Especial

Today was the funeral of Elder L. Tom Perry, one of the twelve apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When I heard Elder M. Russell Ballard describe his holy brother I thought of my own brother. "He's always been larger than life in my eyes with his powerful and convincing voice, his physical stature of over six feet four inches, and his positive, enthusiastic attitude." Sounds like Matt to a tee!

I have kept a weathered, not-sticky-anymore, yellow Post-it note tucked in the ID slot of my iPad case for two years. It bears a scribbled L. Tom Perry quote which bridged all my gaps on those pesky "question mark days." I will always love him a little extra because he said something I needed to hear; something I ended up planting my own feet in. He said it the day after I flew home from Paris, four months after the big blow, six months before my promise was yet fulfilled. Elder Perry helped me trust the long wait.

I love the unique glimpse of brotherhood seen at apostles' funerals. A story President Thomas S. Monson (then the first counselor in the First Presidency) told at Elder Neal A. Maxwell's funeral chokes me up every time I reread it:

"As long as I live I shall cherish the sweet spirit of my last visit to the home of Neal and Colleen. Just the three of us were present. We all knew that Neal's mortal journey was coming to its close.

"Neal and Colleen mentioned they were going to visit grandchildren that afternoon. I understand that Neal gave a special blessing to each of his grandchildren before his passing. That day in his home, I gave a priesthood blessing to Neal."

President Monson said he reminded Elder Maxwell of a regional conference they both attended long ago, when Elder Maxwell handed a note to him reading, "Tom, I love you. Neal." President Monson said he has kept the cherished note in his leather-bound scriptures.

"That special day of my farewell to Neal, he, with tears in his eyes, said: 'Tom, I still do.' "

I know some people think real men drive trucks, use power tools, maintain three days of scruff, and walk around shirtless to show off their crossfit abs. I'm not one of those people. The apostles are real men and I hope my son grows up to be just like them. Mighty in sacrifice, masculine in fraternity, certain in service.

Elder Maxwell funeral excerpt written by R. Scott Lloyd, Church News staff writer, published Saturday, July 31, 2004.