What's it going to be like when I die, Kid?

 

About 20 years ago, a long-time friend (and my former bishop) told me about a visit to his uncle who was dying of lung cancer. (I thought, "How simply and beautifully he has explained it!")

“When I arrived, my uncle’s minister was visiting with him. The minister seemed uncomfortable with me there, so I went out for something to eat and came back two hours later.

“When I returned, Uncle said ‘What happened Kid, did you step on his toes in the elevator? For the past two hours he has been telling me what a horrible person you are, and how you believe all the wrong things. Yet, everyone else says you are a good person. And when I asked him what it was going to be like when I die, he talked on and on and never answered my question. You have been a missionary and a bishop in your church, what’s it going to be like when I die, Kid?’

“I said, ‘Uncle, tell me what it was like when you left to fight in the war.’

“He said ‘All the family were on the platform at the train station. And they all wanted to hug me or kiss me, and shake my hand, and tell me that they loved me and wanted me to return safely.’

“And Uncle, what was it like when you returned home from the war?”

“There were 28 Davidsons lined up on the same platform in the same train station. And they all wanted to hug me or kiss me, and tell me how glad they were to see me.”

“Uncle, when you die it will be very similar. Your cancer-ravaged body will die, but your spirit will rise up to be greeted by loved ones who have previously died and are happy to see you again. It will be like when you returned from the war, all over again.”

“That doesn’t sound bad at all. … And Kid, tell me what God is like. I asked my minister and he talked for 45 minutes and never answered my question.

“Well Uncle, there is God the Father, and his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who is also called the Holy Ghost. You are a good man and you have done a lot of good for other people. When you have felt that special warm feeling inside after doing good to someone, that was the Holy Ghost telling you that God is pleased with you. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. Through him we will all be resurrected and we can be forgiven of our sins. God is the father of Jesus Christ. He is also the father of our spirits. He loves us and wants us to be happy. He has a great plan of happiness for us all. In the scriptures, Jesus prayed to the Father and he taught his followers to pray to the Father, too. Again and again Jesus taught that he was sent by God the Father, and the Father bore witness that Jesus is his beloved son.

“The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are three separate personages, who are one in purpose. Jesus prayed that his followers would be united in the same way that He and the Father are united. It isn’t complicated.

“Thanks, Kid. At last I understand."

See https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist