Funeral Talk Excerpts by Uncle Doug

Funeral Talk Excerpts by Uncle Doug ---

"We always joked that Joshua would be the perfect Wal-Mart greeter. But he was so much more than a greeter, he radiated the spirit of Christ in his life."

My name is Doug Larson.  I'm another one of Joshua's Uncles.  Two and a half years ago I got married, and before that, when I was dating my wife, right at the beginning of our courtship, the first family party that Rochelle came to, we were just sitting actually on different couches, and Joshua walked up, grabbed Rochelle's hand and put it on my knee.  I guess that was his way of saying that he approved.

Four and a half months ago, Rochelle and I found out that we were having another boy, and we chose the name "Hunter Joshua Larson."  Hunter is after Howard W. Hunter, who most of you know.  And Joshua is after "Joshua Michael Eisenstat."  Someday Hunter, who is not born yet, but could be any minute at this point.  Someday he is going to ask why he is named after these two great men.  And we can tell him that Howard W. Hunter had a love for music, and he gave up his music career in favor of a stable family life.  He was the 14^th president of the church and encouraged all members of the church to be worthy to enter the temple.  Joshua Michael Eisenstat was lacking somewhat in musical talent, and did all he could to create a hectic family life.

That may be what someone who never got to know Joshua might have thought.  The Joshua I knew would better be described as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  A disciple is defined as a pupil or learner, a name used to denote all followers of Jesus Christ, one who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of the gospel.  In Matthew 18, verses 1 through 5, I changed "child or children" to "Joshua."  And it says:  "At the same time came the disciples came to Jesus saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And Jesus called Joshua unto him and set him in the midst of them, and said, 'Verily I say unto you, except you be converted and become as Joshua, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as Joshua, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoso shall receive Joshua in my name receiveth me."  Does that fit?  Is that the Joshua that you know?  How many of you were ever randomly hugged by Joshua?  Or given a high five?  How many of you did Joshua smile and say "hi"?  Or even several hi's in a row just to get your attention.  Did he brighten up your day?  We always joked that Joshua would be the perfect Wal-Mart greeter.  But he was so much more than a greeter, he radiated the spirit of Christ in his life.

Two years ago on Mother's Day, my wife and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting, so we invited Selma and her kids.  Bishop Gurr was conducting the meeting and started out by saying, and he didn't know Selma, he didn't know Joshua, he'd never seen them before.  He just started out by saying that 25 years ago our ward had a special visitor.  Boyd K. Packer visited our ward to bless his baby granddaughter.  Then he talked about how special it was to have a general authority come and that this was the last time a general authority had come to this ward.  He then told the ward that they had another very special visitor.  And I remember looking around who it was, and starting to get nervous because I was speaking that day.  Bishop Gurr said that he was sitting in the back with his family and that he was a special needs visitor, and that he was just as special of a visitor to this ward as Boyd K. Packer was 25 years ago.  How was I suppose to talk after that.  I could see Selma sitting at the back of the chapel with tears in her eyes.  It was the most touching thing she could have heard on Mother's Day, but it was so true.  Even though Joshua had a seizure, and had given a few Deacons high fives while they were passing the sacrament, the worth of his soul was recognized by our bishop.  All of you are here today because you know the worth of his soul.  Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.  And how great is Joshua's soul.

We can honor his life by emulating his life.  By reaching out to strangers who need to feel love.  By looking people in the eye and saying "hi."  By loving your family.  Joshua taught us that.  It's the small and simple things in life that are really important. 

So in a few years when our son Hunter asks why he is named after Joshua, we can tell him that he was just like Jesus Christ.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.