{"chapter_no":"23","chapter_title":"Leanna Mitchell","book_id":"3","book_name":"Springville","subchapter_no":"0","page_no":"493","page_number":"1","verses_count":0,"total_pages":5,"page_content":"

<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Chapter 23<\/span><\/p>

Leanna Mitchell<\/span><\/h1><\/p>

 <\/p>

Carolyn invites an old friend to a special homecoming program in her ward's sacrament
meeting—As a child, Leanna is raised by her grandmother after losing her parents in a car accident—
Although a Methodist, the concept of ‘families are forever’ is something she instinctively believes in—
Carolyn waits at the glass doors of the foyer for Leanna to arrive.<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

One day while shopping at a downtown mall, Carolyn came across Leanna Mitchell, an
old friend of hers from high school. More than thirty years had passed since they had last seen
each other, so there was plenty of interesting news for them to share. They talked at length on a
number of subjects and then went to the food court for a quick bite to eat. Carolyn talked about
her family and some of the experiences she had had while living in Europe. Leanna also talked
about her family, mentioning a small business she co-owned with her husband and giving a quick
rundown on the fun things they had done on a recent two-week cruise in the Caribbean. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The subject of religion also came up. Leanna was not a member of the Church and had
never attended services before at a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse, but she showed great interest
now, peppering Carolyn with a number of questions—about the role of women in the Church,
about tithing, about the work done in temples (something Carolyn was particularly excited to
share with her) and, of course, about smoking and the drinking of alcoholic beverages. Would
she have to give these up if she ever considered becoming a Latter-day Saint one day? Leanna
then talked some about her own religion, describing her beliefs as a Methodist and some of the
things she liked most about her church. Near the end of their visit, Carolyn invited Leanna to
come to church with her on the following Sunday, adding that her husband Grant would be
speaking as part of a special homecoming program and that all of her children and their families
would be there. Leanna happily accepted the invitation. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

With respect to Leanna and her background, she grew up as an only child in Fort Worth,
Texas. Her parents were killed in an automobile accident in the spring of 1962, when she was
only five years old. She had been staying with neighbors on that day while her parents ran
important errands downtown. She had waited at the neighbor’s house all afternoon, keeping a
careful watch through the front window for her parents to arrive. Her wait continued long into
the evening––6:00, 8:00, and then 10:00, but still no word. At 11:30, a police car drove up and
two policemen got out. Ringing the bell at the front door of her house next door––now aware of
the family situation of the accident victims––they searched for the little girl to see that she was
taken care of. One can only imagine the shock of a little child like this in such circumstances.
Her entire world had been shattered. <\/span><\/p>

<\/p>

<\/span><\/p>

In the description of Diane Hunter, it had been noted that she kept to herself as much as
possible and avoided the limelight, like a lion cub staying close to the den. Leanna, in contrast,
had lost her parents at an early age; the den and its surrounding area had not seemed to provide a
comfortable home and safe environment for her. She had stayed there out of instinct, not
knowing what else to do, wondering why her parents had never returned home. Left alone, she
now had to fend for herself in the world.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The Lord was ever mindful of her, however. Leanna had a grandmother, a fine woman by
the name of Helen Simmons. A widower in her early fifties, she lived alone in a small house in
Provo, Utah. Hearing of the accident, she immediately traveled to Forth Worth to pick up little
Leanna. After taking care of all the necessary legal matters, the two returned to Utah together
where Leanna began her new life. The shock for Helen, too, was quite severe, as she had lost
both her son and daughter-in-law in the calamity. It was a double tragedy for her in a sense,
coming after the loss of her husband to a serious illness only two years before. Nevertheless,
Helen now had Leanna to care for, and in that one respect, she could not have been more
delighted. In raising her, she would provide love and a safe and comfortable home. She sought
out little friends for Leanna in the neighborhood and helped make the transition to her new
surroundings as smooth as possible.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Helen was a devout Methodist. Like any good Christian, she saw it as her primary duty in
life to teach her granddaughter right from wrong and to help her develop a strong faith in God. It
was not surprising, therefore, that Leanna grew up having a firm belief that she would see her
mother and father again one day. The two of them often talked about her parents up in heaven,
something that as a child made her feel very happy. Helen was not exactly clear on how
everything worked and what actual doctrine or scriptures in the Bible were behind it. It just
seemed natural to her that families were meant to be together. She missed her husband and
thought about him often in much the same way. She had often wondered: Why<\/i> <\/i>did our marriage
have to end at death<\/i>?<\/i> The idea of “till death do us part” seemed wrong to her somehow. It didn’t
match up with common sense, nor did it coincide with one’s own conscience (the light of Christ),
nor did it align with what would seem to be good and proper in a loving God’s plan of salvation
for His children after they had departed this earth. Leanna’s desire and instincts were similar. As
a child, she had perfect faith that she would see her parents again and continue a family
relationship in the next life—the natural instinct of most any rational person on earth.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

