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)

Elder Bronson Titus

This is Elder Bronson Titus,
Elder Tim Salisbury and I lived with the Larsons in 1980. These are a few pictures that I had. I really don't remember which one is John. Seems like he was the younger blond son. What a wonderful family. I was talking with Elder Salisbury, (Dawn Buck told me about John) and we have been touched by this tragic event. We had soo much fun in North Phoenix. It was our favorite area. The Larson Family were the best. I wanted to type something profound to express my feelings but I won't. I will say, however, that I am so grateful for our soldiers and in particular John Larson. I am free, my family is free today because of the sacrifices of our solders and their families. I'm soo sorry to hear about your loss and I am soo grateful for you willingness to fight for freedom. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will always love the Larson's.

A few of Becky's memories

My memories of John…
John was born 15 months before me, so since I can remember I was always tagging along with him. I wanted to be just like him. I went everywhere he went and did everything he did. He was so patient and kind about it too. He even let me follow him to the bathroom. I was so mad that mom wouldn’t let me stand like John when I went to the bathroom.

One time I wanted to be in a ninja club with him and my older siblings. John voted me to be in it, but the majority voted me out. I didn’t get to be in it. I was so sad. John comforted me and always would remind me that he wished I could go with him into the secret meetings in Ben’s room.
John would take care of me.

I remember countless times that he took the blame for me. One specific time, I took some of the cookies Mom had made for visiting teaching. Mom was mad because baking cookies without burning them while taking care of eight kids was quite the task. She lined all us kids up and told us we couldn’t leave until we told her who did it. The older kids were getting mad because no one would fess up, and they had places to go. John knew I took the cookies, but he told my mom he did it so I wouldn’t get in trouble and the older kids could go.

One of my favorite memories of John was going to swim lessons every summer. We went through every class they had waiting for Kathy to learn to swim. It was always fun being in his classes. We had a good time swimming, daring each other to do crazy tricks of the high dive, and playing around (probably a little to much). One time one of our teachers had a huge booger by his nose. We were laughing all class about it, but wouldn’t tell him why we were laughing. A parent told him about it at the end of class. We called the teacher some name like boogey the rest of the summer.

John and I played outside with the cul-de-sac clan any time we could. We played spaceship in our olive tree. Kathy would have her quarters at the first branch. I was a little higher up, but John was the bravest, and he was always at the top.

We played at the Kaufold’s all the time. Usually Jimmy and John played in Jimmy’s room and Elaine, Kathy, and I in Elaine’s room. However, every now and then we would go in the back yard together and have GI Joes save the barbies. The boys would pretend that someone would try to hurt our barbies, then they would have to start a war to defend us. The rest of the time they sat on one side of the back yard fighting. We were on the other side preparing for them to come home.

In the Wendt’s backyard, we would have dance contests. Danny Brown usually one because he was the judge, but one time John one. I was so proud that my brother could beat Danny. John wasn’t that great of dancer back then, but over the years he became a good dancer. He learned to swing and move girls around the dance floor pretty smoothly.

When John was determined to do something he did it. Whether it was Jumping a picnic table on rollerblades, kissing 10 girls in one day, or Marring the girl he fell in love with before he had to go back to Texas, he made it happen. One time when we were kids, he was determined to ride the sit and spin longer and faster than all of us kids in the Wendt’s back yard. We all took our turns. Then John got on. He went so fast and so long. He beat us all by a long shot. We were all amazed. He stood up proud, smiled, and then turned around and puked his guts up. I learned then that it didn’t matter what it took, if John wanted to do something, he did it.

One memory I have, John and I became notorious for. We had to stay at the table and finish dinner. Everyone else was done, and mom had to go somewhere, so we where there by ourselves. We didn’t like the squash. However, we found that the squash was good for something. If you mixed it with the spaghetti, it helped the spaghetti stick to the wall very well. The brand new wall paper my mom had just put up that day was covered in our spaghetti/ squash mixture. My mom was a little mad, to say the least. She kicked us out of the house and told us we would have to sleep in the back yard until we promised to clean the wall. We were determined to live out there the rest of our lives. But when it got dark, we decided we would rather face Mom than the wild animals that come out at night. The wall never came clean. My mom left it up for years and it always made for a good story when company asked about it.

John was the best brother you could have as a teenager. He was the most fun, craziest, kindest guy around. Everyone loved him. Because of that he had the largest circle of friends, and he included me in it. Every weekend we were together doing some big group date or activity. It was awesome. John was the life of the party. I am grateful he let me tag along.

John always included everyone. He didn’t like anyone feeling left out. He always made a special effort to make everyone feel special. I think that is why all of my friends and almost every girl I knew fell in love with him, or at least kissed him.

John had a way with people. He could make anyone smile, and if within five minutes of talking to John a stranger felt like John was there long lost best friend. One time, we were staying at a beach house in Mexico. We were down at the beach. The guy at neighboring house was down there too. I said hi. He just looked at me like with this grumpy look. I thought he was scary. John started talking to him. In two minutes they were laughing together. He ended up being real nice. John was that way. He brought out the best in people. He made them feel good about themselves. I was jealous of his ability to see people for the good in them, and how he could bring it out.

Another example of John’s ability to make friends easily with people is when John came to visit me in Tucson. He took my kids and his to the zoo. I had always wanted to feed the Giraffes at the zoo, but I was never there in time. I would ask a zoo keeper if there was any way we could feed them. They would tell me, “If you come at the right time, you can.” Well when John started talking to one of the zoo keepers, the guy was instantly a friend to him. He took John not only to feed the Giraffe, but into the Giraffe enclosure where the zoo keepers feed them. He worked magic with people.

John was able to work magic with people because he truly loved them. He loved serving them. He would do anything he could to help. I still want to be more like him. Unfortunately I can’t follow him around everywhere he goes anymore, but I can still try to emulate all of his amazing qualities. I love him. I will miss him greatly, and my kids will miss their "Crazy Uncle John".

Pondering - by Sarah Bradshaw

You know those moments? Those heart-wrenchingly painful moments when you hear of a tragedy that changes your life? A moment that, though it is personal to you because you knew the person, it is more personal to those you love--to those who were related to and loved that individual as only family does?

This week we had one of those moments. And I started thinking about the pain and sorrow that human beings suffer—especially those left behind—the questions, the guilt, the anger, the fear, the excruciating sadness. Oh, that sadness. My heart hurts for those I love. (It hurts for those I don’t know, too.)

Remember the shortest verse in the Bible? John 11:35? Jesus wept. Jesus wept because his friends, Mary and Martha, were mourning over the death of their brother. Jesus wept because he recognized their pain and had perfect empathy. Jesus wept, though he knew he would call Lazarus forth out of the tomb within minutes. Jesus wept, and because he did, we can know that he empathizes with us in our pain. He felt it like we feel it. And so we can turn to him for comfort.

I hope that as I see (and hear of) pain and anguish around me, I can be better at “mourning with those that mourn,” and “comforting those that stand in need of comfort.” Even if it is just to say, “I’m sorry that happened.” And I hope that when it is my turn to mourn in that deeply personal way (and that time comes to all on this earth), that those around me will offer the same.

It’s strange, though, isn’t it? That in order to feel the joy, we have to feel the pain? That darn opposition in all things. How thankful I am for it, though. I am thankful that I feel discouragement and delight and hurt and happiness and sorrow and joy. Because that means I am human. And that I am alive.

To the Larson family—all of you. We love you and are thinking of you and praying for you.

(Originally posted here.)

The Funeral pic.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:3,4)

During this hard time we were blessed with comfort. I am so greatful for great family and friends. Here are some of the pic. right after John's funeral.

