Traces of Time . . .The week of Walt's funeral.
(To see last week's blog post scroll down to the end of this week, then the Week of August 17-23, 2020 will be there. If it's not, hit "Older Posts." at the bottom right.)
THIS WEEK-
AUGUST 24-30, 2020
AUGUST 24-30, 2020
MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020
Family is Everything…
Janie got the stitches out of her leg from
the ACL surgery done almost two weeks ago.
Janie drove back tonight to be here for tomorrow.
Aimee, our oldest granddaughter, Janie's daughter
is designing the funeral service printed program
for her Grampa. She has a gift for and has
her degree in graphic design.
Aimee and Michael came to see us
on Sunday, July 19--the day after
the WEPR.
We are calling the honorary pallbearers
to see if they accept, and to have their
names printed on the programs.
Jen and Jerry and family helped Seth and Sarah
move into Helaman Halls on the BYU campus.
The family is staying at a fun Air B&B in
Spanish Fork that has fun farm things to do--
ride horses, etc. And fun playground
equipment, like a high tower to swing
down from, and a slide that has
water running down it for a
miniature water slide.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020
Family is Everything…
Jeff Rasmussen drove to the
Larkin Funeral Home in Salt Lake City
today and we--Janie, Julie, Jen, and I--met with him there.
We picked out a beautiful pecan wood casket for Walt.
After going through all the details, Jeff was going
to drive Walt's body to Burley.
I did not know a body must be embalmed to
be taken across a state line.
We know Walt will be happy to return
to Burley, and to Idaho.
We four then drove to City Creek where...
...we had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory.
We're still working on getting the
funeral program finalized and
properly worded and organized.
Aimee is doing a marvelous job.
We got back to Saratoga Springs about three o'clock.
Janie and I drove to Spanish Fork to spend the
evening with Jen and Jerry and their family.
We had a yummy picnic supper with them,
and a good visit.
There was even some Cowboy Poetry thrown in.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
Family is Everything…
Today is Jennifer's birthday. Happy Birthday, Jen!
Janie worked on the life sketch, and we
shared some memories of Walt.
She headed back to Rexburg about four o'clock.
Her knee from an ACL repair done on Aug 11
is healing well and she is off the crutches.
Keri Dayley VanOrdan brought a
variety of groceries...
So kind and thoughtful.
Crazy Sisters
Janie is getting ready to drive
back to Rexburg - takes 4 1/2 hours
Natalie came and cut my hair today.
Thank you, Natalie.
Steve and Natalie drove
me to Jen's birthday picnic dinner
in Spanish Fork.
Sarah brought two of roommates
from BYU.
Picnic for Jen...
Happy Birthday, Jen.
David and Julie came from Draper,
with Sam and Will.
Steve and Natalie came from
Saratoga Springs.
Thanks for bringing me.
Jerry wanted all the candles lit.
And Jen got them blown out.
Isaac and his Dad enjoyed horse back
riding before the b-day supper.
Today
Steve dished up the ice cream.
So nice to be with Jen on
her birthday. She is our
youngest of the 7.
Here's showing some of the
family who were able to come.
This shows up a little better.
It's getting darker earlier and earlier.
Summer is nearing its end.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020
Family is Everything…
This is a photo of Walt at about age 4
with his dog Peggy.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
Family is Everything…
We received such beautiful flowers
from family and friends...
White roses and lavender carnations
from Moroni Pineda who
lives in Puebla, Mexico. He was one
of Walt's A.P.s in the Mexico
Merida Mission.
Julie drove me to Burley today...
I wasn't quick enough to get a
photo of the Idaho border sign.
Here's one I
had from before...
Friday driving to Burley...just
past the Utah border:
67 miles to go at 1:15...
V I E W I N G
We're happy Emma got to come...Brian's daughter.
Grandchildren gathered at the Viewing.
Elder Carter Petersen felt blessed to
Kelsey talking to Carter;
Carter is a great missionary. He loves
Each family brought in food to share...
Viewing - Our children are a great support to me.
Janie, Gary, Steve, David, Julie, Brian, Jen.
be serving in the very town where
the funeral for his
Grandfather Petersen
was being held.
Cortney hugging her brother...
Kelsey hugging her brother...
Steve talking with Terri and Elaine.
Kirt Melling drove his Mom, Ruth,
from Lehi, Utah. They have been
our Burley neighbors for 45 years.
Mike and Jessica drove from St. George.
Mike is talking with Elder Arnold and
our grandson, Elder Carter Petersen.
The 5-7 p.m. Viewing finished
at 7:30...
...then we took family photos.
Steve and Natalie, Kelsey, Cortney,
and Carter - Elder Petersen.
Walt looked very peaceful and
younger in his casket.
Family ready to leave the Viewing.
the people in Burley, and they love him.
The little kids, the big kids, and
the adults were all hungry.
We were allowed to gather in the conference room
of The Marriott Fairfield Inn in Burley.
Pizza, Chinese, Taco Bandito. Then they got to swim.
I took more photos, but they didn't save.
We were happy to have my niece Vickie R. Hacking
and her daughter, Hailey, join us.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2020
Family is Everything…
The day of Walt's funeral.
Gary is putting the final touches on the Life Sketch for his Dad's funeral.
Trista, Emy, Jan.
They brought in breakfast
for the family who didn't get to eat
at The Marriott.
Elder Carter Petersen with the Blueberries...
L-R: Stacie Lloyd Deuce lives in Montana
Jan Elison Jenson lives in Utah.
Trista Williams Cook - Burley
Emy Peterson Darrington - Declo
Elder Carter Petersen, our g-son,
son of Steve and Natalie, from Utah,
from his Brazil Mission, now serving
in the Idaho Pocatello Mission.
Cindy Chesley Shaw - Burley
Kim Petersen Seeley - Burley.
Jan Beck Monson, who lives in Utah,
was helping family move back east.
Thank you so much Blueberry girls!
Here's a photo of Jen Beck Monson
with her husband from Sunday, Aug 23
when they brought dinner to us..
This completes photos of
the 8 Blueberries.
Julie and her siblings set up a great display
of their Dad's memorabilia.
enlarge to see the things better.
V I E W I N G
before the funeral.
Carter hugged his Aunt Jena
who came from Rexburg.
This is the last we will see his earthly body
until Resurrection Day.
Jeff Rasmussen did so much to make
our last hours with him tender
and memorable. He had each family
come to the casket to give their...
"Goodbye" to their Dad and Grampa.
The final ceremonial temple clothes
were put on before the casket was
gently closed.
Gary gave a perfect family prayer.
F U N E R A L
We then entered the chapel of theBurley West Stake Center for the funeral.
I didn't get a photo of the casket in the
I didn't get a photo of the casket in the
chapel--of course. Here is a photo of the
casket later at the cemetery.
I also did not get photos of those who
took part during the funeral.
Here are who took part:
President S. Matthew Cook,
Burley West Stake President conducted.
Shawn Fisher, son-in-law, gave
the Invocation.
"Called to Serve" was sung.
Vicki Peterson, John's mother,
was the chorister.
Kathleen Hedberg was the organist.
Life Sketch was given by
Mary Jane Fisher, daughter
and Gary A. Petersen, son.
The grandchildren sang
"I Am A Child of God"
Piano: Josh Petersen
Violin: Seth Brewer, Sarah Brewer
Memories by the sons and daughters
Jennifer P. Brewer
Brian W. Petersen
Julie P. Peterson
David B. Petersen
Steven R. Petersen
Remarks
Joseph M. Sagers
--Counselor to Walt in Stake Presidency
lder Brent H. Nielson, Presiding
Presidency of the Seventy
--Walt was his Bishop when
he was a young man.
"O Divine Redeemer" sung by
Nancy Thompson
--she was asked by Walt to serve
with her husband Lon
as a Temple Worker couple in
the San Salvador El Salvador Temple
when Walt was the temple president.
Accompanied by Jeff Rasmussen
Accompanied by Jeff Rasmussen
Benediction -- Jerry Brewer son-in-law
(John Peterson, son-in-law was listed on the
printed program but he became very ill
the night before and was unable to come.)
The pallbearers:
Sons: Gary Petersen, Steve Petersen,
David Petersen, Brian Petersen.
