Concluding remarks given at funeral service for Suzi Lewis

24 January 2017

Suzi Lewis Funeral Service

January 24, 2017

Remarks by Crismon Lewis

·   While we do not know most members of the Lewis family, we can’t help but love this family because we knew and loved Suzi…and we knew of her love for us and you.

·   A blessed posterity because two wonderful people came together and chose to be a family.

In preparing for this message, I had impressed on my mind the scriptural phrase “the sting of death,” which I have pondered.

The phrase was used by:

·   Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:56)

·   Abinadi in King Noah’s court (Mosiah 16:8)

·   Aaron, one of the sons of Mosiah, to the king of the Lamanites (Alma 22:14) and

·   Mormon in his final words to all of us (Mormon 7:5).

Where Mormon uses the word “also” suggests that there is a distinction between the other common phrase used with it, “the victory over the grave,” suggests that the two are very different elements in the Plan of Redemption.

Almost all references of “the sting of death” are combined with the assurance that this “sting” is “swallowed up in Christ.”

While the “sting of death” may be a reference to those of us who mourn the loss of a loved one, it may also reference another dimension to the death “event” itself.

Just as we’ve come to learn that the Atonement of Jesus Christ addresses sin so we do not have to suffer the full measure of justice required when we transgress or sin…and just as the Atonement assures us all that we will be resurrected, a gift to all mortals…thanks to Alma’s discourse to the people of Gideon (Alma 7:11-12) the Atonement also provides a sustaining influence in our lives to help us endure, even make it through, the trials, troubles and afflictions of mortality.

This latter blessing provides yet a third dimension to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

We may get a glimpse of how “the sting of death” is swallowed up in Jesus Christ by this reference in D&C 42:46: “And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them;”

This is confirmed in both the New and Old Testament.

·   See Revelation 14:13: “…Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

·   See Psalm 116:15: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

When we begin to hear words like “sweet, blessed, precious” in reference to death, we can’t help but wonder: “How can this be? How can something so sad and so sorrowful be described with words like those?”

The answer lies in the words of the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob: “For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.”
(2 Nephi 9:6)

When we understand the purpose of death—that there is a Plan—then we can appreciate how “the sting of death” is swallowed up in Jesus Christ.  Suzi understood and believed in the Plan and so death must have been sweet unto her despite the pain of her illness and the loneliness of separation from her family here on earth.

Because of the Plan brought to earth by angels (Alma 12:28-30), Suzi knew and understood…

…We lived before this life and accepted Heavenly Father’s Plan for His children; we even “shouted for joy,” the scriptures say (Job 38:7).

…We witnessed the creation of this magnificently beautiful earth that we would populate;

…We trusted in Adam and Eve that they would come to realize they must instigate the Fall—it was not a mistake—but fulfilled the purposes of God so that families could be created, children could be born and so that we could know pain, sorrow, disappointments, happiness and joy (2 Nephi 2:25)…and yes, even death (2 Nephi 9:6);

…We trusted in Jehovah, a God, to join us in mortality and break the bands of death (Alma 34:9-10)—it can be said that all of us who live and lived on this earth had faith in Christ even before He was the Christ;

…We have come to learn through prophets that God trusted in us to walk this thorny path of life and to learn of Christ and walk the path Jesus marked (D&C 19:23);

…We are taught that death is not the end, but the door to eternal life where we might not only live WITH God but become LIKE God our Heavenly Father—the magnificent end result of this marvelous Plan of Salvation, Plan of Redemption, even Plan of Happiness.

We join with Elder Bruce R. McConkie who said in General Conference: “We rejoice in life. We rejoice in death.” (October General Conference 1976)

Yes, we are to mourn at times like this…in fact it is part of our baptismal covenant to “mourn with those that mourn.” (Mosiah 18:9) But the covenants we make bring us comfort even in death.

As Elder L. Tom Perry, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, once described in a General Conference (tribute to his wife, who had recently passed away (when I read this it reminded me of you, Vaughn):

“And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them.” (D&C 42:45–46.)

“I understand this scripture now as never before. Even though there is great loneliness without her, her passing was sweet because of the way she had lived.

“In tribute to her today, I recommend to you her way of life. I watched service consume pain. I witnessed faith destroy discouragement. I have seen courage magnify her beyond her natural abilities. I have observed love change the course of lives.” (April General Conference 1975)

As I contemplated what would Suzi want me say to her posterity, my mind went to this scripture:

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren [family], pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons [and daughters] of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.” (Moroni 7:48)

I testify that your mother and grandmother lives. She truly led the way and even marked the path for each of you and us. I know she lives because I know He lives. And because the Savior lives we can all enjoy the victory over death and witness  “the sting of death” being swallowed up in Jesus Christ.