Laura's funeral

Today was hard. It was truly one of the hardest things I have done. I said good-bye to my dear friend. I bawled through my whole talk, but I hope it was well received. I am truly honored that I was able to pay tribute to her through my words. I pray it is what Laura would have wanted said.

My talk

I would like to introduce myself and share how Laura and I became friends. I’m Emilee Pehrson I didn’t know Laura until their family moved into our ward 6 or so years ago. I was the Young Women’s President at the time and was needing an advisor for the Miamaids. After praying about this i felt as though Laura was right for the calling. I talked with our bishop, who at the time happened to be my brother and she was called. We had a good friendship during those years serving together but it was after her diagnosis that things really changed for us. You see I have a disease called Cystic Fibrosis and suddenly we both had this greater understanding for each other. I will never know what it is like to have cancer and all that Laura went through, but we both understood what it was like to be sick, and having someone that understood that helped us both in so many ways. We would talk on the phone often and got close through our car rides to Drs, treatment, lunches and other things. Laura always made it appoint to come see me in the hospital even though I know it was never an easy thing for her, I enjoyed those visits very much. Im so grateful that we were able to be so close.

There are so many things in this world that are unsure, constantly changing, or even scary. But I want to speak on truth. There are 3 absolute truths that I know without any doubt. They are unchanging, they are constant.

1- Each one of us is here because we were touched in a beautiful way by an amazingly strong, loving, courageous woman. Laura Diane Mutch St. Jacques

2-we will see Laura again. Because of Gods plan she will be with her family for all eternity.

3-our Savior Jesus Christ made all of this possible through his atoning sacrifice for us all.
In a talk titled "Sunday Will Cone" Joseph B. Wirthlin said:

In all the history of the world there have been many great and wise souls, many of whom claimed special knowledge of God. But when the Savior rose from the tomb, He did something no one had ever done. He did something no one else could do. He broke the bonds of death, not only for Himself but for all who have ever lived—the just and the unjust.

When Christ rose from the grave, becoming the firstfruits of the Resurrection, He made that gift available to all. And with that sublime act, He softened the devastating, consuming sorrow that gnaws at the souls of those who have lost precious loved ones.

This is the comfort and peace we are able to have, knowing we will be with Laura again.

If anyone talked to Laura for very long you most likely talked of her family, her beautiful children and her loving husband. When Laura and I were first getting to know each other and learn each others stories she told me the story of going to be a Nanny and how she met Bob. When you hear her tell it you know without a doubt that she was brought to Massachusetts to meet Bob and to start a life with him. They were married in the Manti temple and now have the amazing blessing of being together for time and all eternity. What a comfort that is.

Laura had this amazing gift for creating things. When we were in Young Womens together she was the official person to come up with ideas for crafts for girls camp. I couldn’t create anything to save my life and we would often laugh about this. I would ask Laura to come up with something and all she had to do was look in her closet of material and crafts and she had an idea and enough supplies for 20+ girls. I loved that about her.

Laura served a mission in the south states when she was younger and whenever she spoke of her mission you could feel the love that she had for those she served and taught. She is on a different mission now and I am sure that she is ready and eager to fulfill her second mission to bring souls unto Christ and to teach them of this gospel. I know that although she is not physically here she will be helping to rear her children from the other side. They have one incredible Angel looking after them.

One of the most amazing things about Laura is that even though she was struggling tremendously she still found ways to serve others. I will never forget the great act of service that she did for me in November. We had been talking earlier that day and I had been complaining to her. It seems silly now that I was the one complaining. Ben was away on business and I was sick and knew that I would be going in the hospital when he got back. He had told me to ask people for help, but it was something that was really hard to do. I remember telling Laura, “when people ask me what can I do? I never know what to have them do. The only thing I can ever think of is to have them bring me dinner and I am not going to ask people even family to bring me dinner.” She agreed that its hard to ask for something like that. Well, I had complained to the wrong woman. We finished our conversation and about 30 minutes later I received a text message from her. "I’m bringing over dinner tonight." I of course told her she didn’t need to do that and she responded with "well if you don’t let me you will make me feel bad." I would never want to make her feel bad, but I couldn’t believe that this woman who had just finished her last bout of radiation the day before was going to bring me dinner. It was a delicious dinner and I hope she knows how much it meant to me. That is the kind of woman Laura was. I know she struggled tremendously the last few years with finding ways to serve others with her lack of energy and other struggles she was going through, but I don’t think she realized that her friendship to those around her was the greatest service of all. I have a book called She and as I read from it I think of Laura. I would like to share a few passages from it.

she just had this way of brightening the day...celebrate her radiance

she made the whole world feel like home...celebrate her warmth

She made the whole world a better place...Celebrate her.

I hope we can all celebrate Laura and the life she lived. I hope we can celebrate the memories that we have shared with her.

As Laura went through all her ups and downs I would call her to see how things were going. We would laugh together and cry together. She would rarely complain and if she did she always apologized for it. I would always tell her she had every right to complain, but it was so rare for her that it just didn't come easy or natural. Then I would watch as she would go through the next battle in cancer and I was truly always awe inspired at this woman. She had incredible strength and faith that could move mountains. If faith alone could have cured her of this awful disease, it most certainly would have. She had more faith than anyone I know. I know now that The Lord had a different plan, but I know that because of her faith he blessed her and helped her through every battle she endured. I know that she was brought through the other side with loving embraces from those that have passed before her and that the Lord was pleased with the mission she accomplished here on earth.

I would like to close with a scripture, in Enos 1:27 it reads
And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

I know that Laura is with her Savior again and he has welcomed her with open arms saying “well done thou good and faithful servant.” May we all strive to be a little better and remember the example that Laura was to each of us is my prayer. I will miss you my friend. Until we meet again.

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen