Closing Remarks - Given by Bishop James Pack
Just this past November, Evan substituted in our Gospel Essentials class during Sunday School. He had accepted a calling to serve as an assistant Ward Mission Leader, and our normal instructor was unable to teach that day. So, despite his challenging condition, Evan accepted the request from our Ward Mission Leader to substitute teach that Sunday.
This was just a week or so after he and Margot learned about his second tumor, and the reasonably imminent situation he was in.
During this lesson, Evan taught a very profound truth and an important principle regarding our duty and responsibility as children of God and brothers and sisters. His communication was very specific and pointed, almost a plea to those of us in the room. It was evident to me that he was not simply reading out of the manual, nor was the statement intended as a "feel good" Sunday School statement.
Evan said that we need to forgive others. He taught, and I quote, "if I have been offended, it's my problem. It's my job to forgive." He used the term "my," . . . "it's 'my' problem" and "it's 'my' job to forgive."
I could tell that he was as sincere about this testimony of truth as anything he has ever taught before. It came with such clarity of purpose that I wrote it down and recorded it in my journal.
Reflecting on Evan's statement that week, I was reminded of some Old Testament teachings. From Malachi we read:
"Who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire and fullers soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness." (Malachi 3:2-3)
And also a verse from Zechariah:
"I will refine them like silver is refined, and test them like gold is tried. They shall call on my name and I will hear them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they shall say, 'The LORD is my God.'" (Zechariah 13:9)
Evan's teaching was in indication of the faith and the understanding that comes with enduring the refiner's fire.
Thou challenging and difficult, this process of refining and purifying has a glorious result. The scriptures use metaphors to describe this process . . . the heat and flame that purify gold and silver, and the boiling water and caustic fullers soap used to turn raw wool to white cloth.
Our Father in Heaven will sometimes prepare us for glory and a fullness of all He has to offer, by trial. Yet the result of this trial is nothing less than miraculous.
President James E. Faust wrote:
"Here, then, is a great truth. In the pain, the agony, and the endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner's fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. In this way the divine image can be mirrored from the soul.
"It is part of the purging toll exacted of some . . . . In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd.
"Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful.
"States Peter, 'The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (James E.Faust, "Refined in Our Trials," Ensign, Feb. 2006)
Brothers and Sisters, Family and Friends, Evan's passing, though tragic in its timing, is accompanied by personal faith and an understanding of eternal principals.
Evan had a deep and abiding testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He valued family and service. He was humble and accepting of our Father's plan for him. Evan was willing:
* As stated in the book of Mosiah, willing to submit to all things. (Mosiah 3:19)
* From the book of Helaman, willing to believe. (Helaman 6:36)
* And as stated in the Doctrine and Covenants, scripture revealed in modern times, Evan had a willingness to observe covenants by sacrifice (D&C 97:8)
Evan understood and accepted. He didn't leave with fear, but returned home with faith, and I might add, even a hint of humor. Evan understood the important things.
It is my prayer that we might be willing to accept the counsel taught by Evan this last November and forgive others that may have wronged us. And as President Faust stated, "let the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong."
I put my testimony beside Evan's, that it is through love, humility and sacrifice that we make ourselves worthy of eternal reward. And that all things, even Evan's passing and the struggles that remain ahead, will be overcome through the merit, and grace, and atoning sacrifice of our Savior.
These things I testify of in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
