Thinking of You...

We went to San Diego 2 weeks ago and I wanted to make a beautiful sand sculpture in honor of you. But the wind was so strong that MaryKate could hardly breath. I think she's a little young to enjoy the beach, but I think in November at our Larson family New Port Beach reunion I will hold the first Annual John Larson Sand Sculpture Competition. I wish you could be there to show our neices and nephews the ropes, but I'll try my best.
On the way home I took a turn driving so James could get some homework done. As I drove I got so scared in the canyons on the windy turns with Semi trucks all around me. I could hardly breath and then I imagined you... I thought, "If John is allowed to be here with me I know he will be. He can guard and protect my little family from harm. With the thought of you as my invisible shield or lineman blocking for me, I relaxed and was able to make it through safe and sound. Thank you for the peace.

"If we can see, by the enlightening influence of the Spirit of God and through the words that have been spoken by the holy prophets of God, beyond the veil that separates us from the spirit world, surely those who have passed beyond, can see more clearly through the veil back here to us than it is possible for us to see to them from our sphere of action.

I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. We are not separated from them. We begin to realize more and more fully, as we become acquainted with the principles of the gospel, as they have been revealed anew in this dispensation, that we are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors, to our friends and associates and co-laborers who have preceded us into the spirit world. We cannot forget them; we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus we are associated and united to them by ties we cannot break . . . .

(They) can see us better than we can see them-- . . . they know us better than we know them. They have advanced; we are advancing; we are growing as they have grown; we are reaching the goal that they have attained unto; and therefore, I claim that we live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever.”

-Joseph F. Smith, (Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1971, pp. 430-431)