LOVE FOR ELDER JOSEPH B. WIRTHLIN
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, the oldest living apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died last night, age 91. Please visit www.lds.org for more information.
About six years ago we invited Elder Wirthlin and his sweet wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, to join us for a Sunday dinner in our home. They were our neighbors and we like to invite the neighbors for dinner.
There are a couple of things that I would share about that experience. First, and certainly not in order of importance, I’m glad I didn’t let the fact that I don’t have the perfect dining set or even enough matching chairs hold me back from sharing my food and home with others. (You would think that because I sell all that stuff and charge $125.00 per hour, my own home would be picture perfect. Not even close.)
I’m thankful that for over 25 years, in 10 different homes, my husband and I have continued a tradition of inviting people for dinner. It was one way to serve others. Systematically working our way through the ward list, hesitating to invite the Wirthlins would have felt like surrendering to the insecurity. And years of practice made us bold.
The most important part of that specific Sunday dinner was the beautiful example I witnessed in Elder Wirthlin. In addition to the seven of us and the Wirthlins, we had also invited my parents, and our next-door neighbors, Dustin and Sarah. (Because I don’t enjoy the cooking, when I do it, I try to do it big.)
Dustin and Sarah were not members of the L.D.S. faith so Mike and I tried to carefully explain Elder Wirthlin’s calling and life of service as an apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Right there, in the middle of “could you pass me the peas” Elder Wirthlin asked Dustin and Sarah if they would like to have the missionaries teach them about the restored gospel and join with us at Church.
I don’t know why, but I was not expecting that. What I learned, between bites, in our less than ideal dining room, on a less than ideal street in Salt Lake City, was an example of love that overcomes fear. Elder Wirthlin and his dearest wife Elisa, were people who were not afraid to share the message of the Gospel. It was a gift they freely offered to everyone. What a life!
I will remember this past General Conference for the messages that spoke to my spirit:
* Fasten your seat-belt.
* Eyes forward.
* Stay on track.
And from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, * Enjoy the ride.
Tags: Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, example of sharing the gospel, Latter-day Apostle, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:38 pm
What a choice experience! Do you still live in SLC? I thought you were in NY. Thanks for sharing.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Salt Lake is home for us. We moved back from New York in the Spring of 2001. Thanks for caring Annalee.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Liesa, I love to hear you tell and re-tell this story. Sounds like a very special time to share with a very special man. He’ll be missed but we know that he continues on with his lovely wife and will forever be in our hearts. Marie and I often talk about her singing in your ward when he was there, on the stand, thinking about what was going on!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Oh I forgot about THAT! Thank you for reminding me! That was such a cool and generous…gift, that Marie gave. I wish everyone could here her sing the hymns. I’m thankful Elder Wirthlin heard her sing that day. (Our whole ward is going to sooo much miss his presence on the stand.) I remember Bill Evans, with every type of professional music credential to his name, thanking Marie and almost weeping as he spoke to her. What a gift she has.
I’m so glad she took that opportunity to sing for Elder Wirthlin.