Sons-in-law Shawn Fisher, John Peterson,
Jerry Brewer. (John not able to come)
Honorary Pallbearers
Dale Petersen, brother; Tom Blayney,
Scott Bloxham, Rulon Chandler, Ken Fronk,
David Gibbons, DeLamar Jensen, Chad Jones,
Gary Jones, Tracy King, Jaime Lopez,
Rafael Majano, D. Kelly Ogden, Steve Ormond,
Tim Preston, Jeff Rasmussen, Darrell Roskelley,
Joe Sagers, Ross Taylor, Paul Young.
Dedication of Grave: Dale Petersen, brother.
Prayer at Luncheon: Daniel Fisher - grandson
(Jerry Brewer - son-in-law was on the
printed program but he gave the closing
prayer at the funeral.)
Compassionate Service: Burley Third Ward
Thank you to
Susan Young for taking these photos.
The
four stake presidents who followed
Walter R. Petersen who was the first stake
president
when the stake was created in May 1983
when the Burley Idaho Stake was divided.
These four stake presidents attended
Walt’s funeral on August 29, 2020.
1. Walter R. Petersen – May 1983 – Nov 1992
2. Paul B. Young – Nov 1992 – Nov 2001
3. Joseph M. Sagers – Nov 2001 to Apr 2010
4. Chad G. Jones – Apr 2010 to Apr 2019
5. S. Matthew Cook – Apr 2019-
All are good friends to Walt.
The pallbearers:
Sons: Gary Petersen, Steve Petersen,
David Petersen, Brian Petersen.
Sons-in-law Shawn Fisher, John Peterson,
Jerry Brewer. (John, in Utah, very sick.)
Several of our missionaries came to the
viewing and the funeral.
Matt Warner, his wife Evige,
and their four children.
Angeles Cortes Salmeron and her husband.
Aaron Blonquist and
his parents. Noel and Urusula.
Thomas Rohrer.
Thank you for honoring your
mission president.
Also missionaries we worked with:
Frank and Diane Wall
Elder Wall calls Walt
"his hero."
David and Marilyn Gibbons,
Lon and Nancy Thompson.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TO THE CEMETERY
We then drove 51 miles north and west to
Wendell, Idaho where we both grew up.
When Walt was a senior at
Wendell High School,
I was just a 7th grader.
- - -
C E M E T E R Y
Carter by the open grave
as they carry the casket over.
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Walt's brother Dale sat by me .
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Walt wanted a wood casket.
He loved working with wood
with his carpenter father.
Walt's brother, Dale Petersen,
gave a great Melchizedek
Priesthood dedication of the grave.
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Walt's bother Dale and his wife Connie
are standing by me.
Many of Dale's family came...
Ruth and Cliff Cole from Bountiful,
Heather and Nate Lee from ,
Trisha, Victoria, and Ben from Salt Lake,
Nate from Logan or Bountiful.
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Steve and Natalie with their
missionary son, Elder Carter Petersen
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
They lowered Walt's casket down
into the vault, then put the top
of the vault on.
Jeff explained how important it was
when they sealed the Savior's tomb
before He was resurrected.
Now Walt's grave would be sealed
until his day of resurrection.
Gary puts his boutonniere on the
sealed casket and vault.
Jerry...
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Shawn...
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Steve,
David, and Brian all put their
boutonnieres on their father's
casket/vault.
Many of Phyllis and Dale Bunn's family
were at the cemetery....
Don and Jeanine and family,
Matt and Brenda and family,
Mitch and Karen and family.
Bonnie's daughter Bonnie Ann
came from Bliss and her son,
Clark came from Hagerman.
We appreciate all who were able
to come. And we appreciate the
500-plus who joined us that
morning via the live webcast
of the funeral.
Walt will be over-whelmed when
I tell him -- the next time I see him.
But then, if the spirit is allowed to
remain until it sees his body safely
buried, he already knows.
Looking for more photos at cemetery...
I know there is one with me with
all of you children by Dad's casket...
Will any who were there and took photos,
please e-mail photos to me. Thanks.
wyepetersen@gmail.com
[Thank you, Lorna, for sending the
five photos you took that added
this more complete view at
the burial.]
MORE ABOUT THE
W E N D E L L C E M E T E R Y
We have many family members buried
in our hometown cemetery.
My Dad and Mom are buried next to
where Walt is now buried, and
where I will be buried.
We bought our plots there
probably thirty years ago.
Arnold George Albertson - age 69
Dec. 8, 1912 - Feb. 6, 1982
Verna Beth Huffaker Albertson - age 93
Jan. 14, 1920 - July 26, 2013
They had been married 44 years.
She was a widow 31 1/2 years.
My Dad was a carpenter, also.
My Mom was a natural interior decorator,
(which skipped me, but our daughters
have that gift also.)
My Mom worked many years as a secretary
for the So. Idaho Production Credit Assoc.
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Carter is by the grave of
Walt's Dad and Mom.
They are buried just north and
two rows west of Walt's grave.
Raymond O. Petersen - age 62
Dec. 20, 1907 - Feb. 17, 1970
Jane Maria Prescott Petersen - age 90
Oct. 20, 1910 - Feb. 5, 2001
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Walt's maternal grandparents
are buried next to his parents' grave.
Byrum Heber Prescott - age 69
21 May 1874 - 12 Dec 1943
Maria Smith Prescott - age 87
10 Dec 1882 - 19 Sep 1970
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Walt's sister Bonnie is buried
near her parents.
Jane Lavon "Bonnie" Petersen
Smith Degler - age 60
15 Feb 1930 - 14 Mar 1990
We always put pansies on Bonnie's grave.
She loved them because her Grama Rie
told her they had little faces looking up at her.
Can't believe it's been 30 years since
we lost her to colon cancer.
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Walt's sister Phyllis is buried just
a row west and about two down from
where Walt is now buried.
Phyllis Gay Petersen Bunn - age 82
25 Feb 1932 - 3 Aug 2014
And her husband, Dale who took
such tender care of her those
eight years she had dementia,
is also buried beside her.
When Walt thanked Dale for taking
such good care of his sister,
Dale said: "That's what the preacher
said to do when we got married."
Dale Bunn - age 91
12 Mar 1929 - 17 Apr 2020
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Dale designed this beautiful headstone.
Wendell Idaho Cemetery
Walt's paternal grandparents are buried
a little west and across the path
to the north. Walt's father made the
concrete foundation for his
Dad and Mom's headstone.
Ray's sister, Lucile, is buried to their left.
Andrew Peter Petersen - age 57
23 Dec 1880 - 5 Apr 1938
Born in Denmark to
Anders Pedersen - age 68
3 Aug 1812 - abt 1880
md 29 May 1840
Johanne Kirsten Hansen - age 90
24 Feb 1820 - 12 May 1910
Died age 90 in
Elwood, Box Elder, Utah
Andrew P. Petersen
Died in Burley, Idaho
from a car accident.
Nellie Katie Olson - age 43
13 Dec 1884 - 23 Feb 1928
Michael Fisher cleaned
his great-great Grandfather Petersen's
and gg- Grandmother Petersen's
headstone before they put flowers
there on Memorial Day weekend 2020.
We drove back to Burley from Wendell,
arriving about 3:45.
L U N C H E O N
Thank you to the Burley Third Ward
for serving a delicious luncheon.
salad, fresh fruit, rolls...
Thank you to Kaye Carson, Ellen Petersen,
Michelle Gerratt, Stephanie and Dennis Haynes,
Chris Kemp, and any others who took their
Saturday afternoon to minister to us.
Thank you to all those who furnished the food.
We love and appreciate all of you, our dear
Burley friends and neighbors.
Sorry, we thought more family would
be able to come to the funeral
and luncheon from Wendell and Boise,
but our many nieces and
nephews and their families came just
to the burial in Wendell.
The Covid pandemic has us all
gun-shy of going places.
(As I'm typing this on Sep 12, I'm
about to end my self-imposed
14-day quarantine till Sep 13
after being
around so many people.
Looks like I'm okay.)
This white and blue arrangement is
from my sister Janice, Jeff, and her family.
It was a time to relax and enjoy
being with family and friends.
Thank you to those who set up the tables and chairs.
Carl and Lorna Gorringe Coombs
came from West Valley, Utah.
She was our main baby sitter when
we raised our children. She and Carl
are like part of our family!
Carl is a Burley boy, and has been
in the stake presidency in West Valley.
Thank you to our family for putting away
the tables and chairs.
They were all so willing to help.
I hope we have a close up photo of
those beautiful flowers that are in the background.
We are overwhelmed by so many beautiful flower
arrangements sent to honor Walter Ray Petersen.
I'm trying to gather addresses now to send a
thank you note to each one.
We had nephews and their sons helping, too.
I wish I had taken a photo of who was
sitting at each table. I just didn't have the energy.
Did anyone get photos of
Dale and Connie and their family?
And photos of Janice's family who were there?
My sister Janice, and Jeff, got to Tremonton,
where they had car trouble and had to return
home to Midvale. We missed them.
We're thankful they got safely back.
Some gifts, in lieu of flowers,
are very precious!
Our dear friends, Kenna and Neal Wyatt,
came to see us on June 24 on their
wedding anniversary.
What a precious memory.
Kenna and I have a special pact.
We have been kindred spirits
since we moved to Burley 54 years ago.
We gathered at Burton Avenue after the luncheon
Valarie so kindly let us see the
wonderful remodeling Josh and Ali
and she have done to their home--
which had been our home for 47 years
of the 52 years we lived in Burley.
(Our first 5 years in Burley we lived
just four houses north, where Gibbons
live now on Burton Avenue.)
After we took that photo in the back
yard, we talked to Tom and Irene,
our dear neighbors those 47 years,
and our neighbors across the street,
Steve and Sherry, then we walked
on up our neighborhood...
...where we got to talk to Christine,
then Ken and Bonnie and their
Fronk family, before we got to
Kings where Tracy and Candace had
invited our family to come to their home
for Saturday evening.
grandkids to unwind and have fun on...
...all handmade by Tracy and his kids.
The adults got to relax watching them...
When it got dark, some stopped off at
Taco Bandito, and some at D.Q.,
before heading back to The Marriott.
Most of the grandkids ended
their day by going swimming.
The Marriott is such a great place
to stay. Burley is lucky to have
such a great facility.
* * * * *
At the end of this Day of Days...
We as the family of Walter Ray Petersen
thank all who have helped us
take care of the earthly body of
our beloved husband, father,
grandfather and great-grandfather.
We are especially indebted to
Jeff Rasmussen, his wife Amy,
their daughter Mariah, and son Mason,
who saw that everything was done with
reverence and love to take care
of the earthly remains of Walt.
He is now safely sealed in a
beautiful casket, a sturdy
vault, and returned to
Mother Earth to
await the
Priesthood Ordinance
on
Resurrection Day
to have his spirit return
again to his body to arise
from the grave and live
forever with me
and his precious
posterity.
And so we give the most
gratitude to our
Savior, Jesus Christ,
for His Atonement and
His Grace that makes the
Plan of Salvation operational
and makes all things possible.
We thank our Heavenly Father that
His "work and glory is to bring to pass the
immortality and eternal life of"*
Walter Ray Petersen...
and each one
of us.
"And by the power of the
Holy Ghost ye may know
the truth of all things."**
*Moses 1:49
** Moroni 9:5
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the meantime, on this earth, life goes on . . .
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020
Family is Everything…
Sunday, some have already headed home.
ready to head out.
and his companion, Elder Arnold, are going
to bless and pass the Sacrament to us
in a private room. Thank you, Elders.
A photo with David and Julie's family
with their masks on.
Now without the masks.
Josh, David, Julie, me, Sam, William.
Their daughter Anna arrived in California
August 24 to begin serving in the
California Sacramento Mission,
until her visa is obtained for her
to fly to her Finland Helsinki Mission.
Steve and Natalie drove me home
to Saratoga Springs, Utah.
Thank you so much.
have shared our testimony. It was a shock
to my system a few minutes ago when
I added to that testimony some things
about Walt's death. Then I got to
the end where it says: "Of these
truths we testify..." I
had to take out "we"
and type in "I."
That is very sobering.
Also, I always put in
a photo of us together
at the end.
I didn't know if I had
a photo of me alone.
However,
I've found one from about
each decade of me alone.
Interesting to me that I
found that many.
*** *** ***
We are so thankful for The Plan of Salvation
and the Atonement of Jesus Christ
that makes this Great Plan operational.
At the end of this August 30th,
we pray you have had a
restful , peaceful, and spiritual
Sabbath Day...
We share these truths as our testimony to you...
Heavenly Father lives and knows us each by name. He loves us and wants us to return to Him and Heavenly Mother when we leave this mortal existence. He loves us just as we are at this very moment.
Walt has now left this mortal existence and returned to Them. May we live so that we, too, may join Walt and our Heavenly Parents when our "turn on earth" is over.
*** *** ***
Jesus Christ came to earth as The Only Begotten of the Father and fulfilled the Atonement. He is the Redeemer of all. "His Grace is sufficient with left-overs." See John 6:12-13 as referenced in Walt's funeral by Elder Brent H. Nielson.
*** *** ***
Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the Prophet of the Restoration. He is the Restorer of all things.
*** *** ***
President Russell M. Nelson is the Living Prophet today for all the world.
*** *** ***
The Bible is "the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly" and is a Testament of the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
*** *** ***
The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is the most correct of any book on earth.
*** *** ***
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the True Church on the earth today.
*** *** ***
Of these truths I testify in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Eileen Petersen
Saratoga Springs, Utah, U.S.A.
August 30, 2019
So I go from "we" to "I" sharing my testimony,
and from a photo of "us together" to a photo
of "me" alone. Do I even have any photos of just me?
I have found a few saved in the computer.
This first photo of me was taken April 15, 1939,
when I was four months old in Hagerman, Idaho.
My Dad carried it in his billfold to the day he died
of colon cancer on February 6, 1982 at age 69.
Eileen, at age 5 in 1943 during World War II in Long Beach, California, where my Dad built ships for the Navy. When the war was over, they returned to Wendell, Idaho, where I grew up.
From high school I went to Stevens Henager Business
College in Salt Lake City, worked a year at First Security
Bank in the Executive Offices near First South and Main
Street. Then I went to BYU in Provo.
December 1960 - Photo taken
when I was still 21 - put in newspaper
for our engagement announcement
June 1961 - Age 22...
I had this photo taken for Walt
when I turned 25 in 1963.
1970s at Flying 'B' Ranch in Idaho's Wilderness Area...
1973 - Age 35 - we'd been in our new
house for two years. We felt so blessed.
I would have my 7th and last baby
before I turned 36.
1977 - Age 39 - No grey hair yet...
In 1980 - age 42, my hair starting to turn grey.
then I left Provo to drive to Rexburg
when Janie's baby was born a month early.
Walt served me breakfast in bed for Mother's
Day - May 8, 2005 - age 66
My 74th birthday in San Salvador, Dec. 15, 2012
76th Birthday gift from Walt -
a palm tree. Dec 2014
80th Birthday Open House
December 15, 2018
Now I'm older than dirt -- at age 80.
Day after my 80th birthday
I'm thankful Walt hasn't left me completely alone.
He left me with 7 wonderful children, their spouses,
39 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Thank heavens!
July 17, 2020 - age 81.
Elder Brent H.
Nielson, of the Presidency of the Seventy, texted Julie
the day after Grampa
died and said he had arranged his schedule to come
to the funeral.
(If Grampa thought I had
asked a General Authority to take his sacred time
to come speak at his
funeral, he would have come back from the dead to
chastise me.)
However, we were
thrilled to have Elder Nielson come. Walt had been his
Bishop when he was an
Aaronic Priesthood young man.
When one of the
"senior leaders" of the Church (how he described himself)
come to a funeral they
automatically preside and are automatically the
final speaker.
Janie said after the
funeral that she thought Elder Nielson would mostly
speak about doctrine,
but he was so very personal about his "Bishop Petersen."
However, the doctrine
he did share from John 6:12 (and :13) was profound!
He said he had
pondered why the Savior would want his disciples to gather
the left-over food
after the 5,000 had eaten. That would take a lot of time.
They gathered 12
baskets full. (John 6:12-13)
Elder Nielson said
after pondering this, he concluded that it was to show
that the Grace of the
Savior is sufficient and there are left overs!
This has been very
comforting to me in bringing reassurance that
the Savior has made it
possible for me to be with my eternal sweetheart again.
Traces of Time . . .
(To see last week's blog post scroll down to the end of this week, then the Week of August 24-30, 2020 will be there. If it's not, hit "Older Posts." at the bottom right.)
THIS WEEK-
AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 6, 2020
MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020
Family is Everything…
Today
Goodbye, A U G U S T
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020
Family is Everything…
Today
WEDNESDAY, SEPEMBER 2, 2020
Family is Everything…
Today
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2020
Family is Everything…
Today
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2020
Family is Everything…
Happy
Two weeks since Walt left this earth life.
I found this poem from a family member’s
life story on familysearch.org
I’ve added a couple of things pertaining
to Walt’s life:
“NO
SAD TEARS FOR ME”
I
hope by now that some of the initial shock of my departure has begun to wear
away…and that the kind carpet of pleasant memories has started to unroll.
I
only ask one thing: No sad tears for me, please.
Every
wonderful, delightful thrill, experience and emotion life has to offer has been
mine. So, no sad tears for me, please. Rather, recall me with a fond smile as
the husband and father and friend who shared your laughter, tears, and dreams
through the years…
Save
your sadness and sorrow for those who go before their time, for those who leave
before they taste all the fine things of the world. No sad tears for me,
please.
I
lived a goodly span of years—and enjoyed them all. I’ve laughed a lot, cried a
little…I’ve seen a thousand sunsets and a few fresh dawns, walked in April
rain…and watched an ocean roll… I loved a woman and was loved in returned…I’ve
cradled daughters and sons in my arms…and walked with the hands of grandchildren in my
own. No sad tears for me, please.
Many
victories were mine, and they gave life zest. I’ve had defeats, and they made
me strong. In my youth, I had great friends to grow up with. And when age came I was allowed to stand at the edge of the crowd and
watch the young people go by… So, no sad tears for me, please.
Life
was good…I saw robins in the spring…watched a shooting star or two…enjoyed the
snows and winter, walked under a harvest moon…and stood a time or two on top of
a high hill and watched the breath-taking vista below… So, no sad tears for me, please…
Think
of the happy times: The Christmas mornings…the grandchildren…the
graduations…the weddings…the 4th of July…the callings, the missions…and most of
all, remember the thousands of times we were together as a family. No sad tears
for me, please…
For
no man dies as long as there is one person left in the living world who remembers
him with fond recall…and shares a thought with him…though he has gone ahead.
Some day one of you may be at the Flying 'B' Ranch or Stanley Basin, or anywhere I loved to be—and you might feel a
sudden, soft-warm breeze across your cheek—and you will know that I am there…
Or you might be standing on a mountain top, looking across the sweep of a great
plain, and if there is a sudden, gentle stirring among the trees, feel I am
sharing the moment with you. Or you might see a plane fly overhead…think of me.
On
Christmas Eve, if there is a small star in the sky, look at it with love and
let it come into your heart…and remember me. A man really never dies while
there are those on earth who loved him…A man is never gone as long as there are
those who remember him with fondness and as long as his memory evokes a wistful
smile. All who have loved, and who have been loved, have earned a piece of
immortality… No sad tears for me, please…
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020
Family is Everything…
Today
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2020
Family is Everything…
Today
*** *** ***
I am so thankful for The Plan of Salvation
and the Atonement of Jesus Christ
that makes this Great Plan operational.
At the end of this September 6th,
I pray you have had a
restful , peaceful, and spiritual
Sabbath Day...
I share these truths as my testimony to you...
Heavenly Father lives and knows us each by name. He loves us and wants us to return to Him and Heavenly Mother when we leave this mortal existence. He loves us just as we are at this very moment.
*** *** ***
Jesus Christ came to earth as The Only Begotten of the Father and fulfilled the Atonement. He is the Redeemer of all.
*** *** ***
Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the Prophet of the Restoration. He is the Restorer of all things.
*** *** ***
President Russell M. Nelson is the Living Prophet today for all the world.
*** *** ***
The Bible is "the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly" and is a Testament of the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
*** *** ***
The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is the most correct of any book on earth.
*** *** ***
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the True Church on the earth today.
*** *** ***
Of these truths I testify in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Eileen Petersen
Saratoga Springs, Utah, U.S.A.
September 6, 2019
