Elder Perry: A Man Who Gave Me Hope To Endure.

 Elder Perry: A Man Who Gave Me Hope To Endure

Back in April, I remarked how healthy Elder Perry was, I told my friends in my YSA ward that I would not be surprised if Elder Perry became the Prophet one day. I still remember the impact watching his testimony of service had on my mission. Here is that video.

When the news broke that he was sick with cancer my heart sank, I knew he did not have long. It made me sad to think his time on earth was winding down, but at least in my life, he made two distinct impressions.

I had been trying to live the gospel, but I got discouraged. It felt like I was a failure in all things. At the time, I had a Seminary teacher named Richard Lowe, he could tell I was distressed and talked to me, I told him how I had all but given up, I was never going to make it, I was not even sure if the church was true. He smiled, and he shared a quote with me. For me, it gave me hope. He told me that he knew it was old over 30 years old. But that it was true. It comforted me.

But as always Satan was trying to plant seeds of doubt, but this time it would not work. The thought came “this was not at conference, this is not doctrine, this is only a feel good saying” came to my mind. only a few days later as Elder L. Tom Perry Talked, in General, Conference he shared that same quote. The same quote that had given me hope. When he shared this quote the spirit rushed into my soul and bore testimony that it was true. I am thankful for Elder Perry, and the role he played in my lasting conversion. To this day, I’ve shared this story countless times, and the quote even more, as a missionary I would tell people about this in hopes of encouraging them to endure to the end.

Here is what Elder L. Tom Perry said
 (Click here for the full talk)

There are two purposes for life in mortality. The first is that we might gain experiences that we could not obtain in any other way. The second is to obtain tabernacles of flesh and bones. Both of these purposes are vital to the existence of man. We are now being tried and tested to see if we will do all the things the Lord has commanded us to do. These commandments are the principles and ordinances of the gospel, and they constitute the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every principle and ordinance has a bearing upon the whole purpose of our testing, which is to prepare us to return to our Heavenly Father and become more like Him. Elder Bruce R. McConkie has said this about following the straight and narrow path:

“What I think all of us need to do is to determine where we stand in every field of mortal endeavor. Then, based on the general overall concepts that are clear and plain, we make a determination on how we will live in this field or in that field in order to pass the probationary estate in order to succeed in the test of mortality. If we make the right choices, we’ll go on to eternal reward, and if we do not, then we’ll get some lower and lesser place in the kingdoms that are prepared.
“… Everyone in the Church who is on the straight and narrow path, who is striving and struggling and desiring to do what is right, though [he] is far from perfect in this life; if he passes out of this life while he’s on the straight and narrow, he’s going to go on to eternal reward in his Father’s kingdom” (The Probationary Test of Mortality,devotional address, Salt Lake Institute of Religion, Jan. 10, 1982, 8–9).

 

When I was 16 I had the experience of being in the 2007 Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concert (The King Singers were the guests). They needed tall guys to play the role of one of the 12 drummers drumming. I had no dance experience but, I was tall, so I tried out. At first, I felt like an idiot they kept asking me to do things that I had no idea what they meant, they used dance terminology, at the end, Carol (the director) decided I would just be one of the 12 drummers drumming.

At the time, I was overweight. I felt super self-conscious being with a bunch of guys that were fit and knew the dance, and I was neither fit nor knew how to dance. I made mistakes, and I was not perfect, but I was trying. One night after the concert was over Elder Perry came backstage and shook our hands and talked to us. I still remember him shaking my hand looking me in the eye and saying “You were a good little drummer boy”.

At first, I did not know what it meant. Then I thought “He does not think I am fat!”, but the more I thought about it, I realized I did not need to worry if I was as good as the other dancers, an Apostle thought I was a good drummer! It endeared me to him, I’ve always loved Elder Perry because he showed his love to me.

It was not until I was thinking about it as I wrote this, that I realized “little drummer boy” has a deeper meaning to me. I have been recently praying, seeking confirmation from God that I am doing His will, that my efforts are not in vain, and that it is not wasted. As I think about the little drummer boy, I realize God does not ask for a perfect Drumline drummer, he asks for the little drummer boy who will follow him. Even after leaving this life Elder Perry is still being used to answer prayers!

I will love, and miss Elder Perry, I will miss his smile and his joking personality, after all, who can forget the fist-bump?

I know Elder Perry was an Apostle, he was a man of God who helped others come unto Christ. He helped me come unto Christ, and his inspired words gave me hope to endure, I will always love Elder Perry! God be with you till we meet again brother!