2001 September 9 Sunday First NYC Sacrament Meeting Talk Transcript

DEATH

Forgive my grief for one removed,

Thy creature, whom I found so fair.

I trust he lives in thee, and there

I find him worthier to be loved.

Forgive these wild and wandering cries;

Confusions of a wasted youth;

Forgive them where they fail in truth,

And in thy wisdom make me wise.

(Tennyson, Alfred, Lord. “In Memoriam A.H.H.”)

Two Mondays ago, I returned to my office from a meeting. During the meeting, my mom had left me a message. “Call me as soon as you can,” she said. My mom’s voice is very revealing: I hear what she doesn’t say. For fifteen minutes, I prepared for the news. Then I called my mom to find out who.

I will speak today on the uplifting topic of temporal death—the separation of the body from the spirit.

The plan of progression calls for a birth to provide a mortal body for our eternal spirits and for a death to free those spirits from the weaknesses of mortality. (McConkie, Bruce R. “The Dead Who Die in the Lord.” Ensign Nov. 1976: 106.)

And we see that death comes upon mankind . . . which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state

. . . which is after the resurrection of the dead. (Alma 12:24.)

This life is a probationary state in which we are tested mentally, physically, morally, and spiritually. We suffer afflictions and pain and sorrow. We experience joy. We choose between right and wrong. Challenges are part of the plan and must be faced by every person privileged enough to experience mortality. (McConkie, Bruce R. “The Dead Who Die in the Lord.” Ensign Nov. 1976: 106.)

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

And now . . . I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. (Alma 34:32-33.)

The Lord says: “I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:14.)

Death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator. (2 Nephi 9:6.)

Where we are concerned there is no sorrow in death except that which attends a temporary separation from loved ones. Birth and death are undeletable scenes in the unfolding drama of eternity. (McConkie, Bruce R. “The Dead Who Die in the Lord.” Ensign Nov. 1976: 106.)

Irrespective of their age, we mourn for those we love and lose. Mourning is a natural response to temporal death. It is an expression of love. (Nelson, Russell M. “Doors of Death.” Ensign May 1992: 72.)

We will not appreciate joyful reunions later without enduring tearful separations now. The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life. (Nelson, Russell M. “Doors of Death.” Ensign May 1992: 72.)

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we will overcome temporal death.

Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection . . . the spirits of all men, . . . whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. (Alma 40:11-12.)

In a funeral sermon, Joseph Smith declared that the spirits of righteous people who have died “are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and are often pained therewith.” Ezra Taft Benson said: “Sometimes the veil between this life and the life beyond becomes very thin. Our loved ones who have passed on are not far from us.” Brigham Young said: “Where is the spirit world? It is right here.” (“The Postmortal Spirit World.” Gospel Principles.)

Spirit beings have the same bodily form as mortals except that the spirit body is in perfect form. Spirits carry with them from earth their attitudes of devotion or antagonism toward things of righteousness. They have the same appetites and desires that they had when they lived on earth. All spirits are in adult form. They were adults before their mortal existence, and they are in adult form after death, even if they die as infants or children. (“The Postmortal Spirit World.” Gospel Principles.)

Our spirits will live in the spirit world until we are ready for our resurrection. Then our bodies will once more unite with our spirits. (“The Postmortal Spirit World.” Gospel Principles.)

We will come forth from the grave in physical perfection. Not a hair on our heads will be lost.

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved. (2 Nephi 2:8-9.)

After we are resurrected, we will be judged.

At the Final Judgment we will be assigned to the kingdom for which we are prepared. We will be sent to one of four places: the celestial kingdom (the highest degree of glory), the terrestrial kingdom (the second degree), the telestial kingdom (the lowest degree), or outer darkness (the kingdom of the devil—not a degree of glory). (“The Last Judgment.” Gospel Principles.)

If we have lived the gospel we will come forth with celestial bodies which are prepared for the glory of a celestial kingdom.

Within the celestial kingdom, there are three heavens or degrees. (“Exaltation.” Gospel Principles.)

If we prove faithful to the Lord, we will live in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom of heaven. We will become exalted, just like our Heavenly Father. Exaltation is the greatest gift that Heavenly Father can give his children. (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7.)

Those who receive exaltation in the celestial kingdom will receive special blessings.

1. They will live eternally in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
2. They will become gods.
3. They will have their righteous family members with them and will be able to have spirit children also. These spirit children will have the same relationship to them as we do to our Heavenly Father. They will be an eternal family.
4. They will receive a fulness of joy.
5. They will have everything that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have—all power, glory, dominion, and knowledge. (“Exaltation.” Gospel Principles.)

The Lord promises: “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7.)

Will we be able to say when we die what Enos said? “And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father.” (Enos 1:27.)

On that Monday when I called my mom, she tearfully told me that her dad—my grandpa—had died. And I cried with her.

My grandpa’s death makes me think about what matters in this mortal life. My grandpa was a millionaire, but his money probably didn’t matter much to him after his death.

My grandma, my grandpa’s one living brother, his five living children, his 28 grandchildren, and 19 of his 20 great-grandchildren gathered to honor him and to celebrate his life. We cried, but we were sad only because we miss him.

At my grandpa’s funeral, I didn’t hear anything about how much money he made. I did hear something about how many patriarchal blessings he gave. I heard stories about how willingly he served in the Church.

I saw how he served his family. In the last years of his life, he visited my Alzheimer’s-afflicted grandma every day at 5:15 to feed her ice cream and to give her lemonade. He said to her over and over: “I love you. You’re my sweetheart. You’re mine forever and ever.”

I treasure what I inherited from my grandpa: his dry humor, his wry shyness, his blond curls, his love of Kellogg’s Shredded Mini-Wheats. Most of all, I treasure the patriarchal blessing he gave me.

I know I can see my grandpa again, and I know that my family can be together forever.

I know that the Plan of Salvation is the design of a loving Heavenly Father. I know that death is a part of life, and I know that death is not the end of life.

I am grateful for the gift of mortal life I’ve been given. And I will strive to live my mortal life in such a way as to be worthy of the gift of eternal life.

I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we will overcome temporal death.

As Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live . . . And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26.)

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those, whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow,

Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy picture[s] be,

Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

Thou’rt slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,

And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,

And poppy, or charms can make us sleep as well,

And better than thy stroke ; why swell’st thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And Death shall be no more ; Death, thou shalt die.

(Donne, John. “Death, be not proud.”)

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.