Remember who you are....

This is my Grandpa, Norman Dale Rex. I never met him in this life, he died when my mother was nineteen. Here is her story of his death.

I have heard numerous stories of him, amazing stories about what a great person he was. Just recently my family recieved a few stories about his mission from one of his old mission companions. It was amazing to get to hear about what a great missionary he was. Not only was he a great missionary, but a great father from what I heard, and funny too. I love my Grandpa.

Hearing the story of what it was like for my mom and the whole family when he died has made me think a lot...it has made me wonder: why was he taken? Inside I know that God took him for a very important reason. Maybe he is needed more in Heaven than he was needed here. Maybe he was just too pure and good to be in this evil world any longer. I can always speculate why, I am only human however, so I cannot know until I die. Still, I miss him. There is a kind of void without him, that somehow I feel is necessary.

I also wonder: if my Dad was taken right now, could I get through it? How would it affect my family? Who would be there for me to help me get through it? I feel the greatest Love for my Mom's family, and I wonder just how they all got through it. I also think about some of my friends, if that happened to them, would I be there for them? Without a doubt I know I will.

I recieved an e-mail the other week from my wonderful Grandma:

"'You were in the War in Heaven, and one day when you are in the spirit world you will be enthralled with those who you are associated with. You will ask someone in which time period he lived in and you might hear, I was with Moses when he parted the Red Sea, or I helped build the pyramids, or I fought with Captain Moroni. And as you are standing there in amazement, someone will turn to you and ask, Which prophet time did you live in?
And when you say Gordon B. Hinckley, a hush will fall over every hall, every corridor in heaven and all in attendance will bow at your presence. You were held back six thousand years because you were the most talented, most obedient, most courageous, and most righteous. Are you still? Remember who you are!!'
-Boyd K. Packer

As a teenager, your Grandpa Dale used to hear 'Remember who you are!' from his father every time he'd go out on a date, go to play in the sports he participated in, and to participate in a play production, etc.

The impact those loving and concerned words from his father had on Dale was significant enough that he said them to our children as they would leave our home to go out into the world for their various activities, too.

You...are the leader of our family's rising generation, so I want to pass onto you these words from my heart and from your Grandpa Dale's heart (I know him, and I know that he loves you deeply enough to have told....you these words when it was your turn to leave him to come to earth), 'Remember who you are!'"

I love this e-mail, and I love my grandma. I know that when I left Heaven and my grandpa Dale to come here to this earth he echoed those words "Remember who you are!" one more time.

Remember, in The Lion King, when Simba is feeling down, and Mufasa comes in the clouds? I love that part, because he says those same words "Remember who you are!" and Simba takes it to heart, gains courage, picks himself up again, and saves the day. When I am in fear, and pain, and feel down and inadequate, I just think of my Grandpa Dale, and I know that he is up there in Heaven looking down on me echoing those words one last time, "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!"