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Pastoral Ministry
dear name, so precious to the dying Christian—Jesus—in whom all
his hope of eternal life centered. He fell asleep in Jesus a few hours
after we left. My husband attended the funeral. There were many
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present who had listened to his faithful exhortations, and despised
them while he was living, and some who had abused him on account
of his faith, a short time before. They looked upon the countenance of
the dead, which bore a pleasant smile, and turned from the sight with
quivering lip and moistened eye. We could but think, though dead, he
speaketh. It was the testimony of all present that they had never seen
so pleasant and lovely an expression upon the face of the dead. We
followed the body to the grave, to rest until the righteous dead awake
to immortality.—
Spiritual Gifts 2:92
.
Funerals should not include ostentatious and extravagant dis-
play—Concerning the burial of Israel’s high priest, the Scriptures give
only the simple record, “There Aaron died, and there he was buried.”
Deuteronomy 10:6
. In what striking contrast to the customs of the
present day was this burial, conducted according to the express com-
mand of God. In modern times the funeral services of a man of high
position are often made the occasion of ostentatious and extravagant
display. When Aaron died, one of the most illustrious men that ever
lived, there were only two of his nearest friends to witness his death
and to attend his burial. And that lonely grave upon Mount Hor was
forever hidden from the sight of Israel. God is not honored in the great
display so often made over the dead, and the extravagant expense in-
curred in returning their bodies to the dust.—
Patriarchs and Prophets,
427
.