I was 10 years old when Janet Marie joined our family. I must admit that by this time I was hoping for a brother, having been blessed thus far with 5 sisters. However, I can’t say that I was disappointed. She was a well-tempered baby, easygoing as a child, and always smiling. There was just something about her angelic demeanor that wouldn’t permit me to not like her. I believe many of you know what I mean. Besides, how could I not like someone who enjoyed playing soccer almost as much as I did? I was probably in high school by the time she began playing soccer, but I still remember kicking the ball around with her and Erika in our yard. And I must say that she was probably the cutest soccer player I’ve seen when she was all decked out in her uniform.

Since I was busy serving a mission, attending college away from home, and getting married shortly after that, I didn’t really spend much time with her during her formative years. There is, however, one remembrance I have from this period in her life that I’d like to share with you.

I attended college in Williamsburg, which is about a 2½-hour drive from my parent’s home. Since it was a relatively short distance, I made a few unannounced weekend homecomings. I would arrive late Friday night, find a way into the house, and sleep on the basement couch. The Saturday morning tradition in the Christiansen home ever since I can remember was for the kids to wake up (probably earlier than they did on weekdays when they were supposed to wake up early for school) and watch cartoons on the recreation room TV. On more than one occasion, while languishing on the basement couch waiting for the strength to get up, I’d hear a single set of footsteps overhead walking from the recreation room to the basement door and down the basement stairs. If I remember correctly, this was usually Janet or Erika. After peering around the corner into the playroom, they’d run back upstairs and I’d hear “Brad’s home!” followed immediately by what seemed to me to be a small army running down to the basement. To this day, the display of unadulterated excitement that only a child can have still warms my heart.

Janet was extremely easy to get along with, perhaps even to a fault. As her sisters Krista and Valanie put it, her siblings often roped her into doing things. When Janet was around 7 years old, Valanie was sitting just outside of the garage of my parent’s house with her friends. Krista wanted to do something to embarrass Valanie in front of her friends, so she proceeded to persuade Janet that it would be a good idea to take off all of their clothes, run out the garage door entrance, around the front of the house, and back in the front door. The stunt did have its intended effect of embarrassing Valanie, but also had the unintended consequence of a stern talking to from my father.

Janet was a peacemaker. Years ago, her brother Mark had a friend over at the house and they were playing in the basement. His friend accidentally knocked off Mark’s glasses and they fell to the floor and broke. Mark was so furious, he started yelling and screaming at his friend. Janet came in and told him to quiet down and asked what the problem was. Mark related what had happened, after which Janet said that there was no reason to treat someone like that, especially since it was a friend and obviously had been an accident. He immediately knew she was right and apologized to his friend. The example that Janet showed stuck with Mark and still pops back into his mind whenever he gets angry or irritated at someone.

Another of Janet’s strong points was her obedience. It was my parent’s desire to have her attend Southern Virginia College. Janet was not too sure that this is where she wanted to go, but she agreed to visit the college with my parents. Even after being offered a spot on the soccer team, she still wasn’t sure, so she agreed to pray about it. Although she felt she hadn’t received a response indicating whether she should or should not go, she cared enough about what my parents felt to attend the College. This is a decision I’m sure both her teammates and Raven, her husband she met at the College, are glad she made. Her sister Erika also felt blessed to have her at the same college and on the same soccer team. Erika mentioned that Janet was so much fun to be around because of her delightful personality. She was always so laid back and easygoing, which made people want to be around her even more.

Unlike many adults, Janet never lost the child-like qualities to which Christ referred when he said, “of such is the kingdom of God.” Since she still had these qualities, children were drawn to her. She remained humble, teachable, unselfish, and full of love and compassion. She was always willing to help. In fact, she was looking into a career in counseling.

Even after growing up with all of us, she still loved children. She adored all of her nieces and nephews and thoroughly enjoyed playing with them. Whenever she came into the room, they would always smile, run up to her, and give her a big hug. She was always so patient with them and able to help them find the best in themselves.

Janet had an unwavering faith in God and was true to her covenants and commitments. Janet relied on Our Heavenly Father and the comfort and guidance of the Holy Ghost. She followed inspiration, even when the answers she received may not have been the ones she wanted to hear. Although she was laid-back, she still never took the easy way out.

The birth of her son Kaiden was, I’m sure, one of the happiest occasions in her life. Many of us have seen her with her son and can see that her love for Kaiden is both undeniable and copious. It’s plain to see that she is a good mother. Members in the ward Janet most recently attended in Durham commented that they always saw her with Kaiden in her arms, never in a baby seat or stroller, as if she never wanted to let him go.