This belief that family relationships and marriages extend past the grave, and can be
eternal in nature, is likely present in the minds of all who will read this book. You get a sense of
that in the ending of the 1959 movie of Ben Hur––the greatest movie of the Christian world, and
really, one of the greatest movies ever made––where the family comes together in a joyful and
tearful reunion. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Dear Reader, what do you believe in your heart on this subject? <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The different attributes and roles of men and women in life, and the society of families
being together, weren’t they intended to be important in the full scheme of God’s plan rather
than merely temporary and relevant to our mortal lives only? In other words, like blankets, shoes,
coats, soap, toothbrushes, telephones, automobiles, and kitchen appliances, were marriages, <\/p>

families, and male/female attributes purely arbitrary in nature when the earth was created,
intended by God to be disposable at death? Surely, this was not what the Savior meant as to what
happens and what remains intact after the resurrection of the dead and for all eternity? More
likely, the idea of \"till death do us part,\" like so many others, was a sectarian notion invented
long after the ministry of the Savior and the Apostles, driven by personal interpretation of the
scriptures by men of past centuries––men who were perhaps well-intentioned and of good
character, but who lacked the ability to receive revelation from God like the apostles of Christ,
and who were therefore unaware of their mistake; something that would be equally true of many
men and women of the Christian world living today. New revelation is required to interpret fully
any past revelation from God that we have. Thus, to deny modern revelation is to deny the only
means by which all scriptures can be interpreted correctly and taught properly to the world.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

As for Leanna, she had no doubts in the matter. Families were meant to be together in
heaven just as they were on earth. The concept seemed very logical and natural to her. As a
child, her mind was not overburdened by this simple idea; she had not yet been exposed to the
extensive scriptural research and analysis on the subject performed over centuries by religious
scholars. In its place, she had only the faith and common sense of a child and was, therefore, in a
much better position to easily accept and understand the things of God in their natural order.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Attending school in Provo, she had heard the phrase “families are forever” mentioned
often by Latter-day Saint friends of hers. But she had no reason to pay it much notice, or react
with surprise to it, since it was very much in line with her own thinking. Nevertheless, the chance
meeting with Carolyn again after so many years, and her description of the work being
performed in Latter-day Saint temples, and of the sealing of families together for “time and all
eternity,” caused Leanna to become fascinated with the subject. Having lived in Utah for a long
period of time, she was curious to know what the Church services were like and, moreover, she
was desirous to meet Carolyn’s husband and family.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The following Sunday, Carolyn prepared to meet Leanna at 10:50 at the east-side
entrance a few minutes before the start of Sunday School class. This was Leanna’s first visit, so
Carolyn wanted to be clearly visible to her as she waited inside near the door. The prospect of
having an old friend like Leanna present at their family homecoming program was exciting to
her. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

In the foyer, Carolyn waited for Leanna's arrival. Through the large glass window, she
kept a close lookout. Five minutes passed, then ten, but still nothing. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

She checked her watch. 1<\/i>1<\/i>:00<\/i>...<\/i> <\/i>where is she?<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Suddenly, a loud noise filled the building. The bell had rung, catching Carolyn by
surprise. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Strange<\/i>...<\/i> <\/i>t<\/i>he bell <\/i>for Sunday School class <\/i>shouldn’t <\/i>have been rung<\/i> this <\/i>early<\/i>.<\/i> <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

