Saying Goodbye...

Today we said Goodbye to a wonderful man!

 I was unable to watch the funeral, but I've been reading about it.  Elder Ballard's comments were something I'd like to share from the LDS Living site:

"At Elder L. Tom Perry’s funeral in the Tabernacle today, Elders Dallin H. Oaks and M. Russell Ballard both delivered heartfelt tributes to their colleague and friend. During his address, Elder Ballard related the following:

           “Three days prior to his passing, Elder . . . Oaks and I 

            called on Elder and Sister Perry. We had a tender visit,

            and as always, Elder Perry spoke of his love of the 

            members of the Church, and his great anxiety and 

            concern for their spiritual well-being.”

           Elder Oaks remembered Elder Perry saying, “I just

            worry about what is going on in the world! How did

            we get mixed up in this mess?” Elder Perry continued,

           “Worldwide morals are declining. At the same time, 

           we have populations all over the world that are suffering.

            We have lost our good, strong Christian beliefs—it is

             just a tough time.”

            Then Elder Oaks said, “As was typical of Elder Perry,

            he did not linger on the negative.” He smiled as he 

            recalled these words from a dying apostle: “We have

           a lot of great talented help in the Church! These young

           kids who come along—I just love them. They’re strong!”

           Elder Ballard recounted the advice that Elder Perry

           wanted the people of the Church to hear. “[I wish I]

           could get every member of the Church to go and 

           partake of the sacrament, and when they took the bread,

           they’d ask themselves, ‘Who am I? What am I doing?

           How am I living? Where am I going? What should I be

           accomplishing?’ as they renew their covenants with

           the Lord.” He finished, “The minute they’d pick up the

           bread, something [would] happen.”

In those final quiet days, Elder Perry delivered this testimony to his brethren in the apostleship. “Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world. Everything depends on Him. We’d better find a way to stay close to him, and if [we] can’t, there’s not much hope. [He] is what we need.”

Amazing man.  I am glad that I got to hear his words many times.

on a lighter note...today is National Doughnut day.  I'm sure He'd want you to go eat one in his honor, lol.