Dear members of the 28^th ward.  I’m passing along a message from Brother Hendricks from The Strasburg Ward.  I have been asked to share this email with the Ward.

Please respect the privacy of the Day family, and refrain from calls as they enjoy this precious time together.  As a ward, let’s keep Nancy and the Family our prayers.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Strasburg Ward:

I was planning to send a message today on the topic of Hope and Joy in the midst of trying times. However, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of our beloved ward members, Brother Ivan Day.

We ask that you respect the privacy of the Day family, and refrain from calls as they enjoy precious time together. However, we can provide them our strength and faith on their behalf through our prayers.

I have had the great privilege of being a minister to Ivan and Nancy for the last several years. More recently, both Julie and I have been able to visit with them together. Although we were supposed to minister to the Day family, we were the ones being ministered to. I literally and figuratively sat at Ivan’s feet and was taught by him, as he shared stories of his family, of his faith, of his career, and of growing up here in Highland (and the practical jokes he played on his siblings!).

It is not my intent to provide a eulogy, but I would like all of you to know that Ivan had (and has) a powerful testimony of the restored Gospel, and of the mission and atonement of Jesus Christ.

Almost 2 years ago, Ivan shared with the ward the experiences he went through to gain a testimony. He shared with us how, while serving a mission in Scotland, he sought for confirmation from the Holy Ghost about the truthfulness of the Gospel. After a great effort on his part, clearly an offering that was accepted of the Lord, he shared with us his testimony as follows:

“I was so completely overcome at this moment by the Holy Ghost … Great tears of joy came to my eyes as I was compelled to admit: There is a God, you are there; what I’m involved with is true! I had felt as though my soul had literally leaped for joy at the knowledge I had received!”

I don’t have a full understanding of what the Day family is going through at this moment. However, I do have a testimony that they will see Ivan again, and this brings me great joy.

Brothers and Sisters, this is a difficult time for many people, and many of us are going through challenges. Just like many of you, I believe my family has seen its fair share of trials as a result of the coronavirus. As we face these challenges, I have asked myself “Can I experience hope and joy in the middle of a pandemic and its resulting affects, as well as other sorrows and trials we experience?

President (Elder) Russell M Nelson gave us the answer nearly 4 years ago in a talk entitled “Joy and Spiritual Survival.” He said:

“Life is filled with detours and dead ends, trials and challenges of every kind. Each of us has likely had times when distress, anguish, and despair almost consumed us. Yet we are here to have joy? Yes! The answer is a resounding yes! Saints can be happy under every circumstance. We can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf adds “Hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with courage during difficult challenges. Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness.” (The Infinite Power of Hope)

So how do we do that, especially with our lives changing on a daily basis?

President Nelson explains: “When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy!”

Brothers and Sisters, in these challenging times may we do our best to focus on the Savior, to find hope and joy in the journey, even with its bumpy roads and detours. Cherish the time you have with your families. The Plan of Salvation is real. As we move forward with faith, may we take comfort in Elder Uchtdorf’s message: “Because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

We love each of you, we pray for you daily, and ask the Lord’s blessing upon you.

Sincerely:

Brother Hendricks and all of the Bishopric from the Strasburg Ward

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