"...and should we die..."

". . .and should we die before our journey's through, happy day, all is well." This line from the LDS hymn "Come, Come, Ye Saints" is what struck me as I finished Mormon Thunder. I thought of Jedediah Morgan Grant dying at 40 years old, a premature death even in those days. He stood by his ideals to the end. He never wavered. He was totally self-disciplined and totally loyal to the two prophets he associated with. I admire his spunk, but think he was a little zealous. As I read the conference talks from the current general authorities of the LDS Church, they couldn't possibly be any more opposite from Jedediah Morgan Grant's. Today they are kind, loving, compassionate, and forgiving. I wonder if it's the difference in the evolution of the Church and/or its people. I'm afraid if he'd talked to me like he did to them, I'd have apostasized myself. I'm grateful for getting to know "Jeddy" Grant. Even my husband has taken an interest in him. We went to a garage sale last Saturday, and he found an old book about Heber J. Grant, Jedediah's father. He immediately checked to see if there was anything about JMG in it, and lo and behold, there was. I hope I can muster up some Grant-style enthusiasm as we embark upon our journey together next week. See you all then.