{"chapter_no":"5","chapter_title":"The Scene of the Funeral","book_id":"3","book_name":"Springville","subchapter_no":"0","page_no":"405","page_number":"1","verses_count":0,"total_pages":4,"page_content":"

 <\/p>

Chapter 5<\/p>

The Scene of the Funeral<\/h1><\/p>

 <\/p>

A righteous man, Reed endures to the end and dies in the Lord—Those attending the <\/i>funeral see<\/i> a
vision of heaven––The <\/i>c<\/i>hurch building is transfigured, becoming a glorious temple—The great blessings
Reed receives in the hereafter.<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

Three days had passed since Reed’s death.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Where did he go? <\/p>

 <\/p>

What finally became of him? <\/p>

 <\/p>

Death, the final curtain of life, came suddenly upon him. His spirit moved on to a new
place, separated from the mortal body now lying motionless in the casket. Throughout his life,
Reed had lived faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. So, while there was mourning in
his passing, in reality, there was no tragedy here. Because of righteousness, he died in the Lord.
Because of righteousness, death was sweet unto him. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The last three days for Reed had been ones filled with excitement—his first glimpse of
the sights and sounds of the world beyond the veil. No longer was he old. His state of existence
became like that of a newly born baby––curious eyes opened wide, trying to see everything
around him. He had quickly discovered that with death there was nothing to fear, for he had just
passed through the veil. He now enjoyed a glorious first-person view of paradise in the spirit
world.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Looking upon the casket of this man, you see a body carefully prepared for a public
viewing. Elegant, light-colored velvet is sewn into the interior, a material soft to the touch.
Several beautiful arrangements of flowers surround the casket––long-stemmed pink and yellow
roses, orchids, a few sets of white lilies, and dozens of carnations mixed with green leaves. The
casket itself is impressive, its appearance suggesting the use of natural cherry wood sanded and
finished by hand. Attractive engraving swirls around the corners and matching pairs of shiny
bronze handles are visible on both sides, and on the front and back.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The site of the funeral is a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in Sandy. The building is old, a
historical monument of a sort, a reminder of earlier times when remnants of the first generation
of pioneers were still alive. It provides a glimpse of who Reed was in life. But not just Reed <\/p>

alone; it reminds us of the great men and women of his generation, those who helped build up
and sustain the Church in the first half of the twentieth century. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

On this day, many fine people are here in attendance: family, friends, and invited guests,
all of whom dressed in their Sunday-best clothes. There is, however, that awkward feeling of a
funeral. How should one feel? How should one act? What are the proper things to say at a time
like this? Death is here in attendance—the mysterious figure in the room. We know very little
about him. He arrives suddenly to our door when we least expect. But his presence—the passing
of a loved one or friend—gives us more respect for life, often bringing out our best, and
providing an opportunity for us to forgive one another and leave past problems behind. Death is
also an important milestone, marking the passage of time, reminding us of what lies ahead for
each of us at the end of our lives. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

This, good reader, is the scene at the funeral of Reed Atkins, what you see with your
natural eyes as one in attendance. But what of your spiritual eyes? Through them, you can look
once more at this scene and behold the greater things, seeing that Reed is, in fact, here among us
today. Focusing your eyes carefully, you can see him over by the casket. He stands there,
upright, a glorious spiritual personage in an unresurrected state. <\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Excitedly, he calls over to you and motions upward, “Look!\" he cries. \"Look above the
casket and see with your eyes! There is neither ceiling nor sky!\"<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

<\/span>Up and above, the heavens open like a scroll—a vision of the eternal world stretches
forth before you. As far as the eye can see, there is a vast congregation of angels in heaven. A
host of these angels descend, joyful in song, joyful in celebration. <\/p>

 <\/p>

With great excitement, Reed shouts with joy at the top of his voice.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

“Listen, see, and feel! Experience the sights and sounds of heaven!<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

“Hear the bells! Hear the choir of angels! Behold, the kingdom of God!”<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

A few seconds looking into heaven and you are changed forever. All the important
questions of your life have been answered. What you see here is not found in books, other than
the great visions and testimonies of the prophets found in the scriptures. You can see what they
have seen. Your innermost desires are quickened. What you want in life immediately changes.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Reed, glancing around the room, quickly points to the walls of the chapel.<\/p>

 <\/p>

“Look there!” he exclaims.<\/p>

 <\/p>

The meetinghouse is changing. Inside the chapel, the lights grow dim, the room grows
larger in size, and the walls become somewhat transparent, allowing you to see things both inside
and out. There are dramatic upgrades to the interior decoration in both elegance and style.
Outside, extending around the perimeter of the building, are impressive-looking iron fences,
strong and tall, as though hoisted up and arranged by the men of Captain Moroni. At the two <\/p>

main entrances, gates linked with the fences are now present; both gates are of impressive
workmanship. The grass and flowers on the grounds are flawless, looking more beautiful than
ever before. Inside and outside, there is beauty all around. <\/p>

