If all sixty-nine billion people who have ever lived on earth were still here, imagine the traffic jam! And we could own virtually nothing and scarcely make any responsible decisions. “A time to be born, and a time to die.” ( Eccl. The writer of Ecclesiastes said, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 6:9.) As seedlings of God, we barely blossom on earth we fully flower in heaven. Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through-and not around-the doors of death. Before embarking on any journey, we like to have some assurance of a round-trip ticket. “This life a probationary state a time to prepare to meet God.” ( Alma 12:24.) But we regarded the returning home as the best part of that long-awaited trip, just as we do now. Knowingly we wanted the risks of mortality, which would allow the exercise of agency and accountability. There we eagerly anticipated the possibility of coming to earth and obtaining a physical body. Prior to our birth, we dwelled as spirit children with our Father in Heaven. Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death. … Our affections should be placed upon God and His work, more intensely than upon our fellow beings.” ( Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 4:7.) In speaking at a funeral of a loved one, the Prophet Joseph Smith offered this admonition: “When we lose a near and dear friend, upon whom we have set our hearts, it should be a caution unto us. Eternal PerspectiveĮternal perspective provides peace “which passeth all understanding.” ( Philip. The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life. Moreover, we can’t fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations now. It is a natural response in complete accord with divine commandment: “Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die.” ( D&C 42:45.) Mourning is one of the deepest expressions of pure love. Irrespective of age, we mourn for those loved and lost. The only length of life that seems to satisfy the longings of the human heart is life everlasting. Yet even when the elderly or infirm have been afforded merciful relief, their loved ones are rarely ready to let go. Generally the younger the victim, the greater the grief. The sense of tragedy may be related to age. These wonderful men then told of their cooking breakfast for each other once a week-sharing that rotation with their sister-trying to lessen their loneliness imposed by the doors of death.ĭeath separates “the spirit and the body are the soul of man.” ( D&C 88:15.) That separation evokes pangs of sorrow and shock among those left behind. They said they were going through the most difficult period of their lives, adjusting to the almost unbearable loss of their partners. Recently at the funeral of a friend, I visited with two distinguished brothers-former surgical colleagues of mine-whose lovely companions had both passed away. Packer spoke of the “fountains of life.” This afternoon, I should like to speak of the “doors of death.” Both are crucial components of life.
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