What Will Be Said of Us?

Elder Norm Masters    Full Time Missionary    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Pastor's Corner   Adams County Record  Council, Idaho  September 2014

 Several years ago, Gordon B. Hinckley made what I thought was an interesting statement.  He said, “If you want nice things said about you at your funeral, live your life in such a manner so that they will only have good things to say”.

That statement brought to mind several past experiences.

I recalled an occasion when my wife and I were visiting in the Los Angeles area. She told me about having visited a cemetery there when she was in the fifth grade.  The cemetery had some amazing religious and patriotic art work that she wanted me to see.  We visited the Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Cemetery where we came across the grave marker of Stan Laurel, of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy.  Nearby we found another notable grave marker.  It was of a man, not famous for anything, but notable because of the inscription on his grave marker.  The marker said something to the effect, “Here lies our father.  He loved his dogs, his car club buddies, his work and his family – IN THAT ORDER”.  What a sad final tribute to a man’s life.

On another occasion I attended the funeral of an elderly acquaintance, Curtis Duggins.  At his funeral, people were invited to come forward and say a few words about Curtis.  Several individuals came forward and, to a person, each related that Curtis was a man of his word.  If Curtis said he would do something, or be somewhere at a designated time, HE WOULD DO WHAT HE SAID OR WOULD BE WHERE HE SAID HE WOULD BE, AND AT THE APPOINTED TIME.

What a contrast between Curtis and the man who didn’t value his family.

The choice is ours.  Will it be said of us that our priorities were misplaced or that we were a person of our word – tried and true?

With the help of our Savior and His Atoning sacrifice, our lives can reflect meaning, purpose, dedication and love for our Heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ and for the Holy Ghost as well as for our fellowman.

“Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things.  I will make thee ruler over many things.  Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”  Matthew 25:23