Jared

I've been meaning to post for a while but there are so many big things i need to post about that it has been intimidating. and i knew this particular post would be difficult. Which is why i'm so glad Trish (Jason's mom) wrote this Christmas letter to family and friends that i could just copy and paste.

I think all of you know about Jared's death but many of you don't really know the details. Unfortunately we don't know all the details but this story gave us some very comforting insight. I wish i could communicate the outpouring of the spirit that has been over each of us as we've been dealing with this.

I never fully understood why Jason and I moved from Washington. Even Jason's dad commented as he was helping us move that he couldn't figure out why we were leaving our perfect set up at Mom and Dad's. November 4th it all became abundantly clear. Those last few months we had with Jared are truly priceless. Although Finn will not remember him, I'm so happy they got to know each other and that we will be able to tell Finny how much uncle jared loved him.

The open house and funeral were both wonderful and there was a huge turn out. For as quiet as that kid was, he definitely touched a lot of lives in his short 17 years. we are confident that his calling home has touch even more lives. He was such a good kid. I'm so grateful that we have the plan of salvation. that we know without a doubt where jared is and that we will be with him again one day! As i've felt the spirit and even Jared's presence at certain times, my testimony of this has been so strengthened. In that way, Jared has had an even greater influence in my life.

Ellynn

P.s. Jared is the one at the top of the picture.

Dear Family & Friends,

Thank you so much for you love, concern and sympathy for our family in the last month.

We have felt blessed beyond measure by your support and compassion during this time... and

still do. Family and close friends are there to sustain and support during these times... We truly

appreciate your consistency and love.

I feel impressed today to share with you a story that was related to us by the leader of the

Search and Rescue Team that brought Jared's body down from the mountain. His name is Kevin.

As Kevin and his team came upon the bottom of the mountain, they met up with the marathon

runner, who had found Jared's body. The runner had left earlier that evening to go for a training

run; the first run he had done for a few months since injuring his hip. He noticed it was getting

dark and headed home, following a game trail which was never used. This is where he came

upon Jared. The runner also happens to be a nurse. He was able to assess Jared, and even tried

climbing up a portion of the way to where he thought Jared had fallen from. He said by the

looks of the terrain and skid marks, Jared had slipped trying to get on top of a ridge that jutted

out. He had already called 911 and headed down to meet the Search and Rescue Team at the

bottom of the mountain. This is where he met Kevin.

Kevin followed the runner up the hill for the hour hike. As he came closer to the scene,

Kevin felt something he had never felt before at a search and rescue site. He's done many of

these before and immediately recognized it as a spiritual presence. He radioed down to a team

member that was staying with the trucks and cars to have him turn off the siren lights, sensing a

need for quiet and reverence. As they got closer to where Jared lay, each member of the team

felt a very powerful presence, like they were stepping onto sacred ground... Kevin described it

as, 'a gathering of angels encircling Jared's body until they arrived.' Kevin, being an active

member of the Church, knew this was to protect Jared's body. Each member of the team was

taken aback by the strength of the Spirit in the small area and from then on, only spoke is hushed

and reverent tones as they prepared his body to be taken down the hillside to where Jared's father

was waiting. Regan had wondered why these men were speaking in whispers when they finally

arrived at the bottom of the mountain.

Now he knew.

Kevin did not have to let us know what he and his team had felt, but wanted to make sure

we heard this story. It has brought much comfort to our family in knowing that our Heavenly

Father is mindful of us and our needs. He knew that our family needed that closure so that we did

not go one single night wondering where our son was, or even worse, through the entire winter.

The blessings we have experienced in the past month have been overwhelming and wonderful!

We are so grateful for our Savior, His love and Sacrifice and for the Plan of Salvation. We hope

that each of you will know how mindful our Savior is of you and your needs and hope and pray

that during this most beloved Season, your heart will continue to be focused on Him and His

divine plan. Thank you again for your love, support and friendship.

Love, The Willmore Family