Old Friends & Memories (with a Special Postscript)

Ray A. Geyer, my boyhood friend (since age 12) and the one who introduced me to the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ (see "Best Buddies" entry at this blog), telephoned me from his home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina last night.
As we caught up on recent events and reflected together about our past and current trials and triumphs, some recent promptings further crystallized in my thoughts and understanding.
It has long been known to me and other members of my LDS faith that all of us existed prior to our mortal births and that we all came to Earth "trailing clouds of glory".
To that end and as a part of our eternal journey, a veil of forgetfulness has been placed over our minds, in order that we may better learn, progress, and grow in faith.
However, even our memories of our everyday life here and now are much obscured and repressed, much more than most of us realize.
Nevertheless, all of these memories also will be restored to us upon our resurrection and we will know as we are known (See Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi, Chapter 9, Verse 14).
Reflecting further upon this, I then thought about Lee Ann, Debbie, and Svetlana; three lovely ladies in my life, each of whom I previously sought to marry at different times in my life.
Sadly, Debbie died in the Recovery Room of a Chicago hospital, Lee Ann was murdered by a drug addict, and Svetlana lost her life in a passenger jet airliner crash.
While continuing to ponder in prayer about these three ladies, I was given to know that each of them now are really happy.
They have no regrets, and each is much involved in good works on their side of the veil (Also see LDS Doctrine & Covenants, Section 137, especially verses 5- 9).
And so it is that the Atonement of Jesus Christ will restore all to us, including our premortal as well as mortal memories.
Through His redemption for our sins, He also will wipe away all our tears and heartaches, as we accept and rejoice in Him and Our Father's Plan of Happiness for us.
For more of this about all of that, visit www.mormon.org or call 1-800-438-7557.

Postscript:
Last Sunday, while deliberating about some other issues in my life, I finally decided that it would be prudent to seek out a Priesthood Blessing under the hands of two of my fellow Priesthood Brethren.
Consequently, Brothers Darvin Perez and Jeremy Betts annointed my head and laid their hands upon me to give me a blessing through this sacred Priesthood ordinance ( See King James Bible: James, Chapter 5, Verses 14 - 15).
Brother Perez is Hispanic, and although I could not comprehend a word that he said as he annointed me, it was not necessary for me to understand Spanish.
Immediately upon the touch of his hands upon my head, it was as if a fire coursed through my veins, filling me with a sense of comfort, love, and of obstacles being removed from my path.
As Brother Betts joined his hands with Brother Perez', to seal this sacred annointing, the intensity of the experience continued, and the words he spoke mirrored much of the promises I received on November 29th, 1969 in my Patriarchal Blessing (See "Patriarchal Promises" entry at this blog).
Neither of these two humble brethren knew my personal history or had any previous knowledge of the promises of my Patriarchal Blessing.
That's how the Priesthood of God works, when it is wielded in humility and love, by those who have been called and ordained of God.