I have been thinking a lot about life and death. In our ward there is a girl, Lexi Davis, born with disabilities, but with a strong spirit that has recently passed away. Last night we read Mosiah 13 where Abinadi declares that his enemies cannot kill him because he has not fulfilled the mission he was sent to do. When the people angry with rage tried to lay their hands on him he says: “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time.” Abinadi knew that the Lord has ultimate power over death, that he would not allow anything to happen to him until he had fulfilled his mission in life. “Now it came to pass after Abinadi had spoken these words that the people of king Noah durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him; and his face shone with exceeding luster, even as Moses’ did while in the mount of Sinai, while speaking with the Lord.” Abinadi gave the ultimate sacrifice for his testimony, eventually being burned at the stake, but not until he had finished his life’s mission. Abinadi converted a man named Alma. Alma then went on to teach and convert thousands, his great grandson becoming the prophet anointed by Jesus Christ himself during his visit to the American continent after his resurrection.
A few days more than 4 years ago my father received a letter from the Norwegian mission president asking for him and my mother to consider going on a mission. He felt the spirit tell him that this is what he needed to do. But my mother felt differently, she was ill and physically could not do it. Just a week previous to this the leaders of our Church spoke to us in a general meeting with all the members worldwide. Elder Oaks directed his instruction on having faith to be healed. She read this talk and prayed fervently before retiring to bed that night. She had spent the last 3 days in extreme pain unable to sleep but 3 hours. In desperation she took a sleeping pill, something she never had done before. She never woke up. As a family we all knew that she had been called home so my father could fulfill his call to go on a mission. I read the talk again this time with a new light. Elder Oakes quotes this scripture, D& C 42: 44-48 “And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me. Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection. And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them; And they that die not in me, wo unto them, for their death is bitter. And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed.” This knowledge comforted us in our time of grief. We knew that our mother had faith, but was appointed unto death, it was her time. The Lord called her home for a greater purpose. Just a few months ago my father and step mother returned from their two year mission to Norway.
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