonder and to walk with an inner fire. Our Savior proclaimed, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 4
3 comments:
Very nice, Brecken. He was such a good example!
I was sad for a moment earlier in the week when I realized that he'd passes away, but then i just felt excited for him! How wonderful the gospel is, and the plan of salvation. And how exciting and full of triumph is the death of someone who's been such a champion of faith.
xo Tammy
I love Elder Holland! And those insights are wonderful! I'm going to remember that about the apostles, and not only that, but our parents, and our bishops, and so many others who bless our lives through service. (Teachers, for example.) Everything they do, they do for us. That. Is. Huge.
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