RMN’s headstone

[JLHPROF]

I have no problems at all with the purchase of the headstone.

It does seem strange to me that he has both of his wives on the headstone and that they will be buried together. I have been to lots of cemeteries doing family history research and I have never seen that before. Maybe it is a common thing to do in Utah.

Salt Lake City cemetery is filled with monuments to men and their plural wives. This is no different.

[Jashon]

Marrying Wendy late is problematic. Many of us just don't like the whole polygyny asymmetry issue.

The possibility of late remarriage bothers many faithful women in the church, who have as a goal (a goal they would prefer not to have) to outlive their husbands to prevent such occurrences. That's what my mom has said. That she wants to outlive my dad.

About five years ago, my parents almost died at the same time on I-15, driving south. A fast-moving car coming the other way tumbled into them head on. Their airbags worked to perfection and they survived with minor injuries. That would have been fine with my mom, to go out at the same time. Now she still worries about living long enough to prevent my dad from remarrying. And she almost died last year, while his health is still good.

I remember when my grandpa, upon my grandma's death, remarried the widow of his brother back in the '80s (rather biblical of him), and the problems that eventually caused for the family, in terms of disagreements and acrimony having to do with expectations of inheritance. My grandpa lived less than a year after this second marriage, and at his death the twice-widowed woman thought that all his assets were hers. But they were in a trust and passed to the children, as planned.

[Pazooka]

I don’t think anyone here is looking askance at the fact that he’s got his headstone prepared ahead of his demise.

It’s the presumptuousness of having it hewn from temple stone and his clear broadcasting of that fact. Look how high it is in comparison with the other headstones in the cemetery.

[Fred]

Why is his headstone the only one in the cemetery facing that way?

[InfoWarrior82]

I don’t think anyone here is looking askance at the fact that he’s got his headstone prepared ahead of his demise.

It’s the presumptuousness of having it hewn from temple stone and his clear broadcasting of that fact. Look how high it is in comparison with the other headstones in the cemetery.

I wonder if I could get my gravestone made out a piece of the temple too. Or is that only reserved for the elite?

[endlessQuestions]

I don’t think anyone here is looking askance at the fact that he’s got his headstone prepared ahead of his demise.

It’s the presumptuousness of having it hewn from temple stone and his clear broadcasting of that fact. Look how high it is in comparison with the other headstones in the cemetery.

I think Artaxerxes probably understands that, but really enjoys playing the troll.

[Fred]

I don’t think anyone here is looking askance at the fact that he’s got his headstone prepared ahead of his demise.

It’s the presumptuousness of having it hewn from temple stone and his clear broadcasting of that fact. Look how high it is in comparison with the other headstones in the cemetery.

I wonder if I could get my gravestone made out a piece of the temple too. Or is that only reserved for the elite?

It might have not been from the temple. It said from the temple renovation. That could be a new piece of granite that was used to replace an old piece. But either way, it is narcissistic.

[h_p]

I wonder if I could get my gravestone made out a piece of the temple too. Or is that only reserved for the elite?

Not until your name is promoted to Inf O. Warrior82, at least.

I'll never get there, with only these 2 initials.

[kittycat51]

Oh and telling your granddaughter she's "myopic" because her husband died... WTH. That's not normal.

Just saying; it wasn't her husband who died, it was her dad.

[kittycat51]

I have many ancestors in the Salt Lake City cemetery so I've seen all of the prophets graves. Many are big. Have you seen McKay's? It's massive. President Hinckley's wife died before him. His stone was up and his name on it before he died. What's the big deal. My parents are both alive and have their stones on their gravesites. (It's planning ahead for which I'm grateful) You will find fault when you are looking for it. I have many questions with the Church right now, but come on, this is not a big deal IMO.

[oneClimbs]

What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? ~Isaiah 22:16

Yes. The first person to ever have.... a headstone made of stone. Can you believe the gall?

LOL. I don't know much about headstones and cemeteries or customs in this regard so I can't comment, but I thought this was funny. I think there are many legitimate things to be critical of, but I have to laugh when I see a huge deal made over things that have little significance. Our house down here in Texas had a big stone excavated that they were going to haul away, but I asked them to keep it and put it in our yard as a flagstone. I'm just picturing them excavating the temple and Nelson is down there and sees a bunch of granite in a dumpster on its way to get discarded and perhaps he asks if he could use some of it. He wanted to do something special for himself and his family and being almost 100 he's got to know that he doesn't have much time left.

