First I would like to speak to the merits of this wonderful woman. Over the last 25 years since the Robers moved into the area, we have all had opportunity to know and love them. The Mitchells have had an extra measure of these blessings in that our children matched up in ages and we got to spend lots of time with them. We have developed a very deep and sincere relationship of love with the entire family. I have been able to observe this grand lady through many phases of life. I would like to share just a couple of these observations with you.
Let me begin by saying that she is a lady of great capacity. She has always been able to see the “Big Picture”. She could see the potential in people. This was especially true in her family. With sincere dedication, focus, and love, she set about bringing out the best in them. She did this not only by teaching correct principles, but by the very way she lived her life. She saw in her husband the enormous potential of priesthood leadership. Through pure love, faith, and prayer, she saw that vision realized as her husband joined the church and filled the measure of that vision. Indeed, he is one of the finest Priesthood leaders I have ever known. To her children she was focused and steady. In a very difficult world, she steadied the course for them to follow. I think a song lyric describing a loving parent with a “thundering velvet hand” describes her very well. “Thundering” in that “right was right” and it would always be right. “Wrong was wrong” and it would always be wrong. There was no compromise in this. “Velvet” in that she taught with love and kindness, patience and optimism.
I think the vision and blessing of last Tuesday night shall live with me forever. With the family not completely gathered yet, Bishop Rober and I gave Caroline a blessing. Lisa came in with two of her little boys. Others prepared the boys for bed while Lisa spent some tender time with her mother. Then came little Davis bounding down stairs saying “Good night Grandma! Good night Grandma! I love you!”. Assisted by his mother, he was lifted up and gave Grandma all sorts of kisses. Then he sang her a song “We are a Happy family”. He trotted off to bed. The scene repeated when little Beckham came down. Lots of “good nights” and “I love you grandmas” and kisses were given. But the only song he could remember was the ABC song, so he sang that to Grandma. As the rest of the family began to gather, Lorayne and I made our exit. But I am sure that scene played out many times as the evening went on. Her children and grandchildren are the legacy she leaves behind. They are wonderful! I could go on and on about the merits of this good lady, but one only need look at her family to know who she is and what she stands for. That picture is worth thousands of words.
Next I would like to speak about the things Caroline believed.
As she committed herself to learning and self improvement, she found she desired and needed a solid spiritual anchor in her life. She, like most of us came to a point in time when she wondered Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? With faith and a spiritual confirmation, she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at age 17. Her testimony of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of salvation guided her throughout her life. Time will not permit a full discussion on answers to all of these questions but I would like to give a brief overview of them. Both ancient and modern scripture support this doctrine.
Our Heavenly Father is a glorified, perfect, celestial being with a glorified body of flesh and bones. He is the father of our spirit bodies. He possesses a fullness of all Godly attributes and joy. He desires that all of His children become like Him. We are literally the spirit children of heavenly parents. I feel the poet Wordsworth captured the vision perfectly when he penned the poem “Ode to Immortality”. Said he:
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
In this first estate the Father presented a plan to His children. The plan provided for the creation of an earth whereupon His children would receive physical bodies and would be tested according to His commandments. A grand council in heaven was convened.The divine plan required one to be sent as Savior and Redeemer to fulfill the plan of the Father.The first born of the Eternal Father, Jehovah, willingly volunteered and was chosen. Most sustained the choice. Others rebelled, and there was a war in heaven. Satan and those who followed him were cast out and denied mortality. Thus, to Latter-day Saints, pre-mortal life is characterized by individuality, agency to choose, intelligence, and opportunity for eternal progression.
Those who kept this 1st estate were to be added upon with a physical body and were permitted to live upon this earth in this planned 2nd estate. Each was appointed his times and the bounds of his or her habitation.
The physical creation of the heavens and the earth, and all things thereon was another essential step in helping become like our Father in Heaven. Adam and Eve, in a paradisaical state, were the first man and woman. They were married eternally and were given commandments. They were in a state of innocence and knew no sin.
The fall of Adam and Eve was the next step in the great plan of Salvation. The fall brought about the conditions of mortality, including physical and spiritual death. Mortal life on earth is essential to becoming like our Father in Heaven. It provides us with the opportunity to grow and learn by having the freedom to choose to follow the counsel of God or the enticings of Satan. It is by the choices we make that we prove ourselves.
