Easter 2010

“Certainly, I will be with thee…..” An Easter Message from Sherman A. Beck 2010
The essential thing about Easter isn’t to remember that because of Christ, we shall live again, but it is to remember that because we shall live again and forever, we need to live as Christ-like as we can at this moment and forever more. Enduring to the end which escalates into major focus as we get older with most members of the LDS Church; therefore we give prominence to our joy and burden to live as Christ would have done so in our circumstances. Our Baptism covenants and our Temple covenants should be foremost in our mind as we strive to move from normal (natural) man and woman represented by noble Adam and intelligent Eve toward fully Celestial Beings in behavior, holy and whole in all things. Easter is a time for renewal, for re-commitment with increased faith and amplified hope!
A core aspect in this process is to know that Christ, the Lord, is available to help us. Our cherished Scriptures are accounts where the Gospel of Christ has blessed lives and delivers from evil. The Easter celebrations have roots in the Feast of the Passover. The conduct of Moses, the Prophet/Leader, helps us understand Easter. In the calling and preparation of Moses in order to strengthen him that might serve God and bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt, the Lord, Jehovah, speaks to Moses and says: “CERTAINLY I WILL BE WITH THEE…” Exodus 3:12
In my mind, we could not have a more apt and pertinent Easter message to influence our actions and beliefs this Easter and always: “Certainly, I will be with thee...” accordingly we can and should and live Christ-like.
In 1963, after our June 26th marriage in the Idaho Falls Temple and a honeymoon in San Francisco, Marilyn and I moved into the small home basement apartment owned by an older lady named Frieda Bollinger which was on Yale Ave, directly south of the Yale Ward Chapel. This area of Salt Lake was known as the Yale crest area neighborhood and was about two miles South East of East High School where I taught full time Seminary.
I was soon called to be a counselor to Brother Doug Smith, son of Joseph Fielding Smith, who was the Stake YM President. Our Bishop was Joseph B. Wirthlin, age 46 and he was later called as a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles in October 1986. You felt his love and goodness; however, he was a serious minded no-nonsense Church Leader and orthodox in every way. He was remarkably conscientious in doing the work of the Lord. Bishop Wirthlin was the son of the Presiding Bishop of the Church, Bishop Joseph A. Wirthlin, whom my father had enormous respect for. Our Bishop Wirthlin had a meat packing business which his father had started many years before and he devoted much time to this business and to the large number of employees which worked for him.
We had an impressive ward; it seemed to Marilyn and I (farm kids we were) that there were so many ward members on General Boards and other special Church-wide committees. Also, many ward members were relatives or close confidants of General Authorities for example I home taught a female cousin of Joseph Fielding Smith. I also taught a family across the street from Elder Mark E. Petersen’s home. Most people in the ward were educated and well to do. People were kind to us and seemed delighted that we had just married, yet we did not fit in either by age, education, wealth nor social status.
We had a very impressive Gospel Doctrine Teacher . He was a striking fellow: tall with broad shoulders and a full head of wavy pre-mature grey hair and a dynamic persona. He was his early 40s and energetic. He had a marvelous cultured voice; he was a University of Utah Professor and Philosopher, teaching in that subject area and in the fine arts. In addition, he had a bi-weekly radio show at KSL where he discussed the arts, languages and occasional social issues. Furthermore, he was in demand to recorded books, etc.
It was hypnotic to attend his Gospel Doctrine class and the class was huge, usually about 150 people. Many of the class members were from outside of the Ward boundaries. The Bishop later told me that about 40%, who came to our Gospel Doctrine class, should have been attending other wards in the area. His teaching of the New Testament was primarily from a literary and historical perspective. I found his class very interesting; however, both Marilyn and I often noted that the class seemed deficient in spirit and doctrine. Seldom, were doctrinal issues discussed either by the teacher or by class members. He was, nevertheless, a dazzling teacher and generally encouraged class participation.
Right after Christmas, I was called into the Bishop’s office and given the most frightening Church calling I have ever received. He said: “Bro. Beck, I have visited with the Stake Leaders and they will release you from your Stake Calling. I wish to call you to be the new Gospel Doctrine teacher and the Lord has confirmed this calling to me.” I was completely taken aback. “Is Brother Campbell being called to some other position I asked?” Bishop Wirthlin looked at me like it was not any of my business which was correct. Neither his demeanor nor empathy for me or Brother¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ Campbell was evident nor did his manner soften as he continued. “Brother Rex will not be called to a new calling at this time,” the Bishop said. He then asked if I needed time to consider this calling and I answered “no Bishop; however, have you considered the present teacher’s popularity and how negatively most of the class members will react to me or anyone else taking over the teaching of this class?” I went on to say that I felt comfortable in teaching the youth in Seminary, but teaching a mature and accomplished group of adults who was use to Brother Campbell’s teaching expertise with a high level of education and sophistication was beyond my abilities.
Bishop Wirthlin asked me if I had a testimony and I said I did. He asked me to share it with him which I did briefly. He then said that if I was to teach the first Sunday of the New Year and would be sustained that day in Sacrament meeting.
He then had me turn to Exodus 3:12 and read out loud. He reminded me that it was the Lord speaking to Moses. “And he said, Certainly I will be with thee….” When I read that far, he said: “That was Jehovah speaking, and most certainly the Lord will be with you, Brother Beck, in this important assignment.” He then finally soften in his manner toward me and said: “Brother Rex doesn’t know Joseph Smith is a prophet, but you do.”
It was no easy adjustment for the Gospel Doctrine Class, at first we lost about 50 % of the class and over the next 60 days most of the Ward members returned which was the desire of Bishop Wirthlin. I was a nervous young teacher and usually over-prepared which often impede the flow of the teaching process. However, the Lord was with me and soon most class members participated, the Spirit came and it was a successful class.
I’m pleased to read in the obituary (below) about Rex Campbell and note he went on to participate in the Kingdom and serve as a Temple worker, etc. I’m glad. He was a gifted and impressive fellow.
This Easter and always, I pray that we all remember and press forward with faith for “…Certainly I (the Lord) will be with thee…”