"...with renewed strength, for that's what Grandpa would want me to do."

Monday, February 24
Dear Family,
Thanks for your wonderful emails, they filled me with emotion, both sadness but also happiness.
The spirit was strong. What a blessing it is to have modern technology to communicate such feelings in matter of seconds.
I don't want to be the bearer of more bad news, but coincidentally our friend Jim Craig passed away this morning.
He was in the hospital in a bad state for the past week or so, but we didn't expect him to go.
I think there's something special about it though; He and Grandpa died within 24 hours of each other.
This may sound odd, but I can see them meeting up in the spirit world, and both being excited about the fact that they had a friend in common.
I can almost see Jim telling Grandpa that I was able to visit him in the hospital, just hours after the rest of my family had gathered around Grandpa's bedside during his final hours.
I dunno, but I feel like there's something special about it. I am convinced that they are together.
We don't exactly know HOW the spirit world works; although Jim wasn't the most faithful member in his last years, his mental state I feel may excuse him from that and he may finally be in a state of rest and happiness, with his new friend Lyle.
Of course, even happier is envisioning Grandpa's reunion with Barb, his parents, siblings, etc.
Especially Barbara.
I have felt strong feelings while reading all your emails, partially sadness, but also a very powerful spirit.
That's so great that everyone gathered together for the last couple hours.
It sounds like everyone had a very spiritual experience. Hope these feelings are a reminder of what we all know.
President Brown was very good at giving me the news. As soon as he said he got a phone call from you I sort of knew what was going to happen.
I expected him to go during my mission, but recently I've felt some hope that he'd make it till the end. But that's ok because the Plan gives that reassurance that life never really ends.
I love you all.
I'll keep pressing forward as best as possible, in fact, with renewed strength, for that's what Grandpa would want me to do.
Love,
Spencer