Eternal Perspective (and an AMAZING video)

(Originally posted on 3/24/13)

We want to thank everyone who attended the viewing and funeral. It was so inspiring to see all of you there. We also want to thank everyone who was there with us in spirit. We know it wasn’t possible for everyone to be there but we were grateful for the kind words we received through emails and comments. We wanted to share some of our favorite pictures (Courtesy of John Steinacker) from the viewing and burial and the AMAZING video that our sister-in-law Tara made for us (using pictures taken by Momma Salmon in color and Tami Webb photography in black and white) to remember Elliot that we showed at the viewing. I am also posting a copy of my talk from the funeral for those of you who couldn’t make it. I hope it helps you understand why we are able to smile through such a difficult situation. We love you guys!

 

Here are some pics from the viewing:

Here is my talk:

I want to start out by thanking all of you for being here today. We have felt your love and support throughout this trial. Your thoughts and prayers have lifted us up in our moments of need.

As I look out over the congregation today I see families of all types and sizes. Here in the front we have Casey and my nuclear and extended families. I also see our ward families both of the present and of the past. I see many faces I don’t know, who belong to the new family Casey and I became a part of when Elliot was diagnosed with CDH. I bring the concept of family up because the message I wish to deliver today is based on family.

Many of you in attendance are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints like Casey and I, and in being members have heard and understand the Plan of Salvation. For many others this will be the first time you have heard one of the most vital doctrines of the Mormon faith. I encourage everyone in attendance to pay attention to the thoughts and feelings they experience during this talk, as we believe this is how the spirit of God communicates to us the truthfulness of the things that are taught.

The Plan of Salvation was created by God to provide us, his spirit sons and daughters, a path to return and live with him again after our mortal lives. We knew the plan, and accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer before we came to this Earth.

The Earth was created as a place for us to come and experience mortality. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden and told to multiply and replenish the Earth. They were also forbidden from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They were given their agency to choose whether or not to follow these commandments. The Fall of Adam and Eve occurred when, succumbing to temptation from Satan, Adam and Eve partook of the fruit and were cast out of the Garden of Eden and God’s presence. This is known as the spiritual death. We all experience this death when we are born into this mortal world and the veil is placed between us and our heavenly past.

The fall was a necessary part of the plan, as Adam and Eve, while living in the Garden were childlike, not knowing good from evil. In Nephi 2:25-27 we read:

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. 26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Here we learn that this life is a test. A chance to prove to God that we are willing to accept the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and live by his teachings. Jesus Christ is who makes the whole plan a possibility. He came to Earth as the only begotten Son of God and lived a perfect life. He provided for us an example to follow and emulate.  There is no way for any of us to return to live with Heavenly Father but through Christ.

When Christ’s earthy ministry was coming to a close he went to Gethsemane where he took upon him all the pains and afflictions of mankind, that he might be able to be a perfect advocate with the Father on our behalf. He was then crucified and resurrected three days later making it possible for all mankind to be resurrected one day.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Those are the words of the Book of Mormon prophet Alma (7:11-13).

Death is a part of life. While we are all promised resurrection one day we know that it does not happen immediately. So the question many ask is where do we go after this life? And what about those who have not had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ while in this Earth life? The scriptures teach us that after we die we go to a place called the Spirit World, which is divided into two parts: spirit paradise and spirit prison.

Those who accepted Christ will be put in paradise, while those who rejected him, or never learned of him are placed in prison. This is not a typical prison, but a place to learn the doctrine of Christ and either accept or reject the teachings. The apostle Peter taught us that Christ himself taught those in prison after his death:

1 Peter 3:18-19

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

1 Peter 4:6

6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

When the time comes we will be resurrected and brought before God for the final judgment. All mankind will receive the gift of immortality but eternal life, or living forever in the presence of God in the Celestial Kingdom will be granted to only those who obey his commandments and accept his Gospel. None of us will be able to do it alone either. We will all come up short but by the grace of Jesus Christ those who have accepted him will be saved.

In Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians he taught of the Kingdom’s of Glory that God has prepared for his children:

1 Corinthians 15:40-41

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

Those who did not accept the gospel are still God’s children. He loves them and prepared a place for them. They just will not dwell with him or be allowed in his presence.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe that part of living the Gospel is to be sealed in one of God’s Temples here on Earth. Children who are born after their parents have been sealed are automatically sealed to their parents for time and all eternity. This is the case for Elliot.

Those who do obtain eternal life will live with God and their families forever!

On January 15, 2011 Casey and I were married and sealed in the Mesa, Arizona temple meaning all our future children, including Elliot, would be sealed to us forever.

Now what about the other parts of the gospel? Elliot didn’t have time to learn about Christ, let alone have faith in him, repent, be baptized or receive the Holy Ghost. Many churches teach of an original sin. The Prophet Joseph Smith in writing the core beliefs of the church taught:

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam’s transgression.

The salvation of young children was a topic very near to the Prophet Joseph Smith’s heart as he and his wife Emma lost a number of their own children in their infancy. As a result Joseph received a number of revelations from God concerning the fate of those who die young. The Doctrine and Covenants is a book of scripture we use that contains many revelations given to Joseph Smith. Two scriptures that I find very comforting given our current situation are found therein:

Doctrine and Covenants 29:46

46 But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;

Doctrine and Covenants 74:7

7 But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean.

The Book of Mormon also teaches us that when children die in their infancy they are saved:

Mosiah 15:25

25 And little children also have eternal life.

We won’t know why Elliot only needed to come to Earth for so short a time until we are with him on the other side, but we do know that his place in Heaven is assured. He came to Earth and received his body and is now in the Spirit World waiting the day of resurrection.

Here are some pics from the burial: