Both articles were beautifully and touchingly written. They accurately describe LDS funerals in general, and President Hinckley's funeral, in particular. I did find his funeral to be healing, soothing to the soul.

I was pleased to see this article had been written by Raymond Takashi Swenson. I enjoy reading his opinions when I find them in the comments section. They are always relevant and thought-provoking.

Thank you for expressing how we all feel.

The mormon church is very much a family oriented organization. Church attendence is a family affair. Older middle aged and beyond members are left out or are for the most part at a loss when attending church services, especially men. I now go to other sunday church services where I do not feel different or singled out as being by myself. It feels good to be in church on Sunday but sometimes I secretly get my feelings hurt because they do say unkind things about mormons.

What a great article...it was this approach to the importance of family that drew me to the church. As sad as it is when we lose someone, the knowledge that we can have a happy reunion on the other side of the veil is very comforting and reassuring. Still tears flow, but that is what love does to all of us. To ALONE, remember that we truly are Ward and Branch Families. Sometimes we hurt each other when we say things....just like in any family...come back to your own Sunday School and help us all to be more sensitive to one another. Loving each other in a family can be far more challenging than those outside our walls. Thanks for a great article

To "Alone": I am going to be a little prescriptive here, but this is what I would tell you if you had made your comment to me, face to face.

Being a brother in the ward family means you have responsbilities for other people in the ward, and you won't know about opportunities to fulfill those responsibilities if you aren't there.

You could sit with a family you are a home teacher for, or with the family of your own home teacher, or the family of your quorum leader. A lot of younger families with small kids can always use an extra hand keeping the little kids reverent. Go to your bishop and ask for a calling. Get involved in Scouting as a merit badge counselor or to help in other ways. If you just sit off by yourself, most people will respect your wishes and not force you to sit with them. But if you make a simple request to someone you know to let you sit with their family, I bet it would be received warmly.

You can't count on other people getting inspiration to help you when you won't look for inspiration to help yourself.

This article was so good at expressing how our church teaches the importance of families and helps us become better at what we wish to become, a good functioning family. I appreciated the talk in the last general conference titled "After all we can do" which addresses how the Lord steps in with his grace and helps us after we have done all that we can do to help ourselves and each other. If you are feeling alone or left out, do all you can to help someone to be treated the way you would want to be treated and see what happens. It a wonderful experience.

To Alone: I am a widow of 78 years. All I can say is stop being selfish and look to help others. You will not be alone for very long. Here in our ward the senior singles have a family home evening together. It is a great blessing. Perhaps you could start this in your ward. There are many ways to share, just as Jesus shared in many things. It takes a little creativity, but Heavenly Father created you to be able to do anything you need for happiness. Incidentally, I was raised in the Unitarian faith. When I was a mother alone with four children I tried to go back, and was totally ignored. I have never returned. It did not fill my soul to be there, it did not fill my mind to be there, it did not succor my body to be there.

I too am single, and for the most part have been so for quite some time, but I am not ALONE. I have over the past several years been a member of several different wards and branches, and while it is easy enough to feel sorry for myself, found it helpful to instead of sitting back and waiting for someone to come to me, I extend my hand and intriduce myself, and it isn't long before, before I'm "One of the Crowd"! Every place I have ever been, I have had a callings such as, ward Executive Secretary and Ward Clerk, these callings being the most rewarding and cherished callings I have ever held. It was great to be of service to the people my Ward. No time to feel sorry for myself here!

I currently teach Adult Gospel Doctrine and reguarly attend a group we call "Empty Nesters" where we associate with singles and couples alike for Family Home evening.

So guess one can say, being single, is just what one makes of it!

With the barrage of innacurate accounts of the Mormon church that have been recklessly printed in major national publications in the past year; with the same emotional hysteria of the Salem witch hunts, it is refreshing to read something that is more objective and better reflects the foundational faith of the millions of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Alone", when President Hinckley was discouraged as a missionary in England, his father counseled him to, "forget yourself and get to work". As others have said or alluded to, loose yourself in helping/lifting others in your ward and your feelings of loneliness will disappear. That's the Heavenly Pythagorian Theorum to happiness. In this formula, one always receives more than is given.