Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Farewell, Sweet Soul

Previously: Saying Goodbye to Celia

I was just informed that that our mutual friend Celia Scheinost passed on peacefully this morning.  The following is from Celia's sister:


All,
We want to thank each of you for the love and support you have given the Scheinost family, the wonderful words of encouragement that you have provided, and not least of all, the financial support to help them in this difficult time. Celia was able to have your messages read to her over the last several days, until a couple of days ago when she was not coherent. We can’t express the love we have felt from all of you, and how important these words were to her. You are all truly disciples of Christ.

Her oldest daughter was with her when she passed, and the last thing she heard was her daughter reading from the Book of Mormon – Mosiah chapter 2 (one of her favorite chapters). The last thing read to her was the last verse of that chapter (verse 41): “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”

How appropriate.

The nurses at the Hospice house have said that studies have shown that the ear continues to hear things after death, for sometimes up to 30 minutes. After Celia’s heart stopped, her daughter felt impressed to break out her smaller Celtic harp, and played the song “Into the West” from The Lord of the Rings movies. If you are unfamiliar with this song, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgcoBKWTW14

This is the same song performed by Celia’s daughter for her cousin, our own daughter, at her funeral. Though this is difficult, we cannot imagine a more peaceful passing.

Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping

[Chorus]
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home

And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass

Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say: «We have come now to the end»
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again

And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping

[Chorus]

And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West

Love to you all, --Linda


29 comments:

Xeng Lo said...

Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection.

And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them;

--D&C 42:45-46

Kevin said...

Save us a spot, Celia. So glad you connected so many of us with this remarkable soul, Rock.

Rodney said...

My condolences to the Scheinost family, May God comfort you in your time of need, and hold you in His loving arms until the day each of you are reunited with your dearly loved Celia.

Rodney Aldrich

Fusion said...

Lots of love to you Celia...and your family, husband and children who are still here on their journey.

Please tell Jesus this imperfect bunch down here are craving His works to begin, both marvellous and wonderful.

Thanks for the memories and the beautiful way you wrote..and the messages we exchanged :)

Fusion

Ben said...

"I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil."

Much love from someone who has silently enjoyed your comments and your gentle soul for many months. May your peace and your joy be glorious and eternal in His arms.

Tammy said...

Rock,
I thank you for the part you played in The Lord's tender mercies towards Celia and her family. And how blessed we all are to be a small part of that by reading and expressing our thoughts and love for them. God is Good! And tender!

Tammy said...

Rock,
I thank you for the part you played in the tender mercies of The Lord by posting the story of Celia. What a beautiful experience for all who participated and for Celia and her family to know that the church of Jesus Christ in it's true form of believers really do exist. And that The Lord really does hear and answer prayers. I believe that all things of God turn everyone into a winner. It seems true in this case.

miamiexile said...

Prayers for her family tonight.

Thanks, Rock, for sharing the story of this beautiful and inspiring soul.

As a side note: Mosiah 2 was the chapter of the Book of Mormon that I gained my testimony of its truthfulness

Anonymous said...

The comment section of Pure Mormonism will not be the same.

You will be missed Celia. Condolences to your family.

A Fan

LJn said...

I just read this post and the one before it. I had no idea! Thank you for sharing that.

She will definitely be missed. That is one awesome woman.

MajJohnButtrick said...

Obituary for Celia Hepworth Scheinost:

Celia Hepworth Scheinost went to her rest from the cares of this world Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 in the early morning hours in Wausau, Wisconsin. She was born July 15th, 1952 to Joseph Leland Hepworth and Anna Mae (Graham) Hepworth in Burley, Cassia County, Idaho. She grew up in Idaho, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, spending many happy summers in Malta, Idaho with her grandparents, Lona and Joseph Hepworth. She attended several colleges, graduating early from Brigham Young University with a BA, Magna cum Laude. She lived in San Antonio, Texas with her family until she went to serve a mission for her church in Japan 1975-76. After returning home she went to live for a time in Provo, Utah, where she met her husband. They were married July 5th, 1977 in Ogden, Utah. In time three beautiful children came to them. Her parents and grandparents preceded her in passing and she is survived by her sister Linda (Hepworth) Horn of Austin, Texas, her brothers Scott Hepworth of Las Gatos, California and Clyde Hepworth of Boise, Idaho and their families. She is also survived by her husband of thirty-seven years Craig Alan Scheinost of Wausau, Wisconsin, son Christian Andrew Scheinost of Pocatello, Idaho, daughters Catriona Mae and Carrie Anna Viorica Scheinost of Wausau, Wisconsin, and three grandchildren Mara Luella, Peter Nicolai, and James Craig Scheinost of Pocatello, Idaho. A memorial service for Celia will be held in the concert hall at the Wausau Conservatory of Music at 1:30pm, Saturday, October 4th. A donation in her memory can be made to her favorite charity, liahonachildren.com.

sfort said...

