Lester Glade Funeral, Part 7

Elder Spencer W. Kimball's address continued from here...

When I moved with my parents and family to Arizona at the age of three, we came into a beautiful valley, deep and rich soil, thick [mesquites] from the river bottoms, natural vegetation; and there's the years too I saw that natural [vegetation] change to planted trees, vineyards and orchards, grain fields, and it became a beautiful place. On either side of the valley is a high range of [mountains] comparable to the Wasatch Mountains here on our east, and the hundreds of times I went down that valley, up and down it, and saw high mountains lofty and piercing the sky on either side. I suppose the question went into my mind hundreds and hundreds of times, what's on the other side of that mountain?

And then one day not long ago I stepped into a plane. It circled about the field a little, climbed high into the air until I could see both the mountain ranges on the level with me, and then a little higher and we soared up over this mountain range and I saw what was beyond. It was beautiful, heavy forests, lakes in-between, comfortable homes now and then in the pines, little rivulets, high cliffs and finally many beautiful little valleys that were cultivated and enjoyed by the Lord's sons and daughters. I think it's a little like that in life. We come here between two high mountain ranges, eternities before and eternities after, and we wonder as the years go on what lies beyond. And then a rather abrupt change comes into our lives, we take flight and we climb above and beyond and we see what is there and it's good, it's beautiful. The Lord said, "[Eye hath] not seen, nor [ear] heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." It[']s glorious and as we imagine we can hardly touch with our imaginations the things which are ready for us if we but live the commandments.

The Lord in his Sermon on The Mount said, "I cannot drew [?] or destroy the law, and to the Prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfill and to add to, to increase, to exalt." And then he goes forward with a great sermon, I am certain you have heard it said by them of old times, "Thou shalt not kill, but I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." He says that you have heard that it hath been said that in old times, "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery, but I say unto you whosoever look upon a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already with her in his heart." The [lesser] law was being fulfilled, the greater law was being given. And then again you have heard it that it hath been said that in old time, "Thou Shalt Not Forswear Thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oath, that I say unto you swear not at all." You have heard that it hath been said, "An Eye For An Eye And A Tooth For A Tooth, but I say unto you that you resist not evil but whosoever shalt smite you on they right cheek turn to him the other also." "If any man will [sue] ye of the law of take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also." "Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him [twain]." "Give to him who ask of thee and from him that would borrow of thee, turn thou not away." You have heard it said, "Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor and Hate Thine Enemy, but I say unto you love your neighbors, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven." Then at the conclusion is a beautiful thought. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect." Will we reach perfection, very, very close to perfection in this life, that is the most due.

To be continued...

(There are a number of obvious problems with the transcript, but I have left most of it as is.) Photo "On the Way to Mt. Graham" from www.flickr.com/photos/steev/211809450/.