This blog shares many experiences during the time my sons served as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It also includes other treasured family stories. Happy reading.
I am FINALLY getting around to posting pictures about Seth's homecoming. It's been fun to relive the memories. He arrived home ten days ago.
The table was set and ready.
The sign was up, and it was time
to head to the airport.
Waiting with Baby James
With Ian and James
James & James :)
And Jessa of course
Multitudes waiting for their missionaries too.
Try again ladies.
That's better.
Family time while waiting.
Nathan, Hannah, and James
My grandchildren!
Sweet Hannah
I realized there were other missionary moms waiting too.
Three moms of Georgia missionaries and one
coming home from South Carolina.
Constantly watching
for the 1st glimpse!
There they are!
Oh welcome home Son.
Welcome home!
Jim's turn
He missed him.
Sarah's turn
and Ian's
and Elisa
and Jessa.
Seeing Baby James for the 1st time
Time to get the luggage
and say goodbye to a favorite fellow missionary.
But not before a family picture!
Getting to know Nathan again.
Talking to him all the way home.
Hanging on to his hand to welcome him
HOME!!
Sweet Home
Home where family is.
Home where he was so missed.
Home where his niece and nephews are.
Nice one Wade
And Gregory
Dinner over so soon.
And time to say goodbye again.
On the way to see the stake president, he stopped by to see if Nels was home. He got home from his mission the day before. He happened to be in his driveway. The reunion was so great!
At 8:45 p.m., Seth met with our stake president for a final short meeting to get released. His two years of service had finally come to an end. Two years of giving his heart and soul to serve the Lord.
I heard on the local news channel that they were
expecting thousands for the funeral, so I wasn’t sure if I could get a seat. I
stood in a couple of long lines waiting to get in, but I was pleasantly
surprised and grateful to get a seat only four rows from the front on the left
side of the Tabernacle looking towards the front.
It was a beautiful funeral,
and I was deeply touched. I am so grateful I went.
I wanted to go to Elder Perry’s funeral to pay my respect
and to show my gratitude to him. When I was baptized in 1978 at the age of 18,
Elder Perry was the visiting authority at our Stake Conference in Albany, New
York. My baptismal service was scheduled immediately following Stake
Conference. Most of the people from my home ward stayed for the service. The
room was packed solid with people. My sister Sue and my brother Rob were
baptized right after me. Unbeknownst to us, a few missionaries ran out to Elder
Perry’s car as he was getting ready to leave for the airport. They told him
that a family had just been baptized. We were getting changed out of our
baptismal clothes at the time. We took our places back in the room awaiting our
confirmation. We were in dry Sunday clothes, but our hair was still wet, an
obvious sign that we were the ones that had just been baptized. I couldn’t have
been there for more than a minute or two when Elder Perry walked into the
crowded room. He graciously took the time to come back into the building even
though he was headed out to go to the airport. He walked right over to me and
shook my hand and congratulated me. He then shook my sister’s hand and my
brother’s hand. He then congratulated my parents who had each been baptized in
previous months. He told us that we had done the right thing.
He left as quickly as he came, and then we were confirmed. The
Spirit that attended his visit was extraordinary. I have never forgotten that
experience. The Lord sent one of His Apostles, a special witness of Jesus
Christ, to my baptismal service. That is
an extraordinary thing. It just doesn’t happen that way, but the Lord did
it for me. I have been most grateful all these years. It was truly a tender
mercy.
When Elder Perry died last week, I was reminded of that
experience. I told myself that if he could take the time at the risk of missing
his plane to stop in at my baptismal service, I could certainly take the time
to go to his funeral. How do you thank the Lord properly for something like
that?
I wept a lot today as I sat there. I was overwhelmed at
being in the Tabernacle with the rest of the Apostles and the Lord’s prophet, President
Monson, just a few feet away from me. I cried as the Tabernacle Choir sang “O
My Father” and then “O Divine Redeemer.” I don’t think I will ever forget
hearing them sing those songs.
I thought back to my early days of being a member of the
Lord’s church. I thought of the circumstances surrounding my conversion. I
cried as I contemplated the blessings that have come to me since.
I was touched by so many things, but I was particularly touched
by the scripture one of the speakers quoted. He said it was how Elder Perry
thought, and how he lived his life. It is found in Romans 1:16. It reads, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”
I believe that, and because I believe that, I continue to share that message
with others.
Elder Perry had been a Marine in his younger years. I was
touched when his casket was draped in the U.S. flag prior to being placed in
the hearse. I thought of my Dad, also a Marine.
I live close to the
cemetery where Elder Perry was buried. I drove past there on my way home. I
didn’t see any cars, but if I am not mistaken, I was pretty sure I heard a 21
gun salute as I drove past. I could have imagined it, but either way, it would
be fitting. I just smiled.
Rest in peace Elder Perry. Thank you for your kindness to me
all those years ago. I have never forgotten it, and I won’t ever forget you.
Funeral coverage begins at timecode 39:17 in the video below.