Memories of my big brother John

I wish I could tell John how much I loved him and how great of a brother he has been, but because I can't I will tell you all he was one of the best brothers. I am lucky to be born into a family of three great sisters and four amazing brothers. I love them all and have a special place in my heart for each one of them. My heart aches for John that he is not with me, but it rejoices to know that because of Christ I can be reunited with my brother John again.

• When I would ask what he was doing in the army he always would respond, The guys and I are holding hands and singing kumbaya. No one could ever get a straight answer.
• John was a great big brother and a good protector. One time my other brother got in a fight with me in the car. We were both yelling at each other, I think I even started it. John pulled the car over. It was really late and he told my brother to get out of the car. He said no one ever yelled at his younger sister especially family. This meant a lot. He picked my other brother back up once he calmed down and talked to him and showed lots of love to both of us. He never let anything happen to me or our family. He had a calming fun and loving effect on all of us.
• I wrote John in Iraq. I would spend an hour decorating the letter and then start writing in it, After I had sent him a couple of these letters he told me he loved them but that he had to destroy them. He said he did not want anybody getting a hold of family information and harming me. So he would “self destruct the letters in minutes after he read them.” He would burn them. He said to think of my letters as if I was writing top secret messages. It was fun but I couldn’t believe he burnt all of them. I love how even across the world he was trying to protect me, our country, and our family.
• John thought he was every race to mankind.  He would have a joke for every race, white, black, brown, or blue (It did not matter). I love when he would say, “Do you hate me because I am black?”- Hey my sister from another mister, Hey my brother from another mother” , When he felt Mexican he would tell me all these jokes and then say, “When you mess with one bean you mess with the whole burrito.” He loved the Tongan people. Any chance he could get talking or eating with them he would take it.
• He was very supportive of my work. I became a nurse almost a year ago. When I would work my three days in a row and then drive home he would talk to me for the whole hour till I was safely home. I would tell him he did not have to but he did not want me to fall asleep. He would ask how my night was dealing out drugs. (John would also say is, “So that brings me to my next point… Don’t smoke crack”. Or he would say “Don’t do drugs”) Some days we would not have a lot happening so he would look up top 100 movies and music on line and sing and quote the movies. His fav. To quote was Billy Madison and 3 Amigos. “Can I have your watch when you are dead.” “Shampoo is better ….no conditioner is better.”

• He would drop anything and give everything on a minute’s notice. One time I was having a hard time in school. He said I would do much better if I had a planner so I would not be so stressed. My family was all out of town but next thing I know John had drove from Phoenix to Mesa and was at my door to take me to Franklin Planner (where he used to work one time). He paid for the planer even when I insisted to pay for it. He didn’t have a lot of money at the time but he wanted to give it to me for my house warming gift. He did lots of service for everyone not just for me. He took Phillip, Darren, and me to fix my Grandma’s toilet.

• He also was one of the first ones to meet Darren because Darren and John were helping David move into his house. I wasn’t even dating Darren at the time and John was really cool about it. He just talked about riding a motorcycle and tearing his ACL when ridding it. The next time after we were married and went up to our cabin to help my Aunt and Uncle fix the floor John was crazy but by that time Darren was married to me so what could Darren do!!! J/K Darren loved John. We heard some of the best Jokes on that ride with John, Phillip, Darren and me crunched into that car. When we went to KFC and John thinking he was black again.

• I loved the picnics he took me on. He would have little sister- brother dates with me when I was younger. He would take me to the parks and have a lunch and play games with me. One date he took me to the wedge because I begged him to teach me to rollerblade. He rented me skates and when I tried to go down the hill where everyone skated I was too scared so I walked on the grass and scooted on my bum down the hill. I was a chicken but he pulled me along and helped me skate. That was the only time I rollerbladed till I was in college. I loved to be with everyone that John loved. I remember John letting me hang out with all of his friends and the girls he liked. Except he did tell me to stop crawling all over his guy friends. His friends were like my brothers. Gary was in our reclining chair more than any one in our family.

