Elder Dale G. Renlund

The Saturday following my dad's final release from the hospital, my family was visiting my parent's house.  As we were getting ready to leave, a dear family friend and neighbor dropped by with his sweet wife and asked if my dad wanted to meet a prophet.

My dad did, so I grabbed some gloves to put on him, and we helped him out the door.  The adult session of Stake Conference took place that evening for my parent's ward and Elder Dale G. Renlund was in attendance.

My mom, dad, and sister went along with the neighbor to shake his hand.  Our sweet kids were expired and we left to get home.  When we were almost home, my mom called saying that Elder Renlund and President Soffe, their stake president, was going to come to my parents house the next day to give my dad a blessing.

The next morning all of my siblings that were able, my mom & dad, and a dear family friend gathered in my parent's living room anticipating their arrival.  We talked about how special it was that he would take the time out of his busy schedule to give my dad a blessing.

As Elder Renlund entered the home we greeted him and President Soffe.  Elder Renlund asked each of us our names as he greeted us, then sat down on a chair by my dad.  He asked my dad if he would be willing to share his story.  My dad shared about his diagnosis and my mom turning around to take him to the hospital.  The five failed bone marrow transplants.  He mentioned how he has felt a feeling of peace throughout the whole process and shared his testimony of the power of our Heavenly Father.  My dad always had faith that Heavenly had power to heal him, but was submissive to His will.  He expressed he was willing to do whatever the Father wanted of him, which was evident step by step of his illness.

Elder Renlund then asked if my dad would like to receive a blessing.  My dad affirmed and then asked if they would be willing to give my mom a blessing.  He stated that he has the peace of the journey and my mom had the burden.  He wanted to lighten my mom's burden.

Elder Renlund then proceeded to give a blessing to both my dad and mom.  While I would like to keep most of the words private, as they are very special to me, one phrase I would like to share.  He blessed my dad that he would not breathe his last breath until his journey on this earth was complete.  I knew Elder Renlund's words to be true and had full confidence that when my dad passed, his journey was complete.

Once the blessing concluded, my dad gave both Elder Renlund, President Soffe, and his dear friend a hug and said, "thank you, my friend."

There was no fanfare around the whole event.  A simple experience with limited people in the quiet living room of my parent's house.  The best way to explain the feeling was to compare it to the feeling of the temple.  No extraordinary overwhelming feeling, just a sweet simple pure feeling of peace and love.