At first glance, the 25 years that Janet was here with us seems too short a time; that she “missed out” on a lot of experiences. But the eternal perspective that we have, through knowing the gospel of Jesus Christ, tells us otherwise. We know that this earthly existence is but a step in the eternal progression of God’s children. Any joy or happiness she could have experienced here on this earth if she had remained with us pales in comparison with that which is found in the presence of Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. She, along with her sister Gaynelle, will be waiting for us there. It is my prayer that we may live worthily so that we can one day join them.

From Coach Joe Bouchelle at Janet's Funeral...

I'm sorry that I cannot be there with y'all today. I understand that funerals are not really for those who have passed, but for those left behind. I send my love and condolences and virtual hugs to so many of you whom I hold so dear.

I also hold Janet Christiansen dear. Please note the use of the present tense. She has affected and will continue to affect my life and the lives of so many others for the good.

I want you to know - and I feel that this is what Janet would have me share - that now as perhaps no other time, "Sweet is the peace the gospel brings." I pray that that peace spoken of can wash over each of us as we try to deal with this tragedy. We all know that sometimes seemingly bad things happen to good people. I pray that we can also know and experience what Elder Bednar calls the tender mercies of the Lord. I testify that they are indeed tender and are merciful as well.

We will all miss Janet. Our pain is obviously magnified by the very nature of her passing. Yet as she passed, she was a worthy wife and mother and one in whom we can have confidence of great things. Let us rise in her behalf and renew and rededicate ourselves to that which she knows more surely now - the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It is our peace in this world of pain and confusion. It is the rod to which we must hold. Indeed, it is our pathway to discipleship. Perhaps Janet would want us to use this time to, "Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do." Let us "Shout in glad adulations". By so doing, the brief and beautiful life of one of our Heavenly Father's choice daughters will not be in vain, but her legacy can live on through each of our recommitment to the Great Plan of Happiness. I think Janet would be happy about that. Thank you for this opportunity to share some of my thoughts and feelings with you. I miss you and love you. I pay tribute to the life of Janet Christiansen in a manner that I hope is pleasing unto her, her family and our Heavenly Father. May the Lord's peace, which can conquer all, rest upon you and bring you home.

From Coach Bouchelle to Kaiden...

Kaiden,

I don't know how old you will be when you read this; I 'm going to try to keep it simple. Your Mommy was an amazing woman. She loved you so very much and wanted only the best for you. She was so happy and proud to have been blessed with you and loved showing you off to everyone. Whenever I saw her with you, she was being an awesome Mommy.

Before you came along, your mommy was amazing at some other things. She was an amazing soccer player. That's how I knew her best because I helped coach her. She worked harder than anyone I knew and was a very unselfish player. She was also unselfish off the field and had a quiet way of being a great team leader. People looked up to your Mom because of her work ethic and what she stood for. You should be proud of her and you should look forward to seeing her when she'll greet you with open arms in the Celestial Kingdom. This separation may seem long, but it will be brief in the great, eternal scheme of things.

Most importantly - again, know how much your Mommy loves you. When things get tough, as I'm sure they will, keep her love in mind. Remember that she still loves you, even though she's not physically present now.

Joe Bouchelle
May 4, 2005

From Diedra, another of Janet's Coaches, at her Funeral...

A Work in Progress
Janet Marie Christiansen

I am humbled at the opportunity to speak today. I am so grateful for my opportunity to have coached Janet. Janet played on the first woman’s soccer team at Southern Virginia University and was a four year starter. I am pleased to share with you that the Janet Christiansen pioneer scholarship has been set up to honor and help a female soccer student athlete. She truly was a pioneer. Janet loves soccer, and is great but that is not what we best learned from her. My two most significant memories of Janet helped me realize that. When I first recruited Janet, she sat on my couch with her parents in my home, very aloof, not letting me know how she felt or what she really wanted. Later, during Janet's senior year, she came to my door. She looked troubled. I asked how things were going and she began to cry and talk. She let me hug her and I just listened as she told me how she missed Raven and how tough a time she was having. She was not afraid to cry, to show her emotions, to be vulnerable. I felt that strength even though she was hurting. She had grown so much.

Janet, like all of us, is a work in progress. I have watched her grow spiritually steadily. Her testimony has grown stronger and stronger. Her role as a mother strengthened her and brought her peace and joy and knowledge of Gods love.

I want us to remember that we are all a work in progress. And how are we doing at it? Are we like Janet, continually getting stronger spiritually? I pray that we will be. She wants us each to be.

