It seemed to me that there wasn't anything that my dad couldn't do. I remember that when we were building the garage next to our home; my dad straddling the high cinderblock wall of the garage, while guiding one of the wooden beams in place as they were lowered by crane. I thought he was Superman, being able to be up there and not fall off.
I remember when I was really little, he convinced me that he could fly, but that he was just too tired right then when I asked him to show me. He also told me that he had his cape underneath his shirt, and I was not to tell anyone about his secret. I was mad that I couldn't tell anybody . . . until today!
One of the greatest times I will always remember was when our entire family spent a lot of time together building the cabin. I think it's one of the best things that has ever happened in bringing our family together. We all had a part, and my children really enjoyed going up there.
It was really a sad day for me when dad decided to sell the place, because his health just wouldn't let him get up there to take care of it anymore. We all have hundreds of photos and video clips, and if we were to bring them all together from every son, daughter, grandchild, relative and friend, you would have a stack of photo albums as tall as this pulpit!
I've always felt that my dad was the calm before the storms. Any time that he had a problem with upset clients, from even the littlest things, he remained very calm and handled it well. I had always admired him for that characteristic, and in many cases I see those characteristics in my brothers . . . and occasionally my sisters. :D
During my career as a photographer, I bought an old historic home in Pleasant Grove, it was one of the city's oldest homes in the area. It was my intent to turn it into a portrait studio. For eight months my dad would come down every day that he could to help me. He also brought his back-hoe down for me to use. On one occasion, He would lift me up in the bucket to reach the high front edge of my studio's roof in order to shingle it. Most days he would just look for what needed to be done and would do it until it was time to go home, I remember this was when he decided it was time to quit driving because of his eyesight. I think this was a really hard time for him, even though he didn't show it.
I learned a lot from my dad over the years and have been able to construct, build, figure out, put together, anything I put my mind too. I can vouch for my brothers that they are able to do the same thing.
Thoughts of my dad: He avoided the foul language. The one saying he did use was, “that dirty bugger” and “knuckle head.”
He loved his newspaper; relaxed and disappeared behind it.
He would let an in-experienced son work on cars and rebuild motors. I would have not let my kids do that.
He had the coolest oil can! I could shoot it up to 50 feet! . . . until he caught me.
He built a swing set and a very dangerous teeter-totter that we still have. Good times!
I remember him becoming a dealer for snowmobiles, which didn’t work out too well, but it was great for us kids!
Whenever we’d see each other, he would always ask us, “So, how is work?” or “how is business?” or “Do you got any work?” Many have said that he always had a smile on his face!
He once told me that he is really in charge, but he let mom think she is. Funny, mom told me the same thing!
He kept things in life simple, never complicated.
He ordained me to the office of elder, and recently to high priest. Even with his Alzheimer’s, he still had the authority. I was also able to work in the temple recently with him.
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I e-mailed my son, Michael, who’s currently serving a mission in Uruguay, and was recently transferred to a new area. I told him about Grandpa's passing, and I shared with him the same thoughts I shared with you today. This is what he wrote back to me, and I quote:
Sounds like it was his time to go... I´ll miss him, but I´m glad he got transferred... that´s all it is, a transfer, he´s gonna receive another calling, he´s needed to do work on the other side and he´s still gonna be helping out from that side more than he could have been doing here... (DC 42:46) I wish I could have known him better.. but you know, I´ll get that chance.
I hope it´s a wake-up call to everyone else... This is the preparatory state, when you leave, will you be able to look up at God, or hide in shame?... Grandpa´s gonna look up and say "Hay un lugar preparado en las mansiones de mi Padre" (I oon loogar prep-arado en las man-see-own-ace day me Podray) (Enos 1:27) Which means: There is a place prepared in the mansions of my Father.
I hope it´s a wake-up call to everyone else... This is the preparatory state, when you leave, will you be able to look up at God, or hide in shame?... Grandpa´s gonna look up and say "Hay un lugar preparado en las mansiones de mi Padre" (I oon loogar prep-arado en las man-see-own-ace day me Podray) (Enos 1:27) Which means: There is a place prepared in the mansions of my Father.
He goes on to say:
It´s something that everyone has a hard time dealing with, I´ve noticed with all the people we teach, that this life is only a small small piece of the picture, that the choices we make here, the things we do here are going to effect the eternity that follows. So many people think, “this is it,” and “it´s hard,” cause this world is all we really know, learning to walk by faith and not sight is something that´s difficult, especially for those who have never tried it.
He also said:
We´re teaching a lady named Daisy, her brother just died about a month ago and every lesson there´s some tears of sorrow at one point or another. She likes what we teach... but it´s just hard for her to accept it and apply it. This is where we have to rely on the Spirit. It´s just hard to watch people suffer when they don´t have to. There´s sort of a lazy "wo is me!" attitude here and it´s hard to break people out of it. But I´ve felt the Spirit, and I know they have too, now they just need to make a choice. Are they going to overcome their problems, their addictions, their complaining and get to work... or are they going to be servants to sin all their life.... That´s probably the hardest thing in the mission... is having to drop those that just can´t do it yet... Knowing that God watches his children and weeps... But also knowing that he rejoices with those who choose to follow. It is comforting that there are so many good souls in this world and everyone will have the chance to accept this Gospel and have everlasting joy!