• He was a great dad to his kids. When I told him I was sending a letter to him he would ask if I had sent letters to his daughter. I never was good at sending her one too but he thought of them always first. Him and his children would light up when they saw each other. He would be exhausted from his leave from the army and yet he would take his kids and hang out with them. I loved that he got a tricycle custom painted like a chopper. Just a normal tricycle would not do. He had to go above and beyond. He took Megan on dates like he did for me when I was younger. He was a good date.

• Speaking of Dates, John set the standard. All my brothers are romantics and love fun group dates. Ben even made me a book of good ideas. Phillip doubled with me on my first date but who could not grow up wanting to go on dates like John did. He was my role model for dating. I did not kiss like he did, but I did try out some of the date ideas. Some that I never did that were way cool was that he went to Disney Land, also the full body suits that had booties and all that they painted for each other, and the industrial cellophane that he would wrap the girls in. He would have them hold a rose and then would wrap them head to toe in it before they knew what was going on. Then he would go through the whole date with them wrapped. How funny. The girls must have liked him a lot to let him take them out in public like that. As I grew up I tried to be like him and plan creative dates.

• He hated to write, so on his mission he drew me pictures. For his Christmas in Australia he had drawn me a Santa Clause in red swim shorts diving, and across the top said merry Christmas from Down Under. I liked the drawings as much as the writing. In Iraq I would write him and then he would call me. He hated writing and reading. He was the one who introduced books on CD and ipod to me. I got into the Harry Potter ones. Now every time I go to work I like popping a new book in and listening to it. However I like more girlie books and he liked Science fiction.  Also the first book over 100 pages I read was the Light in The Attic, because that was his fav. And he had it with us on a vacation to Utah. He let me read it all the way back home. He sang a few of the poems for us.

• John’s nick name for me was Nins or ninners my dad started calling me ninnies which to this day I did not know that was a real word. (Dad I was curious if it meant any thing to my surprise the definition of ninny is: A fool) You guys are so fired!

• I loved the velociraptor and John was real good at the snake he could attack you from the back or the front.

• John had any tool and knew how to use it. For someone who hated to read he sure read a lot of manuals. He knew a lot of random things and when ever anybody needed things fixed he knew what to do. Man has any one looked at my parent’s house. It is over 35 years old and it looks better than it has ever looked. Thanks John for keeping it up and thanks Phillip. Phillip was a big help.

• John could convince people to do things. He told everyone how great Skype is. Everyone in my family got it. I was one of the last ones to pick it up. A couple of weeks ago I got it. I never got to talk to him with it but I hope I will still get to use it with my family. I agree with John it is pretty cool.

• John came to a lot of things of mine like band concerts (I played trumpet because John did and he gave me his trumpet) and tennis. He came to Darren’s graduation. He was one of the only ones to come and support Darren in his all you can eat wing eating contest. Boy did he cheer. Thanks Phillip for trying to make it. In my journal all the time I said oh John was here today. I did not say what we did a lot because he came around a lot. I remember him as a ward missionary when I was in high school and how good he was and how he served a lot of people.

• John always was chewing on something. He always had a toothbrush with a pick on the end in high school. I don’t know if he carried it with him just because he liked a clean mouth or if it was to be prepared for a clean mouth to kiss girls on a moment’s notice.

• John was busy when he got into the army. If you wanted to see him you had to do what he was doing. Right before he went to Iraq I remember Darren and I went to hang out with him and lucky for us he taught us how the army folded their clothes. Once I got the hang of it we were able to do the rest of his clothes. At the time I couldn’t believe he was making me fold his clothes for him, but looking back I am happy I could help before he left and I am happy I got to spend that time with him.