We are all hurting. We all miss her. Why is there suffering in this life? I would like to offer an answer that James Faust did. God loves us so much more than He loves our happiness. It's not so much what happens to us, but how we deal with it. Will we become hardened, or softened and refined?

When the journey becomes seemingly unbearable, we can take comfort from 2 Kings 20:5. The Lord says to us, "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears; behold, I will heal thee. Some of the healing may take place in another world. We may never know why some things happen life. The reason for some of our suffering is known only to the Lord. Those are powerful words -- He hears our prayers now, He sees our tears, He will heal us. I know this. I bear testimony of it.

From Janet's friend Britney...

Janet -- aka, my Hoochie...... If you made me pick a favorite memory of Janet, I don't think I could, it feels like we have been friends forever. She was one of the first people I met upon arriving at SVC in 1998 and a friend who posed for pictures after graduation, we accomplished it together. In the past two years, after graduation, although we were far in distance, Janet was always a phone call away. In the past eight years, there hasn't been any major even in my life without Janet's influence.

My earliest memory of Janet was of us in the white van on the way to Warren Wilson for our first soccer over the night trip. Janet and I laughed and talked for four hours to North Carolina, from that point on Janet was one of my favorite people. There were various excursions to Waffle House, Panther Falls, D.C., Levi's, Spankys and much more. I remember prank wars, getting eaten by Ferrets, numerous soccer games and trips, sleepover, long talks and even longer adventures. Janet was a friendly face many a time when I arrived off the plane. She came to visit and helped me "take my mind off things" when I was going through Knee surgery. When I felt I had blown a game -- Janet would always know what to say to make me feel better. Obviously we were far superior players and it just wasn't our fault. She would come and cheer me on with my other athletic endeavors. Even when I really stunk it up, Janet would help me laugh when I was in the depths of despair.

In the past two years I have grown a great appreciation for the phone. She was there to help me feel not so lonely when I moved to what seemed like a new country. She always could bring a smile to my face no matter what the circumstances. Everything just seemed to be a little better, a little lighter, a little easier with Janet around. When things seemed like they couldn't get bleaker, Janet would remind me to keep things in perspective. She bore her testimony of the Temple and the Gospel. She reminded me many times we are children of God, He never leaves us. Janet, in the last six months, told me SO many times how wonderful it was to be a Mom. She said, "I couldn't imagine loving someone so much. Being a mom is the best thing anyone could do, Britney you have to do this."

From Janet’s Funeral Service, Talk by Adrienne…

Janet Marie Christiansen Abaroa was born June 19th, 1979 in Northern Virginia to Janet and Val Christiansen, the 7th child of 10. She is survived by her siblings, Dena, Brad, Valanie, Sonja, Krista, Erika, Richard and Mark and her nieces and nephews Ashley, Brianna, Clarissa, Valina, Vivian, Ian, Joshua, Jacob and Jeremy. She joins her sister Gaynelle who passed away in February 1982.

Growing up Janet and her siblings were one big mob playing and doing everything together. Her older sisters always looked out for her, and they were always excited to see a new baby come into the family to join the clan. Janet was shy at first but once she got to know you it was another story. Her siblings nicknamed her Monkey ears when she was little because she was bald and her ears stuck out.

She played soccer growing up and impressed all the parents because she was just a skinny little girl that was better than the boys. Once she had a male coach who was about to leave her team to coach a boys team, Janet wouldn’t have it and this man ended up staying to coach Janet’s team as well as the boys. He knew she was too talented to leave behind. Janet was stubborn at times and stood for what she believed to be right. In high school she made the basketball team, but soon found out the schedule would have been hectic and some nights she wouldn’t get home until 10pm. She told the coach she couldn’t be a part of the team because she had an early morning paper route and Seminary to attend. However, Janet continued to play and excel at soccer throughout high school until graduating from Annandale High School in 1997.

She then excelled in college receiving many honors academically and athletically, some of which included: 1998 & 1999 she was a NSCAA Champion in soccer, USCAA player of the week October 1, 2001, USCAA All-tournament team in 2002, Academic All-American in 2001 and 2002, and Presidents honor roll 4.0 GPA.