Let the man have his headstone. I don't think Isaiah looked into the future and saw Russell Nelson getting a headstone carved and so he wrote these words and God preserved them for 2000+ years just to come out and condemn Nelson's cemetery decisions. That's not even a large headstone, what is it three feet tall? Come one, guys.

[oneClimbs]

I don’t think anyone here is looking askance at the fact that he’s got his headstone prepared ahead of his demise.

It’s the presumptuousness of having it hewn from temple stone and his clear broadcasting of that fact. Look how high it is in comparison with the other headstones in the cemetery.

I wonder if I could get my gravestone made out a piece of the temple too. Or is that only reserved for the elite?

It might have not been from the temple. It said from the temple renovation. That could be a new piece of granite that was used to replace an old piece. But either way, it is narcissistic.

I have a piece of granite on my shelf right now from the San Antonio Temple construction site. Let's say I wanted it embedded into my gravestone because I love my local temple so much. Is that narcissistic?

[gkearney]

I have a headstone with my late wife’s name and dates on it as well as my own name and birth date. When the time comes all my family will need to do is have my death date put on it. I did this so that their tasks at my passing will be simplified.

[iWriteStuff]

I don’t think anyone here is looking askance at the fact that he’s got his headstone prepared ahead of his demise.

It’s the presumptuousness of having it hewn from temple stone and his clear broadcasting of that fact. Look how high it is in comparison with the other headstones in the cemetery.

I wonder if I could get my gravestone made out a piece of the temple too. Or is that only reserved for the elite?

It might have not been from the temple. It said from the temple renovation. That could be a new piece of granite that was used to replace an old piece. But either way, it is narcissistic.

I have a piece of granite on my shelf right now from the San Antonio Temple construction site. Let's say I wanted it embedded into my gravestone because I love my local temple so much. Is that narcissistic?

Is it as big as a kitchen table and include your "highest" priesthood calling on it? Was it hewn by the hands of impoverished pioneers who sacrificed their all for Zion?

Can we just say it plainly? It's not normal to have an enormous granite pillar from a pioneer temple sitting on top of you and your two dead spouses. And wasn't that the point? To distinguish him from everyone else?

[blitzinstripes]

Much_Ado_Quarto.jpeg (294.89 KiB) Viewed 551 times

[Atrasado]

Great men NEVER write their own obituaries or prepare monuments for themselves...

THEY DON'T HAVE TO!!!!!!!!

Yes, when has anyone ever bought a headstone when their spouse died and put their own name on it intending to be buried there!?!?!

Monuments of distinction...as in drawing attention to themselves....as in look at me, see how great I am...as in now everyone will go visit my grave before I am even dead to honor me...

Humble men wouldn't allow it...and using the couples gravestone concept is not a good example. You know what the intent was here.

Yeah, who's ever had a headstone before? No one would ever have a headstone except conceited people!

Do you have any idea how tall that headstone is? It's eight feet tall. It's the tallest one in that cemetery, I'd wager. That doesn't seem too humble, does it? Crafted out of stone from the Salt Lake Temple? Really? Do I even need to comment on what poor taste this is? The drunkards of Ephraim doing what they do. We really need to wake up to our awful situation. We have eyes, but we do not see. We have ears, but we do not hear.

[Robin Hood]

Yes, when has anyone ever bought a headstone when their spouse died and put their own name on it intending to be buried there!?!?!

Monuments of distinction...as in drawing attention to themselves....as in look at me, see how great I am...as in now everyone will go visit my grave before I am even dead to honor me...

Humble men wouldn't allow it...and using the couples gravestone concept is not a good example. You know what the intent was here.

Yeah, who's ever had a headstone before? No one would ever have a headstone except conceited people!