• Again he came back from Iraq and he begged for me to come to Phoenix and see him. I was working the next day and we were visiting other family. But because it was not every day that I got to see John I went to Encanto Park. I only saw him for 15 minutes and then this girl came and he ran off with her, while he had us watch the kids. I was a little mad because I came all the way down for that. Then later that night he came back and introduced us again to that girl… That girl was Lila (his new wife). I am so happy that he had me come and see him. That was the last time I saw him. He was so happy. I wouldn’t have traded those 15min. for anything.
Thoughts

I love John and I can see a lot of other people did too. I am so grateful I had such a great brother and I hope I can be more like him. I remember he was not always perfect but he knew what was right. I got married young and he one time told me to not make the mistakes he did and to pray for Darren and me in our own prayers every night of our marriage. As my big brother I wanted him to also be happy. I was so happy when he found Lila and things worked out. He would call me and tell me how great she was after they were married and how much he loved her. She loved John for all that he was. What a blessing it is to have her in our family now. I am so happy we have Megan and Joshua. They are the cutest kids ever. I hope they know I am praying for them and I love them so much. I am grateful for all the people here that came and supported me and my family. I love reading all the other memories of John because I forgot some of those things which made me laugh and really touched me.

Last I would like to say John I can’t wait to put my arms around you after this life is over for me and tell you how proud I am to have you as an older brother. I hope are you are doing well there! Thanks for all the good times. I love you so much. Till then rest in peace my fav. Brother named John :-) .

John's Life Story given at his funeral by his father

John was born August 25, 1978. He was the fourth child in the family, with 2 brothers and a sister waiting for him at home. He came home in a new AMC Pacer. John was a good and healthy baby. In a year and two months, John’s sister Becky was born and John left the baby stage and became a faithful brother who always watched out for his younger siblings.

John showed quickly that he was on who liked action. His first word was not momma or dada, but BATMAN.

It did not take the AMC Pacer long before it had problems. The hatch back broke and fell and hit John on the forehead and cut his forehead. I took him to get stitches at the emergency center. The doctor told him it would hurt, but to stay still John got the shot in the forehead without moving or crying. I have never seen a child any braver that John.

John loved to play with other children. When John was four we went as a family down to San Carlos Mexico and saw a friend of mine. Her husband and children spoke only Spanish, so our children could not communicate with their children. However John started playing with Gaby and asked to stay. He stayed most of the day and was sad to go. We were told John communicated fine and even picked up some Spanish words. John always seemed to pick up languages quickly, as he spoke English, Spanish and Tongan and some Arabic.

When we would have family prayers at night and it was John’s turn to say the prayer, he would bless the Boy Scouts, because he so loved scouting.

When John got in school, he was tested for project potential and was found that he was brilliant. He loved his friends in school and did not enjoy school work, as he would rather play with his friends.

John had a fascination for anything that had wheels. He loved his big wheel. When his older brothers cub scout pack had a bike rodeo, John loved riding his big wheel and going so fast. He loved riding bikes and then roller blades. John one day started digging a hole in the back yard. He then rode his bike through it. Then he filled it with water and rode his bike through it. Then he got his brothers and friends excited about riding their bikes through it. Soon they were all digging and we had by evening a BMX course with water hazards in our large back yard. This was quite a surprise to me when I saw it, but John was so proud of it.

John was good in sports because he was very coordinated. He played little league baseball and soccer. However he loved roller blading even more.

John loved doing things with his friend Jimmy Kaufhold, such as building forts, doing spook houses, playing Ninja Turtles and being part of an exclusive Ninja club organized by his older brother Ben.

John loved the outdoors. He loved going on father and son’s campouts and going on scout outings. John loved being courageous when he would go on outings. He especially thought it was great jumping off cliffs or dams. Once David saw him jump off seven springs dam with his arm in a cast.

John excelled at scouting. He quickly earned his merit badges and did his eagle project. He chose a project to fix up and paint a blighted house in a very tough neighborhood in south Phoenix. The brothers of the owner had guns out protecting us as the evening started. John hated writing up his project, but with the encouragement of Dave Marcotte, did it and received the highest rank of Eagle Scout. I am very proud of John.