D<\/i>idn't<\/i> they realize <\/i>Leanna hasn't arrived yet<\/i>? <\/i><\/span><\/p>

<\/p>

<\/span><\/p>

Watching everyone move quickly through the hallway, panic set in. She went outside the
building, walked up and down the sidewalk, and scanned the parking lot for activity.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

How sad! <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Nobody else is<\/i> coming<\/i>, and no<\/i> <\/i>cars<\/i> are pulling up.<\/i> <\/i>I wish I'd gotten Leanna’s phone
number to call<\/i> and remind<\/i> her<\/i>. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Returning inside the building, she walked over to the opposite entrance of the building.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Hmm<\/i>...<\/i> <\/i>not here<\/i> either<\/i>. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

A quiet confusion ensued. Disheartened, she made her way down the hallway towards the
classroom. Each step brought more disappointment. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Thinking of the scene she left behind in the foyer, her thoughts trailed off in despair––
Leanna,<\/i> I waited<\/i> for you as promised.<\/i> Where are you?<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

All during Sunday School class, Carolyn was troubled. Looking towards the empty chairs
of the back row, she continued to hold out hope. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Maybe we got the time mixed up and she<\/i> arrived too early? How awful if that happened<\/i>!<\/i>
She would have felt lost and out of place.<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

That possibility gnawed at her. She envisioned a scene where Leanna had come early and
stood all by herself inside the foyer, feeling uncomfortable and not knowing what to do. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The whole invitation idea now seemed like it had been a failure. By not getting a phone
number to follow up the day before to verify time and place, she had missed an important
opportunity to bless the life of her friend. She was quite unhappy with herself.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Midway through the hour, however, Carolyn’s demeanor improved slightly as she paid
more attention to the lesson. The Sunday School class teacher Diane was teaching the class
wonderfully! Working side by side with the Spirit, stories, scriptures, and gospel principles
flowed through her to the audience. From her seat, Carolyn watched what was going on with
great interest, trying to figure out why the lesson seemed so good today. The atmosphere in the
classroom was delightful, and her mind was enlightened by the Spirit. She was quickly becoming
her wonderful self again—a orange-haired kitten sampling the beautiful flowers of a rose garden.
A lion cub (Diane) was teaching, and an orange kitten (Carolyn) was listening—the ideal
teaching environment for the Spirit.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Suddenly, a loud noise shook the walls of the building. The closing bell had rung. The
sound startled everyone as though a stone had been cast through the window. The noise was its
own rudeness, able to chase away any spirit, good or bad. Diane took control of the class again,
performing her role as the schoolmaster. The Spirit, noticing the disturbance, quickly departed
the room. <\/span><\/p>

<\/p>

<\/span><\/p>

With the bell came a flurry of noise and lawlessness unleashed from every quarter of the
church building. People were on the move; it was time for sacrament meeting! The bell was the
signal for all to gather and worship God reverently in the chapel. Moments before, the chapel had
been a pristine and pleasant waiting area. But no longer. The bell had once again achieved its
purpose. Carolyn herself was hardly pleased, rattled inside by that “awful sound” again. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Yet the walk towards the chapel was uplifting to her, with the delightful feelings of the
Sunday School lesson still fresh in her mind.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

I’m glad I <\/i>was able to be here today<\/i>. <\/i>Diane Hunter is a wonderful teacher!<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

She then remembered Grant would be speaking and that all of her children and
grandchildren would be there waiting for her in the chapel.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

How nice it<\/i> is for all of us to be together <\/i>at church<\/i>! <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

She was also reminded by the Spirit of her beautiful new Hobble Creek home.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

I really like our new hous<\/i>e and <\/i>the people in the <\/i>neighborhood. <\/i>It’s so nice to be home in
Utah<\/i> again<\/i>!<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Making a quick pass through all of these wonderful blessings in her life, she was back to
where she had started the day––full of hope and promise. Thoughts of failure were gone. She had
faith, energy, and feelings of elation. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

A multitude of happy thoughts now filled her mind, each one of which taken alone might
have been seen as grand and pleasing. But pondering upon such a wide variety of happy
thoughts, and to experience them all at once, brought strength and vitality to her soul.<\/span><\/p>

<\/p>"}