Afterthoughts on Afterlife

Three different circumstances stood out from our experience with Mom-in-law's passing in September. First was trying to explain to the little great's about her death, and what/where/how/why it all happens. Secondly, was the beautiful bouquet of roses that my family rendered in behalf of condolences. And thirdly, was the thoughtfulness of a sweet friend in taping the funeral proceedings, so that we would have it to listen to later. It was especially nice, since Fay's husband had an engagement that he had to be in Washington for that day, and was not able to hear the loving message that she gave at the funeral.

I asked Vicky later about the analogy that the Primary children are taught about the body and the spirit, and how they are two separate things. It had been so long since I was in the capacity of being in Primary, that I had forgotten it. I only wished that we had had Bishop Simmon's relate it at the funeral.

Vicky: I don't know where to specifically send you for an official rendition of the analogy. Basically it teaches like this ~ The hand represents the spirit of an eternal being. The glove represents the mortal body. At birth the spirit enters into the mortal body...hand into glove. The glove fits perfectly the hand as the body fits perfectly the spirit. Together the spirit and body constitute the soul as a glove and hand constitutes a warm and happy unit.

As the days, months, and years go by the glove becomes soiled, worn, and threadbare with use. It becomes old and maybe even a little outdated and clumsy. At the end of its usefulness it is removed from the hand and put away as Heavenly Father removes a worn-out and fatigued body from the spirit. The spirit (hand) is still the same and will go on to later receive a new glove just like the old glove used to be.

Hope that helps a little. Death is a hard transition for everyone no matter how old or how young. You are wonderful to be so sensitive to the matter and to young feelings. My well wishes go to the littlest great-grandchildren and to all.

Then I asked Leanne about the bouquet of roses, as it wasn't a bouquet of one color, but many colors and one rose bud that did not bloom. It too had significance:


The rose is called an artificial rose because they are 'hybrid'. So much so, that they are not supposed to open, thus referred to as a 'Forever Rose'. I thought that would be a good one to save and either dry it or dip it in that stuff that keeps them so they still look real. It brought to memory that they were all live roses that had been cut from their source of nourishment to make this lovely bouquet. But within a few days, they were wilting and eventually dying. The one that was bred to stay perpetually a 'bud' looked the same, and will be a reminder of everlasting life to me. Such a good reminder of our thoughts on life after death.