Death of an Apostle

Joseph Bitner Wirthlin: 11 June 1917 – 1 December 2008

There are things I just don't understand. A beloved apostle of the Lord has died, and I think back to the passing of our last president. Some reacted with great sadness, like the guy in this picture:

(AP) Thomas Richardson, a Brigham Young University student, pays his respects at a makeshift memorial in front of the Gordon B. Hinckley building on the campus of BYU after it was announced that Gordon Hinckley, the 97 year old leader of the Mormon Church died January 27, 2008 in Provo, Utah.

A fellow in my old ward bore his testimony the next Sunday and mentioned how sad he was.

I don't get it. For people who don't understand eternity, death can be frightening. But for us? I just don't get it.

What reason was there to mourn? If his life had been cut short, that would be unfortunate. If we had no hope of ever seeing him again, that would be bad. If he had been wicked and we knew he was going to face punishment before God, that would be horrible. If the Church was going to founder because of his loss, that would be absolutely terrible.

But none of these are the way things are! He was old. There's no doubt that he was righteous, and is in the next step of a glorious eternity. His wife had passed away years earlier, and (I'm certain that because they are sealed) they are now reunited. The Church prospered under his leadership, and it will continue to prosper with Thomas S. Monson as our president.

So why mourn?

If I died right now, it would be sad that my wife would face the challenge of raising our kids alone, and it would be sad that my children would have to grow up without a father. We'd miss out on a lot of wonderful experiences as a family. But ultimately, things would be fine; for the righteous, death is only a temporary separation.

If I live to be seventy or eighty or ninety years old, and then I die, I don't want anyone to mourn. If people have reason to believe that I've lived well, I want them to celebrate.

Last thoughts for now:
I have no doubt that Elder Wirthlin has been greatly blessed for his service. I also have no doubt that another apostle will be called, and that the work of God will continue and "the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent" as it has done. And we should have joy.