Remembering Dee Purcell

 The Main Thing

Stephen R. Covey said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”  Another way to say this is, “Keep your eye on the ball”.  With regard to our purpose here on earth President Nelson summed it up this way by admonishing us to, “Think Celestial”.  So, the main thing is eternal life in the Celestial Kingdom.   President Nelson also said, “Salvation is an individual matter.  Exaltation is a family matter.”  The main underlying reason why we engage in anything important in the church is to keep the main thing, which is Eternal Life as our goal.  This is a family matter and precisely why we engage in Temple and Family History work; to help others receive eternal life as well.  

A member of our ward, Dee Purcell recently passed away.  She could not see with her mortal eyes so she was not on the computer searching out ancestors, but Dee never lost sight of the main thing in life.  She was a shining example to us all.  She left her big beautiful family on this side of the veil to join her family on the other side of the veil.  Her life was an incredible example to all of us of focusing on the Savior and the blessings of Eternal Life.  Hers was a life filled with optimism, patience and faith amidst a boatload of physical ailments that she suffered with.  She attended the temple and kept her covenants.  Her favorite scripture 2 Nephi 31:20 kept her focus on the main thing.  “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

During the past few years of her suffering Dee became very limited in what she could do.   Although she never asked, “Why me?”  occasionally she wondered and prayed about what her purpose was on earth.   Among other things a consistent answer that she felt was to help her nieces and nephews and specifically be a beacon for them to live the gospel.  Dee never married or had children, but absolutely adored her nieces and nephews.  She spoke of them often and knew all about their lives.  It was her wish for them to speak at her funeral and many did.  One of them told about how a conversation amongst them started to head in the wrong direction.  Dee was there and began singing “I am a Child of God”.  This was a powerful reminder to re-direct their thoughts to higher ground.

Be like Dee and keep the main thing the main thing by remembering the main reason for this life which is to work out our salvation and be exalted with our families.  Let us lay aside every sin which doth so easily beset us and run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

Tribute by Suzy Shumway, her dear friend