Message from Esther

Joy and Excitement of Life, Death and Resurrection
July 13, 1999

Who would want to read or hear about such a monumental subject? I don't know - But I want to write about it. And I expect to talk with Taylor- my 7 yr. old great grandson who is staying overnight with me, about the subject.

Time passes-at 84 years for me, I`m preparing for the celebration, the graduation- another mission into another sphere, with joy and happiness.

Learning about death and how to live a happy life has been a continuous process. After mother died, Dad moved the family near Salt Lake City, to be near better medical and educational opportunities. He married again and had 6 more children, during the depression. I am one of 15 children, and was with my Sister Ruth 86 yrs old, when she died a month ago, her husband following her 10 days later.

I have a deluge of printed material and experiences of great interest to me on a cheerful life, and about death, that I wanted to publish for my posterity. My schooling on this subject has been as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and experiences of life:

• When I was 13, I was crying and praying, kneeling by my dying mother's bedside, along with my 8 siblings, Dad, neighbors, relatives, and a doctor who made a house call too late. We lived in Emery Utah where 38 people died in one winter from an epidemic, so we were prepared for burying my mother at home.
• -After I was married our 1-year old girl was at death's door. I experienced the comfort of blessings and prayers. Two of our boys- the last of 7 children- died as infants. This was made bearable and smiles were again possible through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.
• Being with my own father for weeks before he died at age 99, was a cherished experience.
• On trips to the Holy Land and Egypt, I learned about how those cultures prepared and reacted to death and dying. Talks with other friends from countries where death is viewed differently than I was taught helped me to understand. As I ponder over my sister's recent death, I marvel at how brave she was to travel alone into this dark valley of pain and anguish into a state of existence, where she can enjoy life to the fullest extent (as far as that can be done without a body). She can now say: My spirit is free, I thirst no more, I want to sleep no more, I hunger no more, I tire no more, I run, I walk, I labor, I go, I come, I do whatever is required of me, I feel nothing like pain or weariness, I am full of life, full of vigor, and I enjoy the presence of my Heavenly Father, by the power of his Spirit. I want to say to my friends, if you will live your religion, live so as to be full of the faith of God, that the eternity will shine upon you, you can see and understand these things for yourself. (DNSW 28 July 1874,l) Teachings of Brigham Young

So now my sister with a spirit body is in the spirit world, which is an active place. She is mingling with others, and growth and progress are possible. She is just as busy there as she was here. She can see us, but we can't see her (unless it is the Lord's will). And she can travel like lightning! When it is time for her to be resurrected, her spirit will enter her body. She will look as she did in mortal life with a body of flesh and bones. She will enter the Celestial Kingdom after the 1000 year millenial reign and the final judgement, and return home to live with our Father in Heaven.

After the second coming of Jesus Christ, Ruth will perhaps be living among her posterity that are still living on the earth. There will be births and deaths that she will be aware of, but it will be a natural death. They will not be buried in a grave, but will be changed in the twinkling of an eye to an immortal body. Life during the 1000 years that Satan will be bound will be different from today. Righteousness and peace will be present everywhere because wicked people will be burned as stuble. Mortality continues: birth, aging, crops, industries, no premature deaths, no sorrow, no disease.

What a joy to look forward to such a world!
Esther Dickey

A letter to my Father in Heaven
April 28, 1999

Father in Heaven I know you are concerned as I am about the attitude of
your children in these last days before you come to earth to straighten
our thoughts and our sacred land we walk on .

Some may feel they will just push the delete button and forget it.
But I want to make a difference- in the lives of myself, and family and
friends around the world.

I hope to start with myself and grandchildren- and branch out to others.
What can I do- just be an example-

I know what you Father have outlined in your plan for your children. I
need constant reminders and constant association with others that know
which path to take.

Tonight I am having two friends come to my home for a slumber party.
Brigham Young reminds us that we should include fun things in our life.

I think of our 46 yrs. In Gresham, Oregon.
We moved from Burbank Calif when the city moved in and overcrowded us.
We moved f rom Thom road when the city moved too near us.
We moved out farther into the country on Jackson Road.
Now after some 30 years here I see the same thing happening and I don't
want to give up my goal of living right here in this house until I go
through the veil and return to thee.

But I am having a time of serious thought as I see the agricultural era
the county scenes disappearing from Jackson road- The housing
developments are coming closer and closer, and every parcel of land seems
to be planted in trees. First killing things that grow on the land and
tilling and planting trees. Which beautify the land, but takes away any
suggestion of virgin land. The man that rents a part of my three acres
talks of bull dozing down the grouping of wild blackberries by the road.
The people across the road have had their blackberries to the east all bulldozed down.

Father I know this is progress and I know soon every house on Jackson
road will be perfectly manicured, no weeds, no junk- old cars and stuff
in the front yard. This I dream of, but the alternate of having such
perfection bothers me- I won der about the future.

My friends at church that moved to an apartment talks of the small
corners and places they are planting in ñ (their dream of a big garden
has vanished for now- Seems a place where there is a shovel of dirt or
permission to plant is vanishing.

I want to be an example to my family and friends.
I know that I will continue to have peace at night and joy in the
morning, under all circumstances.

Last night I gave a mini class on herbs at church,
It was satisfying to have a friend tell me that it was good to have my
experience with growing things passed on to other generations before it
was lost- She had reference to the comfrey, and green drink, the rhubarb
juice, jerusalem artichokes, to the use of raw fresh
seeds on the collard plant I brought,edible flowers, weeds, plants that
grew year after year- giving emergency food until new crops come up.

We talked about the word of wisdom and it's meaning- and blessing. We
talked of what the Lord would have us do with our time a nd means in our
vaious circiumstances.- Plant and harvest or more time with family etc.

There was an a special exercise class that part of the ladies went to,
while the herb class was in process.. We need to balance our lives and
listen to the still small voice as how to manage our time and finances.

One thing sure... there is a need to balance the lives of all Gods children
and make it possible for them to know God personally and his plan- this
takes work...all the days of our life...... Esther Dickey