 <\/p>

A new edifice has been erected to replace the old. The meetinghouse has been
transfigured––sanctified, glorified, and celestialized, a temple newly dedicated by fire. <\/p>

 <\/p>

The familiar logo “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” sparkles, and the title
of the building, newly changed, reads to all passersby: “Sandy 4th Ward Temple – The House of
the Lord.” <\/p>

 <\/p>

Down on his hands and knees, Reed looks through the floor, amazed at all that he sees.
He calls to you again, “Look below you!”<\/p>

 <\/p>

A great commotion is stirring below your feet. Gone is the carpeting and present now is a
floor of crystal; its appearance is transparent, globe-like, and smooth like fine pearls, having a
rotational movement not unlike the earth itself. Through the transparency, what is seen first is a
glitter of stars and sparkling lights, but those soon dissolve and disappear. What is seen next is
akin to the world itself. All things past, present, and future are visible to your eyes via a great
Urim and Thummim. For you now, just like Moses of olden times, all the earth is discernible
through the Spirit. All particles of matter, all creatures of the earth, all the inhabitants of the earth
throughout the generations of man are visible to you, their number like the sands of the sea.<\/p>

 <\/p>

The whole room is in motion––above, below, and everywhere you look. Events are
occurring rapidly and almost without warning, requiring all the energy your body possesses and
overwhelming your senses.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Rising to his feet again, Reed points to the casket. <\/p>

 <\/p>

“Look here!” <\/p>

 <\/p>

Rays of light shine down from heaven upon the lifeless physical remains in the casket,
brightened more still by Reed’s glorious personage of spirit nearby. Light fills all the open
spaces, gently touching the soft material inside. The casket itself is no longer of cherry wood, but
of something greater—a gold-like substance; but one would greatly err to describe it merely as
gold. It is a heavenly material, a heavenly-refined gold, for its color and finish are purer than its
earthly counterpart. Many precious jewels adorn the outside of the casket, some of these having
the appearance of rubies, emeralds, and diamonds; the light dances upon these jewels magically,
creating an excitement all its own. The light glistens through the stems and petals of the flower
arrangements, splashing vibrant colors around the walls of the room. <\/p>

 <\/p>

There is another light to see, one that is warm and comforting. It fully enlivens the senses
and brightens the countenances of all those who are present in the room. This special light—the
Spirit of God—fills the room, touching those with broken hearts and contrite spirits. This is the
great light of peace, a peace that will tarry in our hearts long after the vision ends. And with our
hearts touched, we are better prepared to ponder death and understand its meaning. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Through our spiritual eyes, we have seen Reed among us. After today, he will be gone
from our presence. And what a great loss this will be. Oh, how he will be missed! <\/p>

 <\/p>

On a day like this, he might have been outside his home standing in the driveway,
carefully watching over the watering of his lawn and feeling the cool, relaxing mist of the
sprinklers. Or maybe, this would have been a day for him to feel the sweat on his brow for a few
hours in the afternoon, trimming bushes in the yard, weeding the garden, or washing and waxing
the car. Or perhaps, this was one of those fine summer days when he would accompany his wife,
Jerilyn, on a walk through the neighborhood, the sunlight passing through the leaves, the two of
them feeling the touch of their hands clasped together one last time.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Reed stands before us. His work on earth is done.<\/p>

 <\/p>

He is ready for all of the good things spoken of in the scriptures generation after
generation.<\/p>

 <\/p>

He is ready for all of the good things spoken of in general conference year after year.<\/p>

 <\/p>

He is ready for all of the good things spoken of in Sunday School week after week.<\/p>

 <\/p>

He is ready for eternity. <\/p>

 <\/p>

He waits, listening for the sound of the trump of the first resurrection and to receive the
glorified body of flesh and bones soon to be his. <\/p>

 <\/p>

He waits, like the Nephites of old, conversing in amazement with those around him about
this Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, soon to descend from heaven in great glory. <\/p>

 <\/p>

He waits, looking forward to visiting the earth again during the great Millennial period, a
wonderful, happy time to reexperience the beauty of creation, the delightful animals, a world at
peace, and the Savior’s personal reign on the earth. <\/p>

 <\/p>

He waits for the Final Judgment and the just reward for his lifetime of good works.<\/p>

 <\/p>

He waits to see his beloved companion, Jerilyn, as she comes speedily to join with him
for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. <\/p>

 <\/p>

He is ready for all of this, and this is joy. <\/p>

 <\/p>

How can anyone read these things and not feel gladness in their heart? <\/p>

 <\/p>

This is the solemnity of eternity. This is the glory of righteousness.<\/p>"}