Do you have any idea how tall that headstone is? It's eight feet tall. It's the tallest one in that cemetery, I'd wager. That doesn't seem too humble, does it? Crafted out of stone from the Salt Lake Temple? Really? Do I even need to comment on what poor taste this is? The drunkards of Ephraim doing what they do. We really need to wake up to our awful situation. We have eyes, but we do not see. We have ears, but we do not hear.

That is clearly not 8ft tall.

[Artaxerxes]

Yes, when has anyone ever bought a headstone when their spouse died and put their own name on it intending to be buried there!?!?!

Monuments of distinction...as in drawing attention to themselves....as in look at me, see how great I am...as in now everyone will go visit my grave before I am even dead to honor me...

Humble men wouldn't allow it...and using the couples gravestone concept is not a good example. You know what the intent was here.

Yeah, who's ever had a headstone before? No one would ever have a headstone except conceited people!

Do you have any idea how tall that headstone is? It's eight feet tall. It's the tallest one in that cemetery, I'd wager. That doesn't seem too humble, does it? Crafted out of stone from the Salt Lake Temple? Really? Do I even need to comment on what poor taste this is? The drunkards of Ephraim doing what they do. We really need to wake up to our awful situation. We have eyes, but we do not see. We have ears, but we do not hear.

It's modeled after the gravestones of his predecessors.

Screenshot_20220308-135147~2.png (1.77 MiB) Viewed 497 times

Screenshot_20220308-134754.png (1017.17 KiB) Viewed 513 times

It's simple and classy. I like it.

The grammar on the origin of the stone is ambiguous. Either: they replaced old stones from the table, and this was made from the stone that was removed (and wasn't going to be used again on the temple), or it was quarried with the new stones for the temple. Either way, who cares? If he recycles stone or got new stone to match the temple, either one makes sense to me.

[oneClimbs]

I wonder if I could get my gravestone made out a piece of the temple too. Or is that only reserved for the elite?

It might have not been from the temple. It said from the temple renovation. That could be a new piece of granite that was used to replace an old piece. But either way, it is narcissistic.

I have a piece of granite on my shelf right now from the San Antonio Temple construction site. Let's say I wanted it embedded into my gravestone because I love my local temple so much. Is that narcissistic?

Is it as big as a kitchen table and include your "highest" priesthood calling on it? Was it hewn by the hands of impoverished pioneers who sacrificed their all for Zion?

Can we just say it plainly? It's not normal to have an enormous granite pillar from a pioneer temple sitting on top of you and your two dead spouses. And wasn't that the point? To distinguish him from everyone else?

That's clearly not as big as a kitchen table unless it is an American Girl doll kitchen table (I have four daughters). See that little cheap US flag down there, those are about the size of the palm of your hand. That's either a 4x6" or a 5x8" flag. Judging by the size of the stick, let's say it's the bigger 5x8" if you go off the top side which is straight, that's 8" so if you use that to measure the base and the top (which I did real quick in Photoshop) you're looking at about 40" or so which is 3.33' which is close to my estimate before of 3' (I was in construction for years and am pretty good at estimating the sizes of things by eye). The width looks to be about 20" so this isn't exactly an imposing monument. It needs to be big enough to feature the names of the six people that are on it anyway.

headstone.jpg (650.11 KiB) Viewed 489 times

President of the church is a significant thing, it's historical, I'm sure that people put whatever they want on their headstones. I'll bet of all the things he's done in his life, he feels like his time as president of the church is probably the most valuable to him. I think that those pioneers might prefer that their hard work be used for something significant like a headstone rather than just be dumped off somewhere. I'm sure some of that stone may have been used in other ways as well, but once it has no longer served its purpose, it can be used for other things much like the sacrament bread. We used to feed it to the birds afterward. It is just stone after all.

There's a picture of Hinckley's headstone as well and Nelson's looks almost identical. I wonder if there are a bunch of others that look like that out there too. If you've been to a graveyard, there are all kinds of headstones and even some mausoleums that are like little buildings which are much bigger than a little headstone. That one headstone probably uses the same amount of space as if you made three of them. It's quite modest for someone that is the leader of a world religion.

Now if it was a 20' bronze statue of him with an arm lifted high or something, I'd probably be on the side of criticism. I just see this as a big nothing burger.

[Fred]

I don’t think anyone here is looking askance at the fact that he’s got his headstone prepared ahead of his demise.

