On May 30, an announcement came that Elder L. Tom Perry had died. I was shocked. Yes, just the day before, I had read on the Deseret News website that Elder Perry's cancer had been diagnosed as "terminal." But before that, the last I had heard, he was undergoing treatments and had resumed attending meetings with the Quorum of the 12 and was coming into his office. I know terminal isn't good, but I wasn't expecting him to be gone from this mortal life the very next day!
Now that I've had over a week to process it, I have a few things to say about this wonderful servant of the Lord. This last month and a half has been such a whirlwind. I can honestly say that after watching April conference Elder Perry would have been the last person I would have considered to travel down this path. He was his usual, energetic self; his booming voice proclaiming the importance of the family. On the other hand, I am reminded of the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants when the Lord declares to Joseph Smith, "Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever" (D&C 122:9). When his thyroid cancer was announced, I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. What? Elder Perry? But I watched him in conference and he looked so healthy. What happened? But it's been more than just those types of questions from me. I've also been saying to myself, "How can this happen to him; Elder Perry's my apostle!"
Funny. I happened to be reading his Facebook page the day after his passing and reviewing some of the posted comments. Apparently, he wasn't only my apostle; he was quite a few people's apostle. I guess this is because of his warm and friendly nature. No matter who you were or what "station" of life you were a part, Elder Perry had a way of connecting with you--a way of making you feel as if you had been his friend for years. The reason he was my apostle was because of the Cokeville connection. Sister Barbara Perry is from Cokeville. Consequently, it wasn't shocking to see him in town on occasion. This connection made the Cokeville Pioneer Day celebrations a bit more interesting. Now that I think about it, Pioneer Day hadn't been any big thing when my family lived in Utah, then we moved to Cokeville, Wyoming and suddenly we were dropped in the middle of their annual celebration. A "what the what" moment, to be sure! ☺ However, instead of just homemade floats built on moving hay racks pulled by trucks or tractors; the possibility of hearing the high school band; eating the barbecue lunch and watching the rodeo, we always had a general authority who served as the grand marshal of the parade and the speaker at the devotional before the lunch was served because of Elder Perry.
At either the first or second Pioneer Day celebration I attended, Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles was the grand marshal. Another year, right after my mission, Elder Dallin H. Oaks served that duel role (he made a passing mention of an experience he had during the festivities in April conference the next year). Those were the two apostles who attended when I was living in town. The other grand marshals where members of the 70. I wish I could remember some of them, but no one comes to mind (probably because, at the time, I didn't know of my family pioneer connection and I could never figure out what the big deal was--I was such an idiot teenager at times). Even though I may not have fully realized it then, what a blessing it was to hear these brethren speak to us each year. My family has been able to attend two Cokeville celebrations over the years. I seem to recall Elder Craig Zwick at one of them, but I know that Elder Perry was either in attendance at that celebration or the other one because Ben and Isaac remember shaking his hand. That is one of the things I remember about Elder Perry. He may have been surrounded by a group of people, but he would always make sure he took the time to shake everyone's hand and ask them a question or two about themselves. This, I think, is why there are so many people who now call him "my apostle" at this time of mourning.
I watched Elder Perry's funeral services and found it interesting as the family came into the Tabernacle and to quietly say to myself, "I knew them and them and them," as Sister Perry's family entered (this appears to be edited from the video now). I enjoyed the tender messages spoken and the reaffirmation that death is not the end--it is only a moving on; a preparation for greater things to come if we have lived our life in accordance to the commandments Father has given to us. I am thankful for the messages Elder Ballard and Oaks gave of some of Elder Perry's final thoughts before his death. I will miss his voice. I could always tell when the point he was making was important to him because his voice would become more booming and powerful. Yet, at the close of what has now become his final conference address, Elder Perry's voice, while becoming more powerful at times, was subdued and contemplative: "Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness . ... Of this eternal truth I bear my strongest and most sacred witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Good-bye for now, Elder Perry. God be with you 'til we meet again.
Funny. I happened to be reading his Facebook page the day after his passing and reviewing some of the posted comments. Apparently, he wasn't only my apostle; he was quite a few people's apostle. I guess this is because of his warm and friendly nature. No matter who you were or what "station" of life you were a part, Elder Perry had a way of connecting with you--a way of making you feel as if you had been his friend for years. The reason he was my apostle was because of the Cokeville connection. Sister Barbara Perry is from Cokeville. Consequently, it wasn't shocking to see him in town on occasion. This connection made the Cokeville Pioneer Day celebrations a bit more interesting. Now that I think about it, Pioneer Day hadn't been any big thing when my family lived in Utah, then we moved to Cokeville, Wyoming and suddenly we were dropped in the middle of their annual celebration. A "what the what" moment, to be sure! ☺ However, instead of just homemade floats built on moving hay racks pulled by trucks or tractors; the possibility of hearing the high school band; eating the barbecue lunch and watching the rodeo, we always had a general authority who served as the grand marshal of the parade and the speaker at the devotional before the lunch was served because of Elder Perry.
At either the first or second Pioneer Day celebration I attended, Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles was the grand marshal. Another year, right after my mission, Elder Dallin H. Oaks served that duel role (he made a passing mention of an experience he had during the festivities in April conference the next year). Those were the two apostles who attended when I was living in town. The other grand marshals where members of the 70. I wish I could remember some of them, but no one comes to mind (probably because, at the time, I didn't know of my family pioneer connection and I could never figure out what the big deal was--I was such an idiot teenager at times). Even though I may not have fully realized it then, what a blessing it was to hear these brethren speak to us each year. My family has been able to attend two Cokeville celebrations over the years. I seem to recall Elder Craig Zwick at one of them, but I know that Elder Perry was either in attendance at that celebration or the other one because Ben and Isaac remember shaking his hand. That is one of the things I remember about Elder Perry. He may have been surrounded by a group of people, but he would always make sure he took the time to shake everyone's hand and ask them a question or two about themselves. This, I think, is why there are so many people who now call him "my apostle" at this time of mourning.
I watched Elder Perry's funeral services and found it interesting as the family came into the Tabernacle and to quietly say to myself, "I knew them and them and them," as Sister Perry's family entered (this appears to be edited from the video now). I enjoyed the tender messages spoken and the reaffirmation that death is not the end--it is only a moving on; a preparation for greater things to come if we have lived our life in accordance to the commandments Father has given to us. I am thankful for the messages Elder Ballard and Oaks gave of some of Elder Perry's final thoughts before his death. I will miss his voice. I could always tell when the point he was making was important to him because his voice would become more booming and powerful. Yet, at the close of what has now become his final conference address, Elder Perry's voice, while becoming more powerful at times, was subdued and contemplative: "Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness . ... Of this eternal truth I bear my strongest and most sacred witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Good-bye for now, Elder Perry. God be with you 'til we meet again.
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