Personal - "Concerning my Death and Burial," 13 May 1882
Concerning my Death and Burial.
I wish to say that at my death I wish the Historian of
the Church to publish a brief account of my life, labors, and
travels as an Elder and an Apostle in the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latterday Saints. I wish my body washed clean
and clothed in clean white linen, according to the order
of the Holy Priesthood, and put into a plain decent coffin,
made of native wood, with plenty of room. I do not
wish any black made use of about my coffin, or about
the vehicle that conveys my body to the grave. I do not
wish my family or friends to wear any badge of mourning
for me at my funeral or afterwards, for, if I am true
and faithful unto death, there will be no necessity for
any one to mourn for me. I have no directions to
give concerning the services of my funeral, any fur-
ther than it would be pleasing to me for as many
of the Presidency and Twelve Apostles, who may be
present, to speak as may be thought wisdom. Their
speech will be to the living. If the laws and
customs of the spirit world will permit, I should
wish to attend my funeral myself, but I shall be
governed by the counsel I receive in the spirit world.
I wish a plain marble slab put at the head of my
