The Savior Will Bring the Resurrection
Isaiah 26:19
19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
President Harold B. Lee said:
“During World War II a young captain in the Air Force home on furlough, related his experiences as a squadron leader where as such he had flown fifty or more so-called ‘missions’ over enemy lands. He was a Church member and had served as a missionary for the Church before the beginning of the war. He told of the many interesting discussions he had with the boys who were assigned to his squadron as they prepared themselves for their dangerous air flights over enemy territory. These flights nearly always resulted in some of their number either being reported missing or killed in action. One night they had been alerted for a particularly deadly mission and everyone surmised that the casualties would be high. There was the usual serious discussion in the captain’s tent during which a young pilot of the group voiced the question that was probably in the mind of every man there. ‘If I should be shot down and killed over the target tomorrow, where will I be tomorrow night?’
“A similar question was asked by a young wife whose husband was reported ‘killed in action.’ Is there any assurance of reunion and a fulfilment of our dreams in the hereafter? That is the cry of a mother’s grief as she lays away her infant child in death. Such is the whispered but often inaudible inquiry of the sick and the aged when life’s sands are running fast. What strength and comfort must come to him in any of these circumstances, who hears the glorious promise of the Lord:
“‘Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead’ (Isaiah 26:19).
“The heavy hand of death becomes lighter, the pall of gloom is pierced and throbbing wounds are soothed as faith lifts us beyond the sordid trials and sorrows of mortal life and gives a vision of brighter days and more joyous prospect, as has been revealed, when ‘God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away’ (Revelation 21:4) through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. With such faith and understanding, you who may be called upon to mourn can sing as it has been written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’ (1 Corinthians 15:54–55).”
(Decisions for Successful Living [1973], 179–80.)