As was promised, a Savior and Redeemer was born upon the earth. He was the only begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Because of the fall of Adam we will all die (Physical Death), we are all cut off from the presence of God and cannot get back to him on our own (Spiritual Death), and we live in a world of toil, sin, and sorrow. The atonement of Jesus Christ provides for the resurrection of all mankind, with immortal bodies, thus overcoming physical death. The atonement ensures too that all mankind will be redeemed from the fall. Mankind will then be brought back into the presence of God, in their resurrected state for the judgment, thus overcoming the first spiritual death. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, if we repent we can also be cleansed from personal sins and changed from our fallen condition to become like God our Father. No ordinary man could have brought about the resurrection and atoned for the sins of all mankind. Only one who had the power over death and the power of a sinless life could have done so. It required the sacrifice of the only begotten Son.
Physical death is the separation of the body and the spirit. At death, all of Heavenly Father’s children go to a spirit world to await the resurrection. This is a place of paradise and happiness for the righteous. We will also continue to learn be accountable for our actions.
The judgment and the resurrection are closely entwined, and part of our final judgment will take place as we are resurrected. All will come forth in the resurrection with perfect bodies, but they will differ in glory. All will be raised with a body appropriate to the kingdom they will inherit, be that of Celestial, Terrestrial, or Telestial.
Here in mortality, with a veil placed between us and our 1st estate, Caroline developed her faith more perfectly. She has a profound testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is our advocate with the Father. He is our Redeemer. She has a testimony of the apostasy and the restoration that has taken place on the earth. She has an unshakable witness that God works through Prophets. She knows that through the restoration, the Priesthood of God has been restored. She knows that all the saving ordinances have been restored and that she is a part of a grand family, even the family of God. She has worked tirelessly to find many missing links in the family tree of the Father and made sure their temple work was done.
These are the things that Sister Rober and her family have a testimony of.
A few weeks ago as Bishop Rober was released from his calling, Caroline was asked to bear her testimony. Even though her ability to speak clearly had vanished, she did not shy away for the assignment. Together with her daughter Lisa, they came to the pulpit. With Lisa as voice Caroline bore this sweet testimony:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,Is it any wonder that late last Tuesday night I got a call from my friend Bishop Rober. He said “Caroline has passed away.” There was a bit of a pause. He then said, “it was the most spiritual experience I have ever felt.” This a family of disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. They worry not about Caroline but rather celebrate a life well lived. What a glorious reunion she must be having. Not just with her family, but with the countless number of people she has researched and found in the area of family history. The countless number of ordinances she was responsible for in the temple. Surely this must be a glorious reunion. We all have so much to look forward to.
It is with a bit of sadness I stand before you today. Why, because our lives have been so richly blessed as my dear husband has served as our Bishop. We both grew and we have had many choice experiences.
I have personally felt of the love you shared with him. And I, myself have felt more joy and peace. Our home has become our own little piece of Heaven.
No one knows what this life will throw at them, all we can do is to choose the better way and do the best we can. I know from personal experience that if you let the Lord govern your life and trust in Him with all your heart, soul and mind you will never fear when life throws you a curve ball. And since He has thrown us a curve ball we have witnessed the immense love that He has for us through you, the Saints of Placentia Second ward.
You have showed us more loving kindness and service than I thought was possible to show. Everything from the cards and sweet letters to the delicious dinners and wonderful friendships developed. From your personal help with my care to personal visits just to say Hi. The wonderful Primary leaders and the adorable and handsome children that came to our house and brightened my life with their love and songs. I love Primary, the children have always helped me to keep things in perspective. And I have truly lived to see the Angels in Relief Society carry out the Lords blessings as they run the errands of Heaven.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Heavenly Father for the blessings the Priesthood brings. I have felt His miraculous healing power in my life and been comforted much during this time of trial. I love the Priesthood, and the righteous Priesthood Power I have felt.
I know God is our father and Jesus Christ, His son Live. I know without a doubt that the Lord loves us. No one on earth will ever be taken home to our Father in Heaven unless they have finished the work they were supposed to do and learned the lessons they need for eternal progression. I am at peace especially now that I will be able to sit with my husband again after 9 years.
Let me add my testimony to that of the Robers. I know that God lives. We are His children. He knows and loves us. He has provided the way for us to return to Him. Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah. He is the Son of the Living God. He is our advocate with the Father. He is our Savior. The restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has occurred. Joseph Smith was the chosen Prophet of this the last dispensation of the fullness of times. Through the restored power of the Priesthood, Apostles and Prophets lead and guide the affairs of the Lord’s church.
I can still hear the little voices of Davis and Beckham...”Good night Grandma! Good night Grandma! I love you!” Then all the kisses. It is my great honor to add my voice to those sweet little boys and say, “Good night sweet Caroline”, I love you! We will all miss you until we meet again.”
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen
Kenneth F. Mitchell
Placentia 2nd Ward
Bishop Mitchell is the best!
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