The death of John Untalan

I have the misfortune to announce the death of John Untalan, the chief executive officer of Tinian. Terri and I are heartbroken over his untimely death, and our love and prayers go out to his wife, children, and extended family.

We considered John a friend. He was a consistent advocate for the Tinian Medical Center and the healthcare of the Tinian community. Terri and John spoke from time to time about the future of Tinian Health Center, and John supported Terri’s attempts to make constructive changes at the clinic.

Although we knew John mainly through his political assignment as the Mayor’s right-hand-man, we were impressed that he always put the people of Tinian first and his politics second. He was often willing to take a principled stand.

We feel so badly for John’s wife and children and will pray that they will be able to be comforted in this time of sorrow and grief.

Anytime someone dies, it makes me ponder the life we live. This usually means a walk along the beaches of Tinian...

The peaceful, quiet of nature seems to bring a kind of perspective to life, and any fear of our mortality seems to be washed away by the life teeming around us.

Everything has a season. Just like the waves of the sea, that crash against the rocks, but then quietly spread out and dissipate back into the ocean; our lives, no matter how hectic or confusing, will eventually end, our bodies will blend back into the earth, waiting to come to life again in the resurrection.

When we step back, away from the cliffs of chaos, to view our lives in perspective, it is almost impossible not to see that there is a grand plan behind what we see.

We are not alone.

God actually has a plan for us; and when we experience pain and sorrow in this life, there is a reason for it! I am reminded of a Mormon scripture, given to Joseph Smith while he was going through an unusually difficult time:

"If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

"If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

"And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

"The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

"Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever. (Doctrine and Covenants 122:5-9)

One of the main reasons we were placed here on earth was to be tested, and to experience both good and evil.

How can we have free will, and be given the ability to choose, if we didn't have a choice? How can we learn the difference between right and wrong, and between good and evil, if there was no evil? There must be an opposition in all things in order for us to learn and progress.

God understood these eternal principles, and purposefully organized a world in which we could come to experience all of these things, and learn from them--knowing it was going to be difficult for us. No matter how hard this life may become, remember, it is for our good.

So, while we must suffer terrible things while living upon this telestial world, the lessons we learn about good and evil, and the decisions we make based upon those things we learn, have eternal consequences for each of us!

There is a reason the scriptures tell us we must 'endure to the end'. If it was supposed to be easy, we would not have to 'endure'. But the point is, that this experience was meant to be difficult! It was meant to be the most difficult experience possible, otherwise we would not, could not, fully understand and appreciate the blessings and glory we are to receive afterward.