John was known for his creative dating and many girls enjoyed being with him. Becky’s friends all wanted to meet and get to know John.

John was amazingly quick. When we were preparing for Ben’s reception in S. Dakota, John was about 12 feet above on a truss, hanging lights. As Becky was near an industrial fan, her hair was caught in the exposed fan belt and pulley. It was pulling her hair out, but John jumped down and ran across the room and unplugged the fan, as I was next to Becky and had not even realized the problem. John saved Becky from having terrible consequences that could have happened, had John not been so quick. I was amazed at John’s abilities, which were way beyond mine.

When John was a senior, it was hard to decide what he wanted to become. He lost interest in school until he could decide what to do. He went and worked with his Uncle Phil Larson, where he decided to go on a mission. He also worked in Alaska with his cousins, where he learned to work long hard hours. John did not mind hard work. John finished high school with a GED and went onto college.

John received a mission call to go to Sydney, Australia. He enjoyed his mission, especially when the mission was missing a Tongan speaking elder, so John became a Tongan speaking elder. He learned the language, love the culture because it was what was like, a very giving and loving people. The Tongans felt John was too skinny, so they fed him a lot and he went from about 140 to near 200 pounds on his mission. He also said that while playing rugby with the Tongans he had never run so fast as to have a bunch of big Tongans chase a skinny white boy. John had a great love for Tongans, in fact, when he came back from his mission, when Tongans were around, John would always stop and talk to them in their native language. John even cam home from his mission in a lava-lava.

John married his sweet heart that waited for him from his mission, Kristi Kay Haggard. They had two children, first Megan Marie Larson and then Joshua John Larson. Because John did so well in college, he was admitted to BYU where he studied Civil Engineering for two years. Then he came back to Arizona and attended ASU. He also worked at RBF in engineering and found he did not like it, because it was quite boring. He enjoyed plumbing, so he took classes, joined the union, and did a lot of the very specialized plumbing at Intel. As the depression came, he found that there were fewer jobs for plumbers. His friend Jason talked to him about joining the military with him. John who always believed in honor and country and loved scouting and was so alert and quick, the Army seemed a great match. John was already 28 years old and would be 29 while in basic training, but he got in shape and did it. He loved the Army and we are so proud of our Army son. Laura and David took his daughter, Megan, to Ft. Benning, GA to see him graduate from basic training. He then was transferred to Ft. Hood and trained to go to Iraq. John excelled in his training and loved his Company B. Just before he deployed, I had a talk to present to the scouts, so I called John and asked him about how he felt about going to Iraq. He told me the US is the greatest country on earth and has freedom that needs to be defended. He said he and all those in his company were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the county, but that they would look out for each others back and do their best in Iraq. John served well in Iraq. He learned some Arabic so he could speak to the people. He also became the driver for the commander while in Iraq. John came home a hero in our eyes and well decorated with honors.

John had a grenade bounce off his flax jacket when he was atop of an armored carrier and then hit the pavement and cause a crater in the road. He also had someone that out ranked him that asked for his place. Then in two miles the person in John’s spot was hit be mortar fire and lost three limbs. John was truly protected in Iraq. John’s cousin, who he respected so much, Mike Weipert, compared John to the attributes of Captain Moroni.

As John was finishing his tour of duty, he met a Lila, who he fell in love with. We heard less and less from John, and he spent many hours talking and communicating with Lila.

Then on December 29 when he came home for leave he married Lila. Lila says John was an amazing husband that made her heart smile. She also said “I am extremely proud of him and I am truly lucky to be his wife.

Unfortunately, John was killed February 9, 2010. He is now in a better place.

As stated in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. As a father who loved his son, John, I appreciate the sacrifice that God the Father and His Son made so that we can have everlasting life. I look forward to reuniting with John and hearing all the things he is now doing.