December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

54
JOSEPH SMITH, BY ALVIN GITTINS
Ifrequently
reflect on the
comforting
words of the Prophet
Joseph Smith: “And
that same sociality
which exists among
us here will exist
among us there, only
it will be coupled
with eternal glory,
which glory we do
not now enjoy.”
Everyone appeared to be in pain. I stepped
close to my mother, who sat leaning against
the van’s tire, and asked how she was. The
indecisive phrase “I don’t know” satisfied
my frightened mind.
Within minutes an emergency helicopter
arrived to rush my mother and five-year-old
brother, Josh, to a nearby hospital. I climbed
into one of two ambulances that carried the
rest of my battered family to the emergency
room. Suffering from a mere scrape on my
back, I was the least injured.
My family dispersed into various examination
rooms for individual treatment before
we were reunited an hour or so later in a
small hospital room at the request of my
father. I looked around the room at family
members whose medical treatments were
temporarily postponed and began to worry
about the effects of this unthinkable tragedy.
Two of our family were missing: Josh, who I
later learned was in a coma in critical condition,
and Mom.
The words my father then spoke will never
fade from memory.
“Mom is dead,” he mumbled beneath his
tears.
My heart sank, and my eyes also filled with
tears. The room was silent for a few moments
as these words sank in.
“Who’s going to cook for us?” nineyear-old
Sarah asked.
Dad replied with the best words of
comfort he could think of under the circumstances.
“I don’t know. We’ll work
something out.”
Christmas was different that year,
falling only six days after the accident.
We postponed celebrating the holiday
until Josh had recuperated enough to join
the family. Then, on our special Christmas
morning, my seven brothers and sisters and
I gathered in a circle around the tree with my
dad to open presents. As was tradition in our
family, the youngest, my one-year-old sister,
picked the first present to open. She chose
a gift my mother had prepared for the family
before her death.
Dad removed the wrapping paper from a
framed cross-stitch that read, “The circle of
our love is Forever.” The implication of that
simple phrase brought peace to my family in
that time of trial, and the meaning behind the
words has bound us together ever since with
the knowledge that we will see our mother
again.
Today, nearly 17 years later, I’m reminded
of the powerful truth of eternal families as
I begin to build my own. Now my constant
reminder to live my life worthily comes not
only from my desire to see my mother again
but also from my desire to live forever with
my wife and baby boy.
I frequently reflect on the comforting
words of the Prophet Joseph Smith: “And
that same sociality which exists among us
here will exist among us there, only it will
be coupled with eternal glory, which glory
we do not now enjoy” (D&C 130:2).
The cross-stitch we unwrapped many
years ago still hangs on my family’s living
room wall, reminding me and my siblings
of our beloved mother, providing continued
hope in the divine plan of our Heavenly
Father, and bringing us peace of mind
because of the promise of eternal families
made possible by the sacrifice of our Savior
Jesus Christ. ■
David Toy is a member of the Tates Creek Ward,
Lexington Kentucky Stake.