End of quote. ________________________________________________________
Even though Christ conquered physical death, all people must die, for death is part of
the process by which we are transformed from mortality to immortality. When the physical body dies, the spirit continues to live and goes to the spirit world.
Death does not change our personality or our desires for good or evil. In the spirit world, the spirits of the righteous, who have been baptized and who have remained faithful, "are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow" (Alma 40:12)
Those who chose not to obey in this life and did not repent, live in a state of unhappiness.
In the spirit world, the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to those who did not obey the gospel or have the opportunity to hear it while on earth, and if they repent of their sins and receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation through the work we do in temples, (see D&C 138:30–35) they will have that happiness while they remain in the spirit world until they are resurrected.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
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Thoughts of Byron Hancock from Scott Hancock
TRUSTING (too early): my dad always seemed to trust me jobs that seemed a little bit above my capability. For instance he would have me sand cars for his clients. I was probably around the age of eight. He must’ve been losing it.
MOWING THE LAWN: I guess he figured if I can send a car I could definitely mow the lawn at about the same age or younger. I remember mowing the lawns for ever. I personally just gave into my 10-year-old son to let him mow the lawn, what was I thinking.
I guess because of this I have not been too afraid of work. Ha ha
DISCIPLINE: One of the most memorable beatings I ever had where he only touched me once, was when I ran out the back door and he started chasing me. I jumped off the step by the small garage and just as I leaped forward. he caught me with the toe of his boot. Needless to say, the two combined motions projected me forward a lot further than I intended- I caught a lot of air.
CUSSING: I remember one time when there was a young teenage client that came to get his car and for some reason been was a going to pay amount of money that was owed on the car. The client started screaming and swearing his head off in front of me it and my my dad. Dad grabbed him by the map of the neck and as he threw him out the front door he held back saying no one swears in front of my kids like that as he he landed in the snow and slid under a car parked in front. You go dad!!!
CABIN: Probably one of most memorable times in my life was when we all helped build the cabin, together. Many of my brothers and sisters each got to go up sometimes one-on-one with dad and I’m sure they can say the same thing. I enjoy the times just sitting and talking about everything and anything. I have converted hours and hours of VHS tape over to DVD of us building the cabin it’s amazing how many things you forget overtime. We held several family reunions at the cabin. It was quiet a sad day when Mom and Dad decided to sell it.
PHOTO STUDIO: Another big memory was when Dad came down to help me build on my studio. I guess that was the period of time where he finally slow way down. I guess I wore him out! Anyway we spent a lot of time talking about a lot of different things. A lot of things I never knew about Dad. I wish I would have videotaped a lot of those conversations while we where there but I was too busy to hold the camera.
WATER SLIDE: I remember several times when I was really young like 5-6 or 7, Dad would give us a bunch of that real thick heavy plastic that we could water slide on out on the front or back lawn, I think there were a few times he didn’t know that we borrowed the plastic without telling him.
BODY SHOP: I’m grateful that he wasn’t afraid to work, man you got to work when you got 10 kids! I was always grateful for the body shop because we all had a place to build, repair or play with something.
SUNDAY’S: One other thing I remember when I was really young, we always went out on a Sunday drive and heaven forbid we bought a bucket of Kentucky fried chicken and had a picnic and we’d also visited Grandma Hancock. And if we still had time would run over to Uncle Ray’s and slide down his big slide.
Thoughts from my family
From Laurie: Byron is one of the most accepting people I know. From the very first time I met him, and married into the family, he has treated me very warmly and with respect. He has always made me feel like one of the family. I have never heard him say a harsh word to anyone, nor have I heard him gossip or speak ill of anyone. He is also very generous. He let us use his tough shed and cabin anytime we wanted. I remember the hours he spent helping Scott build his Studio in Pleasant Grove. Another thing I especially at admire about Byron is that he always has time to spend with his grandchildren.
From Andra: Every time we go to visit Grandpa, he is very happy to see us. He always seems to be interested in what I am doing; schoolwork, hobbies, dancing, etc. I especially remember all the family reunions we had at his cabin.
From Ariel: Whenever we would go to visit, Grandpa always tells my sisters and I how amazing and beautiful we are. Whenever he’s around we get showered with compliments. And he’s always happy to see us, his grandchildren when we come to visit.
From Michael: This is a hard subject to think about because there are so many things he has done for all of us, and I can’t think of one thing to say, but the main thing would probably be the time we spent at the cabin. I remember one time, I’m not sure which year it was, but I remember Grandpa giving me a ride in his tractor at night, just me and him, and he let me have some candy and I just had fun. On top of that he just is a fun guy to hang out with, he has great stories and he is always, always happy and glad to see us.J
From Daniel: The thing I remember best is the family reunions we had at grandpas cabin, he is fun to talk to and has some thing for us to do.
From April: I like the way you hug me, how you come to our house because you don’t come very often and when we come over.
From Alana: I like how you make silly faces.
Scott Dwane Hancock
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