Come What May, and Love It

From the LDS newsroom:

SALT LAKE CITY | 2 Dec 2008 | Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, the oldest living apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died last night, age 91. Elder Wirthlin had gone to bed at his Salt Lake City home, and died peacefully at about 11.30 pm of causes incident to age.

I loved last conference especially, because though he looked frail in his old age, he spoke with the power and confidence of a man of God. This conference I especially loved how the leaders of our church were all so united. I specifically remember that when Elder Wirthlin was done talking and Elder Holland got up to speak he started by saying, "There is no apostle more loved, than Joseph Bitner Wirthlin".

In this last conference talk, Elder Wirthlin said,

"How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life."

With the counsel of learning to laugh, seeking for the eternal, understanding the principle of compensation, and trusting in the Father and Son, his last conference talk focused on his mother's counsel: "Come what may, and love it." He was a wonderful example of that in his life.

i think my favorite part of the LDS Newsroom abstract was this:

His oldest daughter, Jane Wirthlin Parker, was present [when he died]. A member of the family had been staying and caring for Elder Wirthlin, whose wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, died in 2006.

They are together! Him and his wife! As Jeff put it, that's a pretty great Christmas gift. :)

Their wedding day, May 26, 1941