Who Is Your Twelfth Angel?

Do any of you have someone that sticks out in your mind as an example of courage, bravery, and a positive attitude in the face of adversity? Let me tell you about mine.

He was the bishop of our ward recently. Little less than a year ago, his wife gave birth to their fourth child, he found out that he had lymphoma, and was called as bishop all in a short space of time. He passed away just a couple of weeks ago. He was the best example of a positive attitude that I have ever seen. During the course of his illness, he would experience so much pain that it hurt to sit still, but he would come and sit through as much of our church meetings as he possibly could, with a smile on his face! His counselor told us of a Sunday when he had been so ill that he couldn't come to the morning meetings. The counselor sent word home with his son, who had been collecting tithing, not to worry about coming to church that day, that they had it covered. He jokingly said to tell him that if he came he would hit him. The bishop walked in just as the opening hymn started, took his seat on the stand, and whispered to his counselor, "I dare you to hit me in front of all these people." This is just one example of the humor and bravery he showed over the last several months. He was only released from his calling a few weeks before he passed away. He said that he knew that he was supposed to fulfill this calling and would do so as long as he was physically able to. He did so much for the people of our ward, and was always more worried about others than himself. He was so selfless with his time and energy, even during a time of such trial for himself and his family. He was also a great example of faith in doing what he knew our Heavenly Father wanted him to do. He never gave up, and he never lost faith that he would be taken care of.

I know that he is no longer in pain, and that he is where our Father in Heaven needs him to be. My heart breaks for his wife and children, but even they have been such good examples to us all. Their husband and father passed away on a Tuesday, and the oldest son was ready to do baptisms for the dead on Thursday with the youth in our ward. The whole family was at church that Sunday. At the viewing, rather than listen to others' condolences, his wife would tell each person who came through something nice that her husband had said about them, or some piece of advice she had learned through all of this.

I only new this man for the short time he was bishop, as we had only recently moved into the ward, but he has left a mark on my life that can never be forgotten. I have never before heard of someone who had touched so many lives, and accomplished so much in 38 short years. I hope you don't mind me sharing a scripture that gave me comfort at the time of his funeral. D&C 42:45-46 "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;"