Stake Conference at BYU April 11 2010 Email from Thoughtful Mary

Well today we had stake conference and we had the privilege of hearing from President Bateman the Provo temple president. Well He talked a lot on temples and the miracles that happen there. Then he began telling the story about a very honorable missionary who served in South Africa. I knew right then he was talking about Bryce. He continued telling the story about Bryce and how he passed away. The noisy boys behind me suddenly went silent and it seemed that everyone was paying attention.
Then he eloquently spoke about some of the miracles that happened in the temple with your family after he passed away. Of course I cried as he told the story and it was amazing to hear how silent the room got as he talked about the blessings of the temple and the miracles that were seen because of the faith of my good friends. It was really a great stake conference and it made me love the temple so much more. I thought about how sad it was to lose Bryce but how many people's live have been blessed and will continue to be blessed. As i looked around the room I could tell there were several other people who were moved by his words and I thought to myself, "I'm so proud of Bryce, I'm glad I knew such a choice spirit." Then I thought of you, and your family and how strong you have been and how such a tragic event has blessed so many lives and will continue to do so. I love you guys so much, and I just thought I would share that experience with you.

My reply to Mary:
Thank you  Mary for sharing those tender and sweet thoughts.  I appreciate it very much.  I would have liked to hear President Bateman tell about it.  I got a phone call Sunday afternoon from Peter...he served in SA with Bryce.  He must have been in the same Conference as you because he was walking home and called on his cell to tell me about it.  He heard it twice because he called on Bryce's anniversary just as we had finished at the temple and I told him about it then.  I have had experiences since then with Bryce.  I told Kim this morning that I think Bryce is trying to make it up to me for all the grief he caused me growing up.  He wants me to know he is working with our family and the people of South Africa and helping serve others.   He was always trying to get out of the service projects in YM!  I was in Shopko and Romona Payne was there with her 33 year old son, Randy.  He has Down Syndrome.  One of her other sons served in Japan and when he, Brian came home, found that he had cancer and he was gone in what seemed like a few months.  Romona was Dallin's piano teacher.  Ramona's  brother and family live in Japan right now.  His son was hiking in Durban South Africa with his companion and other Elders and fell to his death.  I have become good friends with his wife Chris.  Long way to tell you that while we were  talking in Shopko, her son Randy kept saying...Brian, Bryce     Brian, Bryce...missionaries.  They are happy.  They are happy. Randy knows.   The temple has always been a very special place for me but now even more so, it has connected me to Bryce and opened my eyes.  The irony is that with all my understanding, I still struggle to do what is right.  It is a challenge for all of us even with all we know and have.  That is the beauty of this mortal life.  Thanks again Mary for taking the time to write down your thoughts and feelings.  It is of great comfort and joy to me and my husband.  We miss our Bryce even with all the understanding we have.   It is such a reminder how each person makes such a difference in this world.

Here is an excerpt of a letter I wrote to President Bateman about going to the temple on Bryce's one year anniversary.  I wrote it because President Bateman saw us at the temple and asked us why we were there at that early hour in the middle of the week.  I wanted him to know about our experience: Yesterday we attended the temple to begin our day remembering Bryce.  It had not occurred to us to do sealings but upon entering the temple, decided that would be a good thing to do.  In the middle of our session of sealing daughters to parents, a sealer came in with more names.  They were sons to be sealed to parents.  As my husband and I were proxy, the sealer commented that the names we were doing were from South Africa.  We felt our son close by with a great big smile on his face.  I will remember that experience forever.  It just felt so good.