Elder Barney wanted to share thoughts and feelings he has
had recently.
Being alive is a blessing.
Being able to live, learn, serve and experience the joys of life is
something we often take for granted. When
we reflect on our lives-- who we have been, who we are and who we may become, and
despite obstacles and challenges, we realize how blessed we are to be alive. Our loved ones are a joy to be with, and we
joy in their lives and our relationship with them.
But as we grow older there are vivid reminders of mortal
life--our loved ones, friends, and associates are passing on to the other side
of the veil. Yes, it is natural and
very human to mourn the loss of the close relationships and we feel a deep
personal loss and we are saddened by their departure. Grieving and letting the tears flow as we mourn
the end of a loved one’s sojourn in mortality, leads us to turn our burdens to
Jesus and find the comfort we need.
As I ponder this
experience we call life, my mind goes to a recent lesson I taught at church a month
ago while serving as a senior missionary in the Japan Nagoya Mission: The lesson title was on the “人の不死不滅”.
While you have now seen the lesson title, unless you read
kanji characters, you still do not know what the lesson was about. This may help: the kanji characters “人の不死不滅”
read “Hito no fushi-fumetsu” in roman characters (This is what the Japanese
call “romaji”). Breaking the kanji down:
“Hito” refers to a person, people or man in a general way, and “fushi-fumetsu”
is immortality. Therefore, the title of
the lesson means the “Immortality of Man.”
So my first full-length lesson in Japanese to an all-Japanese
group was about immortality. I appreciate
immortality and the teachings of Christ related to eternal life. As I prepared, I was concerned about having a
meaningful lesson and discussion for 45 minutes all in Japanese. Not that there
was not a lot to share; it was just that I am still re-learning Japanese words
again, and this opportunity to teach was no small challenge--at least it was for
me.
The source of much of the lesson was from a prophet who
was alive when I was born. His name is Joseph
Albert Smith and he taught us that “Our life is eternal, and this knowledge
helps us make correct choices and comforts us in times of mourning. He reminded us that “we are living eternal
lives”— that eternity doesn’t begin after this life but that mortality is a
crucial part of eternity.
He would tell his friends who were at a crossroad in
their life, ‘Today is the beginning of eternal happiness or eternal
disappointment for you.”
He taught that at our various crossroads, we can choose
to take actions that bring joy and happiness to ourselves and those around us,
or we can miss the mark, and choose to do things that distract us from our
missions in our lives. It is our choice.
“In the language of the poet, “Life is real, Life is
earnest,” and “the grave is not its goal.” [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “A
Psalm of Life.”] The spirit that inhabits the tabernacle is immortal. It lives
beyond the grave. The body decays and returns to earth but the spirit lives on.”
I sincerely believe that with our hope in Christ, there
is life after this life, and immortality is a gift from Jesus Christ as a
result of the Atonement and His resurrection.
Recently, a friend and associate of 31 years died
suddenly while visiting the Oregon State University campus for recruiting of
interns for his employer. I join with many who mourn the unexpected
death of one who has served others so diligently, and who set a wonderful
example of a loving caring person. I
know that Rand Sherwood, a husband, father, friend and associate, lived with
faith in Jesus Christ, and made choices every day to be eternally happy. Rand’s love and faith was felt by all who
knew him. Rand had faith that the human
spirit continues to live after this mortal life ends. He cherished his eternal companion and
believed in the eternal nature of family.
While the family and loved ones mourn the temporary loss of
companionship, they joy in the prospects of being together again as a family.
George Albert Smith also taught, “Eternal life is to us
the sum of pre-existence, present existence, and the continuation of life in
immortality, holding out to us the power of endless progression and increase.” He said about this life, which is a time to
prepare to meet God, that “this probation is not to prepare us to die, but to
live.”
Those of us who still are living may ponder and think
seriously about our own lives. We should look into our own lives and discover
if we are prepared for the future. In
Japanese I asked the class “ 準備ができているかどうか”
(this question is “… Junbi ga dekite iru ka dou ka. Sore wa eien na taisetsu no shitsumon desu.”) In English, the question and statement is “Are
we are able to be prepared? That is an eternally important question.”
It is sobering to think that if we were called “home”
tomorrow whether we would be prepared to give an account for our earthly lives. Will we be known as a loving the son or
daughter of God. By the grace of Jesus Christ
our Lord and through His infinite atonement we will be able to return to what our
Father in Heaven has prepared for us as His children.
We had a touching and meaningful discussion for the 45
minutes of the lesson. I truly appreciated
the Japanese who kindly shared their experiences and beliefs concerning the
immortality of man. While the lesson
that day ended, the pondering and praying on this eternally important topic has
continued as I experience life and exercise faith.
As we ponder the meaning and purposes of life:
- May we treasure each
day we live.
- May we appreciate the
health and life we are living.
- May we appreciate the
miracle of the body to heal.
- May we use wisdom in
our choices as we go about life.
- May we “not be lulled
to sleep… by the abundance of the good things of this life.”
- May we not “let the
object of our creation be overlooked; but let us labor for the salvation
of …souls.”
- May we lay up treasures
that matter most by ministering to our Heavenly Father’s children.
- May we comfort those in
need of comfort, and mourn with those who mourn, lighten other persons’
burdens,
- May we invite others to
come unto their Savior Jesus Christ and follow His example of doing the
will of Father-in-Heaven.
- May we live to bless
the lives of others and glorify our Father-in-Heaven.
- May we treasure the
memory of those who have led the way and were called home early. They shared and gave much for us—they
made a difference in who we are and what we may become.
- May we honor our ancestors
by remembering their love and sacrifice.
- May we set examples for
our own posterity of 1) faith, 2) love for all mankind, and 3) treating
all with respect as Children of God regardless of differences.
- May we prepare the way
for others to follow and build bridges that cross the chasms of life.
- May we humbly do our
best to be servants to others.
- May we strive to enable
and to help in some small way for many of our Father’s children to feel
encircled in the arms of our loving Savior--even Jesus Christ.
- May we help as many as
possible to be received by our Heavenly Father, and His Beloved Son with a
welcome at their time of passing of “Well done, good and faithful
servant.”
- May you be blessed to
realize the righteous desires of your heart.
This is my prayer that you and I may be so blessed in
the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Warmest regards and love,
Elder Lee A. Barney
Japan Nagoya Mission
The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints
