It is ironic that we, who can hardly roll out of bed in the morning, call those now filled with heightened joy, peace and power merely "dead." There has to be a better word.
Thank you, Jacob, for that beautiful message, and the quotes of a kind of glory we rarely imagine awaiting us. Know that we mourn with you and your family the loss of your angelic daughter, that little piece of heaven you used to carry around. We are so sorry for your loss.
My first husband died almost 15 years ago. And since then, I have said from experience (and with conviction) "Death is hard." But I love the invitation to think of a new word. I, too, want a new word, one that sparks sweet joy, even if it is accompanied with real sorrow that wouldn't be wished away. (The words we use influence our thoughts and feelings, powerfully.) I want a word that evokes thoughts of their release from pain, joy for that someone, enhanced connections, an eagerness for a physical reunion, and a peace that passeth understanding. Maybe that word (whatever it is) will invite that divine peace.
"Death" describes only the body. This word needs to describe the spirit which is living, the relationships which never end, the body which will eventually be renewed and our hope which will forever be satisfied in Christ.
Beautiful Jacob, thank you for your thoughts. I love how President Nelson uses the phrase "graduated" and Elder Bednar has said "transferred by death to the spirit world". When my Dad died, my sister who has struggled with any faith at all during her whole life, cried in despair, "It's like he's right here!!!" pointing a few feet away. She could sense him, but it caused her grief, rather than comfort. I have felt since I was a little girl that there was someone watching over me. I rarely feel completely alone. At the recent funeral of our mutual friend who lived a very full life, I had such a sense of her presence, I knew she was still so very much alive! I still sense that about her. I also love the poem "Gone From My Sight" by Henry Van Dyke which paints a beautiful picture.
Have you ever watched an archaeologist at work peeling away the layers of earth to uncover historical relics from the distant past? Sometimes in their search they uncover the skeletal remains of a person who lived hundreds or thousands of years before. The word 'dead ' or 'death' is the best word we have to describe tissue that no longer regenerates itself. Men look at this dry and brittle bone tissue that no longer regenerates. It is dead to them like leaves that die every autumn and fall to the ground to become organic matter. Then to be used by other plants in seasons ahead. Even living persons benefits from organic matter. We have yet to see a once living person rising from the grave to be re-animated but our faith tells us that this miracle will take place in the future at some appointed time, but not yet. To die no more again. Until then perhaps a good substitute for the word 'dead' is un-animated. I wonder if the spirits beyond the veil would think differently if we used that word instead of 'dead?'
Thank you, Jacob, for that beautiful message, and the quotes of a kind of glory we rarely imagine awaiting us. Know that we mourn with you and your family the loss of your angelic daughter, that little piece of heaven you used to carry around. We are so sorry for your loss.
My first husband died almost 15 years ago. And since then, I have said from experience (and with conviction) "Death is hard." But I love the invitation to think of a new word. I, too, want a new word, one that sparks sweet joy, even if it is accompanied with real sorrow that wouldn't be wished away. (The words we use influence our thoughts and feelings, powerfully.) I want a word that evokes thoughts of their release from pain, joy for that someone, enhanced connections, an eagerness for a physical reunion, and a peace that passeth understanding. Maybe that word (whatever it is) will invite that divine peace.
"Death" describes only the body. This word needs to describe the spirit which is living, the relationships which never end, the body which will eventually be renewed and our hope which will forever be satisfied in Christ.
Beautiful Jacob, thank you for your thoughts. I love how President Nelson uses the phrase "graduated" and Elder Bednar has said "transferred by death to the spirit world". When my Dad died, my sister who has struggled with any faith at all during her whole life, cried in despair, "It's like he's right here!!!" pointing a few feet away. She could sense him, but it caused her grief, rather than comfort. I have felt since I was a little girl that there was someone watching over me. I rarely feel completely alone. At the recent funeral of our mutual friend who lived a very full life, I had such a sense of her presence, I knew she was still so very much alive! I still sense that about her. I also love the poem "Gone From My Sight" by Henry Van Dyke which paints a beautiful picture.
https://allpoetry.com/gone-from-my-sight
Have you ever watched an archaeologist at work peeling away the layers of earth to uncover historical relics from the distant past? Sometimes in their search they uncover the skeletal remains of a person who lived hundreds or thousands of years before. The word 'dead ' or 'death' is the best word we have to describe tissue that no longer regenerates itself. Men look at this dry and brittle bone tissue that no longer regenerates. It is dead to them like leaves that die every autumn and fall to the ground to become organic matter. Then to be used by other plants in seasons ahead. Even living persons benefits from organic matter. We have yet to see a once living person rising from the grave to be re-animated but our faith tells us that this miracle will take place in the future at some appointed time, but not yet. To die no more again. Until then perhaps a good substitute for the word 'dead' is un-animated. I wonder if the spirits beyond the veil would think differently if we used that word instead of 'dead?'