Grandpa Treasure

I think it is beautiful when old people die. Really. Especially when they have lived a good life.

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come."   (Rabindranath Tagore)

Aaron's Grandpa Treasure died yesterday and his funeral is on Tuesday. Last night as we lay in bed, I said to Aaron, "Just think of it, Grandpa is finally with his two boys (who passed on before him)." Aaron said, "I know, I told my mom the same thing this morning." Sweet thought.

Grandpa Treasure certainly is a "Stripling Warrior 'Retired'"!!

Oh Grandpa Treasure with your deep blue eyes, we will miss you! I first met Grandpa Treasure at Aaron's home following his mission "homecoming address." I last saw Grandpa Treasure at the June 26th, 2011 family reunion. :) It's been a good 3.5 years. What I see of Grandpa Treasure's influence on Aaron's mom, and hence, on Aaron and his whole family, is beautiful. Thank you Grandpa Treasure for being the man you are. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for so many funny stories! Thank you for living such a good life! We'll miss you Grandpa, but someday we'll see you on the other side!

Death is simply a passing. A passing from one state to another. I'm absolutely confident and 100% positive that there is life after death. I know that we will see our family members again. I know that we can be with them forever. This is what God's plan for us is all about.

Families really are forever. I testify that there is life after death. It's a reality. I know it. That is why I'm not so scared of death. Life after death is possible because of Jesus Christ.

Death is an interesting thing. Just as we enter the world at birth, we exit through death. Death literally testifies of the reality of the soul as the body + the spirit. When you attend a viewing, you look at a physical body. A real, actual, physical body lying there. It has shut down and stopped working, but something more is missing. When you attend a funeral, the life that you once knew in that body is gone. The fun-loving, intellectual, kind, funny, and quirky person that you knew and loved isn't there. The personality and brilliancy of life is no longer in view. However, it simply testifies that the living part of us - the personality, the intellect, the heart, the spirit, has moved on to a different sphere. After death, we live on. And some day, because of Jesus Christ, we will have our bodies back.

President Monson said it best of what Jesus Christ did for us,

"To the depths of my very soul, I am grateful to Him. 

He taught us how to live. 

He taught us how to die. 

He secured our salvation." 

(April, 2011)

To learn more about what happens when we die, check out this link.