Janet and I met in August of 1998. We played soccer together, were roommates and quickly became friends. There was always something about Janet that made me want to be around her and get to know her better. She had an uplifting spirit about her that made you feel good about yourself. She pushed others to be better people and athletes in her own quiet way. She was a quiet competitor, always putting forth 110% in sports and school, so she could be the best. At the same time she never made anyone feel inferior. She had a way of inspiring you to be the best you could. She was an excellent soccer player, I remember so many games we play together, she was always my first option to pass to, because I knew she would give it everything she had to get open, fight for the ball and win. At first sight all you might see is a skinny girl, but her strength was amazing. Her work ethic was that desired by every athlete. She was loved by her coaches and teammates, as a friend and the wonderful person she was off the field. I rarely remember Janet in a bad mood, if she was, it only took a few minutes to get over it and she was making you laugh again.

Janet was a prankster as well, I remember a time we pulled a fast one on Britney Romito, which didn’t go over too well with Brit, but Janet quickly made amends…her true character of humility and love came through. Besides being a wonderful friend, she was an outstanding wife and mother. You could see the love she had for her husband in her eyes and actions. Raven, she loved you so much, and you completed each other. I want you to remember the one thing you said to me 2 nights ago and that was “Janet and I are a family forever.” As difficult and painful as it is right now, you have this wonderful blessing to be with her and Kaiden for the eternities. I know the Lord has made this possible because he loves us so much.

Janet was afraid to be a mother, not knowing if she could love her baby enough. I had so many talks with her about this, and she had so much fear. But two days after Kaiden was born, Katie Burgess and I had the opportunity to visit them in North Carolina. Janet told us numerous times how she never knew she could love someone so much, and knew the Lord had blessed her life with a beautiful baby boy. We remember seeing her stroke his little face with her finger and seemed lost in his eyes. Some things will never be forgotten about Janet. Her honesty, loyalty, commitment, her easy-going attitude, and so many more attributes. She is known by her mother, as her little angel, and rightfully so.

In closing, I would like to share the words of a hymn that describes how I feel about Janet and feel you will also.

HYMN BOOK!** PAGE 293 Each life that touches ours for Good.

I want you all to know that Janet’s testimony had grown so much since the day I met her. She always told me, “We have to trust God with everything, because He knows how much we can take and my testimony has grown because of that.” She is here with us in spirit, and one day we will each embrace her again and celebrate with our Lord.

**please see the Songs and Poems on the tribute page for this Hymn.

Remarks for Memorial Service for Janet Christiansen
By President Evans
May 9, 2005

The purpose of life on earth is explained in a sacred text authored by the ancient prophet, Abraham:

22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones…
24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth wehereon these may dwell;
25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
(Abraham 3:22, 24—25)

Thus our life on earth was designed as a test, to see if we would keep God’s commandments. Through prophets and then through his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, God commanded us to love and obey him, and to love and serve each other. God also gave each of us the gift of agency to be able to choose for ourselves.

But not all of us exercise that agency to choose wisely. Sadly, some choose selfishness, hatred, violence and other evils. A revelation given to the prophet Joseph Smith recounts a conversation between God and the ancient prophet Enoch which describes God’s sorrow over such wickedness.

28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying:
29 How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?...
32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them, and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
33 And unto my brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;
(Moses 7:28—29, 32—33)

A further explanation is found in the 93rd section of the Doctrine and Covenants:

30 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light…
39 And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men,
(D&C 93: 31, 39)

Thus, some of us are disobedient and misuse our God-given agency to choose evil. Were God to prevent us from choosing evil, it would negate His gift of agency and frustrate His purpose in sending us to earth to see if we would keep his commandments. The consequence of our evil choices, however, is that sometimes bad things happen to good people.

As the Book of Mormon prophet Alma and his missionary companion, Amulek, were forced to watch innocents being put to death by wicked men because of their belief in God, Amulek asked Alma to exercise the power of God to prevent such evil. In reply, Alma gave the following explanation of why God suffers such evils to occur.

11 But Alma said unto him: the Spirit constaineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just, and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.
(Alma 14:11)

In similar vein, the righteous Book of Mormon warrior, Captain Moroni, explained it in this way.

13 For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgement may come upon the wicked, therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God.
(Alma 60:13)

Agency was not the only gift god gave his children who come to earth. He also provided a Savior and Redeemer for us. As John tells us:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)

The great prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would over come death.

