Does anyone else have this problem?

I have a problem. I don't seem to appreciate the stories of people's lives until they've passed away. For example: My wonderful grandpa turned 90 last August and for the year before he had been working to finish some family history and a personal autobiography of himself and a biography of my grandmother. My aunts and uncles put on a wonderful party to celebrate the big day and each of us grandchildren received our own personal bound copy of his story. I was grateful to have such a treasure and when I had a few moments here or there I would read a little (especially anything mentioning my own father who passed away in March 2005) and I loved looking at the pictures. But did I delve in and really start reading? No. A few weeks after the big party my grandpa fell and while we thought he was recovering in the hospital, his body took a turn and he quickly slipped away. Now what did I have read within those few days before the funeral? Yes, the wonderful stories of my grandfather and his family.

Needless to say, while going through my grandfather's home, Kordel and I were lucky enough to grab lots of interesting books and one that I grabbed was the biogrphy written by Sheri Dew of President Hinckley. When did I begin reading his story? Why of course the day after President Hinckley passed away.

It is wonderful and I am continually impressed and inspired at his special traits, abilities and his everlasting love of the gospel. I wonder how much more I might have appreciated him had I read this before he died. But at least I know that with or without his biography, I'm confident of the testimony that I had that he was a prophet of God. But I would love to share a new favorite quote by him. This is taken from his talk given at conference just after being sustained as an apostle.

"I would like to say that this cause is either true or false. Either this is the kingdom of God, or it is a sham and a delusion. Either Joseph talked with the Father and the Son, or he did not. If he did not we are engaged in a blasphemy. If he did, we have a duty from which none of us can shrink--to declare to the world the living reality of the God of the universe, the Father of us all; and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ...I give you my testimony that this is true."