2001 September 9 First NYC Sacrament Meeting Talk

The day after my grandpa dies, Josh Carter invites me to speak in sacrament meeting. The timing is right. I'm sure he is inspired.

Although the timing is right, there's little time to prepare. But the topic comes quickly and quietly: death--temporal death. I too am inspired: ideas, poems, scriptures take their places on the stage of my page. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Bruce R. McConkie, Russell M. Nelson and John Donne lend me their insights.

I enter the office last night at 6:48 with a dreadful draft and emerge at 11:24 with what I read in sacrament meeting.

The climax of the talk is a tribute to Grandpa Coleman. Girls respond to the Morris and June story. I get a lot of hugs from girls when they thank me for the talk.

The Lord blesses me with words and rewards me with praise.

I want to praise other people.

I reward myself with a package of seven CDs and a Cinnabon.