8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from pff all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hat spoken it.
(Isaiah 25:8)

And the Savior himself said:
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he alive.
(John 11:25)

Christ can comfort us because he truly understands our distress. The Apostle Neal A. Maxwell taught that none of us can tell him anything he doesn’t know about injustice, rejection, betrayal or pain and suffering. Paul wrote to the Hebrews of Christ’s empathy for our sorrows, saying:

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are….
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
(Hebrews 4:14—15, 5:2, 8—9)

And Alma explained the Savior’s great empathy for our pains and sorrows in these words:

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind’ and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
(Alma 7:11—12)

Christ knows full well what it is like to have life cruelly cut short by the actions of wicked men. Thus, he can have perfect empathy for Janet, and not just for Janet, but also for us and for our sorrows. As I have spoken with Janet’s family, I have been impressed as they have borne witness of how they have felt the power of Christ to ease their burdens. As he said:

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
(John 14:27, 16:33)

We grieve for Janet’s loss, and it is right that we should do so. The revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants tell us that such grief is natural and appropriate.

45 Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die,
(D&C 42:45)

But the scriptures also tell us that there is comfort for our mourning through faith in Christ. After many righteous had been killed in a grievous war, Alma reported that:

12 While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness.
(Alma 28:12)

Alma additionally explained that the righteous dead are received into a state of peace.

11…Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
(Alma 40:11—12)

Through Alma we also have the prophetic promise that in due time there will come a glorious resurrection in which.

23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.
24 And now, my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of prophets—
25 And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.
(Alma 40:23—25)

Thus we see that, of all the teachings of holy writ, nothing is clearer than that the sorrow of death is a temporary sorrow. And all this is done through faith in Christ.

In her life, Janet was taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ from her youth. She made righteous choices.
She chose to be baptized by immersion as a symbol of her commietment to follow the Savior.
She chose learning and pursued an education.
She chose to make and keep sacred covenants of marriage in a holy temple.
She choes motherhood, and delighted in her son.
She chose a gospel way of life and was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She chose love for fellow man and was a friend to all who knew her.
Surely she will reap the reward of her faith in Christ and her righteous choices.

Paul taught the Romans that those who partake of Christ’s suffering also will partake of his glory.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs of god, and joing-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together.
(Romans 8:16—17)

And Peter said much the same thing in his first epistle to the ancient church.

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(New Testament 1Peter 4:13)

Like our Savior, Janet’s life on this earth met an untimely end at the hands of the wicked. In that way, she ahs partaken of his suffering, and we may trust the promise spoken by Paul and Peter that she therefore also will be a partaker of his glory. Thus we have consolation in Christ. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ…
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also fo the consolation.
(2Corinthians 1:2—5,7)

But what of us? What does God expect of us in this situation? First we must have faith in God our eternal Father and in his son, Jesus Christ. As it says in Proverbs:

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.
(Proverbs 3:5—6)

Second, we must love and serve each other. As Christ taught his followers:

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love on another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(John 13:34—35)

If we keep God’s commandments to have faith in Christ and love and serve each other, then we are promised eternal togetherness as families in the Kingdom of god. Note these prophetic promises from the 121st Section of the Doctrine & Covenants:

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon they soul as the dews from heaven.
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and they scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy [family] shall be an everlasting [family], and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.
(D&C 121:45—46)

Wise old Benjamin Franklin put it this way in a letter to a young woman named Elizabeth Hubbart, who had lost a dear family member to death, which I quote in part:

“Dear Child,
I condole with you. We have lost a most dear and valuable relation, but it is the will of God and nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life…Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals? A new member added to their happy society? …Our friend and we are invited abroad on a party of pleasure – that is to last forever – His chair was first ready, and he is gone before us - we could not all conveniently start together, and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to follow, and we know where to find him. Adieu”

The peace we can have through Christ is eloquently expressed in the hymn, “Though Deepening Trials” (Hymns #122)

Though deepening trials throng your way, press on, press on ye saints of God,
Ere long the resurrection day, will spread its light and truth abroad.
Though outward ills await us here, the time at longest is not long,
Ere Jesus Christ will re-appear surrounded by a glorious throng.
What though our rights have been assailed? What though by foes we’ve been despoiled?
Jehovah’s promise has not failed. Jehovah’s purpose is not foiled.
Though Stan rage, ‘tis all in vain; The words the ancient prophet spoke
Sure as the throne of God remain; Nor men nor devils can revoke.
Lift up your hearts in praise to God, let your rejoicings never cease.
Though tribulations rage abroad, Christ says in me ye shall have peace.

I say to you again that, though we mourn for Janet and rightly so, because of the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ in our behalf, the sorrow of death is a temporary sorrow.

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which [I] give of him: That he lives!
23 …that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.
(D&C 76:22—24)

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though [afflictions may destroy] this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
(Job 19:25—26)
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
(Isaiah 25:8)
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
(Micah 6:8)

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