Man, I remember just talking about him the other day.
So I just recieved news that a fellow friend that I hometaught and visited just passed away. John Reddoch was a great man, a very intelligent man, and he lived a pretty long life. I knew this man pretty well. Me and Brother brown hometaught him. We would come over, teach a lesson, offer help with anything, but the visits would last hours and hours. My brother Grant hometaught him before me. He wasn't a member of the church when we visited him. But everytime we would visit we would just feel the spirit just so thick. It was one of the defining moments in my life actually. Some of the constant reminders and conversions I go through myself. Brother Reddoch was a catholic his whole life, I believe. And he spent many many years being taught the gospel. He just never really felt the spirit, he would just use his super intellect to just think about it. And just one day out of the blue. He just decided to get baptized. Which was really amazing. I believe his words were he just knew it was true. Something must of clicked.
Of course it was the spirit testifying to him and he finally let his spiritual eyes open. And wow, Me and Brother Brown were just so happy when he decided to join the church. I mean, we really didn't do anything special, we just taught the lesson and just talked about life and the economy or whatever, we would always say a prayer before we went to their house to prepare ourselves and when we would leave their house. He was the patriarch of his family, he would call on someone to pray. I mean, we just were dedicated, we really wanted John Reddoch to feel the spirit, we wanted him to know that the Book of Mormon was true. I think he did too, but he never received an answer yet.
I didn't make it to his baptism but I came to I think his house afterwards. which they were having refreshments and such. I just took a good look at him, shook his hand, or hugged him I can't remember, but I was really happy, but he had a glow of remission like everyone does after baptism. I don't mean a real visible glow, but their countenance surely shows it. This is someone who truly wanted to have his prayers answered, who wanted to become more Christlike.
It just boggles me that people wonder of the validity of the spirit. Its so simple, its not hard to feel, and it shouldn't be so hard to recognize. It something that you can't recreate in yourself, I mean I can't just make myself or trick myself to feel it. You could definitely put yourself in the position to feel it. And you would know when you lost the spirit too.
Anyways, Recently when Grant came over to Virginia I remember asking about John Reddoch, he said he bumped into him at the temple and they talked for a while head to head(literally) hunched to each other. So that was nice to hear that he was able to go to the temple. And was sealed to his wife For All Time and Eternity. Well, and just a few weeks later, late night. I hear my mom going "oh no..." And I knew something was up someone died. I don't know how I could tell, but I knew someone close died. And I found out that he slipped away while he was sleeping, due to his sleep apnea. But look on the brightside. He was a great man, and he was able to go to the temple and make covenants with the lord before he returned to him.
Death is a funny strange thing. I am sad to know a close friend like that died.
But I know without a doubt, that I know that God has a plan for all of us. That this mortal life is just so small and finite. So little compared to the eternities, and we are supposed to experience joy and sorrow to grow and fully appreciate the important things. I know that I felt the spirit those years ago in the Reddoch home. I know that John Reddoch did, I know his wife did, I know my senior hometeaching companion Brother Hugh Brown, taught with the spirit. In his quiet, meek, but powerful way. I know John Reddoch is happy and his spirit will continue to bless those in his life. It blesses mine. Thats for sure. I leave these things. In the Savior's name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Of course it was the spirit testifying to him and he finally let his spiritual eyes open. And wow, Me and Brother Brown were just so happy when he decided to join the church. I mean, we really didn't do anything special, we just taught the lesson and just talked about life and the economy or whatever, we would always say a prayer before we went to their house to prepare ourselves and when we would leave their house. He was the patriarch of his family, he would call on someone to pray. I mean, we just were dedicated, we really wanted John Reddoch to feel the spirit, we wanted him to know that the Book of Mormon was true. I think he did too, but he never received an answer yet.
I didn't make it to his baptism but I came to I think his house afterwards. which they were having refreshments and such. I just took a good look at him, shook his hand, or hugged him I can't remember, but I was really happy, but he had a glow of remission like everyone does after baptism. I don't mean a real visible glow, but their countenance surely shows it. This is someone who truly wanted to have his prayers answered, who wanted to become more Christlike.
It just boggles me that people wonder of the validity of the spirit. Its so simple, its not hard to feel, and it shouldn't be so hard to recognize. It something that you can't recreate in yourself, I mean I can't just make myself or trick myself to feel it. You could definitely put yourself in the position to feel it. And you would know when you lost the spirit too.
Anyways, Recently when Grant came over to Virginia I remember asking about John Reddoch, he said he bumped into him at the temple and they talked for a while head to head(literally) hunched to each other. So that was nice to hear that he was able to go to the temple. And was sealed to his wife For All Time and Eternity. Well, and just a few weeks later, late night. I hear my mom going "oh no..." And I knew something was up someone died. I don't know how I could tell, but I knew someone close died. And I found out that he slipped away while he was sleeping, due to his sleep apnea. But look on the brightside. He was a great man, and he was able to go to the temple and make covenants with the lord before he returned to him.
Death is a funny strange thing. I am sad to know a close friend like that died.
But I know without a doubt, that I know that God has a plan for all of us. That this mortal life is just so small and finite. So little compared to the eternities, and we are supposed to experience joy and sorrow to grow and fully appreciate the important things. I know that I felt the spirit those years ago in the Reddoch home. I know that John Reddoch did, I know his wife did, I know my senior hometeaching companion Brother Hugh Brown, taught with the spirit. In his quiet, meek, but powerful way. I know John Reddoch is happy and his spirit will continue to bless those in his life. It blesses mine. Thats for sure. I leave these things. In the Savior's name, Jesus Christ. Amen.