It’s the presumptuousness of having it hewn from temple stone and his clear broadcasting of that fact. Look how high it is in comparison with the other headstones in the cemetery.

I wonder if I could get my gravestone made out a piece of the temple too. Or is that only reserved for the elite?

It might have not been from the temple. It said from the temple renovation. That could be a new piece of granite that was used to replace an old piece. But either way, it is narcissistic.

I have a piece of granite on my shelf right now from the San Antonio Temple construction site. Let's say I wanted it embedded into my gravestone because I love my local temple so much. Is that narcissistic?

Only if you brag about it.

[762X545]

Great men NEVER write their own obituaries or prepare monuments for themselves...

THEY DON'T HAVE TO!!!!!!!!

I designed my headstone ahead of my departure. I didn't want my wife putting something gay like a temple silhouette or some other lame design on it. I chose what I wanted and the design, rock etc.

[iWriteStuff]

It might have not been from the temple. It said from the temple renovation. That could be a new piece of granite that was used to replace an old piece. But either way, it is narcissistic.

I have a piece of granite on my shelf right now from the San Antonio Temple construction site. Let's say I wanted it embedded into my gravestone because I love my local temple so much. Is that narcissistic?

Is it as big as a kitchen table and include your "highest" priesthood calling on it? Was it hewn by the hands of impoverished pioneers who sacrificed their all for Zion?

Can we just say it plainly? It's not normal to have an enormous granite pillar from a pioneer temple sitting on top of you and your two dead spouses. And wasn't that the point? To distinguish him from everyone else?

That's clearly not as big as a kitchen table unless it is an American Girl doll kitchen table (I have four daughters). See that little cheap US flag down there, those are about the size of the palm of your hand. That's either a 4x6" or a 5x8" flag. Judging by the size of the stick, let's say it's the bigger 5x8" if you go off the top side which is straight, that's 8" so if you use that to measure the base and the top (which I did real quick in Photoshop) you're looking at about 40" or so which is 3.33' which is close to my estimate before of 3' (I was in construction for years and am pretty good at estimating the sizes of things by eye). The width looks to be about 20" so this isn't exactly an imposing monument. It needs to be big enough to feature the names of the six people that are on it anyway.

headstone.jpg

President of the church is a significant thing, it's historical, I'm sure that people put whatever they want on their headstones. I'll bet of all the things he's done in his life, he feels like his time as president of the church is probably the most valuable to him. I think that those pioneers might prefer that their hard work be used for something significant like a headstone rather than just be dumped off somewhere. I'm sure some of that stone may have been used in other ways as well, but once it has no longer served its purpose, it can be used for other things much like the sacrament bread. We used to feed it to the birds afterward. It is just stone after all.

There's a picture of Hinckley's headstone as well and Nelson's looks almost identical. I wonder if there are a bunch of others that look like that out there too. If you've been to a graveyard, there are all kinds of headstones and even some mausoleums that are like little buildings which are much bigger than a little headstone. That one headstone probably uses the same amount of space as if you made three of them. It's quite modest for someone that is the leader of a world religion.

Now if it was a 20' bronze statue of him with an arm lifted high or something, I'd probably be on the side of criticism. I just see this as a big nothing burger.

Well, glad ya feel that way, OC. To my mind, it feels a bit like we have an idolatry problem, but if you're ok with the adulations and monuments, may you be so exalted as to have one of your own some day.

[iWriteStuff]

Great men NEVER write their own obituaries or prepare monuments for themselves...

THEY DON'T HAVE TO!!!!!!!!

I designed my headstone ahead of my departure. I didn't want my wife putting something gay like a temple silhouette or some other lame design on it. I chose what I wanted and the design, rock etc.

"gay like a temple silhouette" <- now that's funny use of words right there.

What did you pick? AK-74 chambered in 5.45?

[Pazooka]

Monson, Hinkley and Nelson are clearly in the same league - modern day Shebnas

[Mamabear]

Monson, Hinkley and Nelson are clearly in the same league - modern day Shebnas

I didn’t know anyone else used that term….I thought I was the only one. There is one person who I call shebna, I won’t mention names…..it’s not Nelson though.