Rock,

Thank you for the tribute. It was inspired. We have learned more love through this chapter. Thank you

Alan Rock Waterman said...

Thanks for posting the obituary, Major John.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Nobody Ever said...

It would appear you have developed an unhealthy obsession towards Rock. I do not think you are a balanced individual and I sincerely hope you get some help. I would strongly recommend that he pursue any course of legal action toward reaching that end.

Anonymous said...

Friar Tuck et al.,

Will you please contact me anonymously at oliver_cow@fastmail.fm? Let people think what they will think. Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ.

Your Friend






And to everyone else: Do you beat your dogs when they misbehave too?

Alan Rock Waterman said...

To the anonymous poster at 7:28 PM:

This page is dedicated to the memory of one of my friends and is not the appropriate place for you to return and take personal umbrage with me. When Celia was still with us, you showed up here (after you were warned not to) and angrily demanded to know of her why she wasn't dead yet. Celia read that terrible insult before I was able to delete it.

You know you are not welcome here. You are a despicable human being, and I believe you to be mentally and emotionally unbalanced. I feel no hesitation in saying so publicly.

Jared Livesey said...

Rock,

Why not try a different way? Why not treat him as you would Jesus Christ?

Nate said...

Thanks for the opportunity to honor Celia. I pray for her family and loved ones and am grateful for the brief period that I could feel the strength of her spirit. God bless

Alan Rock Waterman said...

Log,
I think you were around to see that I did treat our friend very charitably for more than a year. In fact, after he apologized, I let him back on, but he was soon up to his old ways, and this time even more belligerently.

I was much more patient than my other readers, who begged me repeatedly to keep him off because he was souring the discussions they were trying to have here. He was repeatedly insulting and contentious toward them as well as me. Near the end he was using the most vulgar of expletives before I had the chance to discover them and delete his comments. I think you know I'm quite tolerant, but I draw the line at anyone telling others to "____ off."

I offered him the opportunity to discuss his differences with me privately, but he refused, clearly preferring to get others riled up while hiding behind a series of false names where his insults could be spewed with no accountability to him personally.

I wished him well, and even told him to "go with God, but go somewhere else." Apparently he is still lurking here, as well following me everywhere else I go online as well.

We can treat others as Christ would treat them, but we don't have to allow them a forum to sow contention. This person repeatedly poisoned this forum. I put up with that poison a lot longer than I should have, and I was wrong to let it go on as long as I did.

I don't care to have him on this forum, but I wish him no harm. That's as close to Christ-like as I'm able to be right now.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jared Livesey said...

@Anon (Oliver Cowdery):

Why not withdraw if they find your company disagreeable?

Linda said...

Dear Rock,

(So sorry this is off topic; I didn't really know where to post it.)

Guess what came into my email inbox from LDS Living magazine?

10 things We Don't Do In Conference Anymore

Also surprisingly includes:
Publicly Account for Church Expenditures

Are you personally the reason for this article being written?

Good job of jabbing the sleeping giant.

Love,
Linda

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

No one here is Pontius Pilate, just like no one here is Jesus. All here are just presumably trying to follow Christ as best we can.

Rock, please filter comments as you see fit- no explanations necessary. It is your blog, after all.

FT, comment as you will, but don't be surprised if your comments are filtered/deleted if they don't comport with the comment policy (just like anyone else's would).

Now can we get back to serious gospel discussions and honoring Celia?

Wilson

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
double secret anonymous said...

In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people,[1] by posting inflammatory,[2] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[3] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Alan Rock Waterman said...

Linda,
Thanks for that link. I was very pleased to see a financial auditing of where the money went was on that list.

But it was just a bit misleading for the author to imply that audits were first initiated in 1908. That's when they began having actual auditors make do the accounting, but actual accountability went all the way back to Joseph Smith.