Patriarch Arnold Johnson Funeral Remarks, June 29, 2019 - Given by Charlie Massey
Marie, might I express the love, appreciation and respect that people have for you and Arnold.
Everyone gives you their heartfelt condolences for the loss of your husband, but knowing... with surety... that you will be together again.
Boyd K. Packer quoted in 2005.....Regarding Stake Patriarchs
The calling of a patriarch is unique. There is nothing like it in all the world; there is nothing like it in the Church.
When you say the word patriarch, there comes into the minds of the members of the Church, particularly the young people, the words wisdom, maturity, dignity, spirituality, worthiness.
The work of the patriarch draws near to the very central purpose of the Lord’s work.
This office has been an essential part of the priesthood from ancient times—“from [even before] the foundation of the world” (Alma 13:3; see also verses 4-5).
The Carmichael Stake Patriarch, Arnold Alfred Johnson left his earthly life this last Sunday. He served as Patriarch sinceJune 24, 2001........18 years.
A young girl named Mia was his last Patriarchal Blessing. Her mother and father Karen and Darryl were also given their Patriarchal blessing by Patriarch Johnson some years ago. Sadly her father passed away 2 years ago.
At Mia's blessing, she was sitting in a chair, the patriarch was standing behind her and became a little wobbly. They decided Mia would sit on the floor and the Patriarch would sit in a chair. He said to Mia, it's hard to listen to the Lord when you are in pain. He finished the blessing. Mia said.....it was a special time..... a strong spiritual experience for her.........he made me feel like my dad was there at the Blessing.
Arnold was born at homein Twin Falls, Idaho in 1929. He Married Marie in 1951. They had 4 children they love dearly Mark, Cindy, Grant and Bryce. They take great joy in their 28 Grandchildren and 60 Great Grand Children. Sending cards to each one of them twice a year....on their birthdays and at Christmas.
He served faithfully as a husband, father and a church leader. His love of the Savior and his Family and commitment to the Gospel helped him teach, inspire and help elevate people throughout his life.
He served in many callings of the church including Bishop, Stake Presidency Counselor, Temple Sealer and Stake Patriarch
Some comments on his High School Years
Jewell- as a young man in Idaho Fortunate to have two of his high school classmates in the Stake... Jewell Bakes and June Baily
Jewell went to her yearbook. He played in the Pep Band and the Orchestra. He Played the Coronet. He was in the Thespian Club. He had the lead part in the Junior Class Play. He was very handsome and very popular. "Every girl in town had a crush on him" = some said "Oh ...Arnold"!
He had a nickname "Hot Lips Johnson"
When they met
University of Idaho at Moscow. He was from Twin Falls and she was from Idaho Falls. Arnold was 22, Marie was 19. He was a senior, she was a freshman.
They met 2-3 hours after she arrived on campus. She said the Lord meant it to be.
There were several young men she knew also going to the college. She liked one young man because he was a Sunday School teacher.... It wasn't Arnold.
Some of her friends came by and said, said "let's go get a soda" they went over to her dorm. Arnold came out with the friend she liked.
So there was Arnold and 4 friends from her hometown. Arnold took her by the arm and away they went to get a soda. Marie said she was a little irritated that Arnold took over. Soon after, she became un- irritated
Arnold was a great scholar, he studied a lot. "we didn't have much time" because of his study time. He was an engineering student.
Arnold would stand outside his Dorm to say hi to Marie when he knew she would be walking by. His friends would tease him because he had a thing for her. They started dating- he was still studying a lot.
Can't remember the first kiss. They would meet at the coffee shop in the middle of the campus. I do know that after a few dates he gave me a handkerchief. He said hehad too much lipstick on his face when he goes home. She then went on to explain that it was the days of heavy red lipstick.
He was a good kisser. The Sunday school teacher was out of the picture...he was kind of acting like a jerk.
Marie had a scholarship to the college in music. Part of her duties to earn the scholarship were to work as secretary to the dean of women. She looked Arnold up in the files and saw how smart he was. Pretty much had straight As.
She was attracted to good men not in the church
When he proposed- she said yes on one condition- all of our children will be raised in our church. He agreed. They were married civilly in Idaho Falls by Marie's Bishop. All this happened within a year.
Arnold graduated from college and then went into the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant (ROTC).
He was then transferred to Mather. They were not married yet. He got furloughed to come to Idaho Falls. They were officially engaged.
This was the first trip to IF. They wanted to get married. Her dad was sick. Her sister told her to put it off. Mom found out about it and said go ahead and get married. Marie's mother and best friend were the only ones that were there.
They then left immediately to go to Twin Falls to tell his parents.
Joining the church
As a married couple, his first assignment was at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska- they had friends on the base that most all were members of the church. There was a common chapel on base that everyone used. Marie had a prompting or a feeling that said to her "what are you doing here" From then on they went to the branch in Anchorage.
Ken Neeson was the captain who taught him the Gospel. After the first lesson Arnold said "I Believe that." He was baptized in the 7th Day Adventist font in Anchorage. He went to Portland to be ordained an elder. They had been married about 3 years. He went down with a recommend to be ordained and he left with a Temple Recommend. They immediately went to the Idaho Falls Temple to be Sealed. They also had Mark sealed to them.
After he was released from the service they lived in a variety of places including Arizona and Oakland, California. Arnold had several technical engineering jobs. That's when he started his career in traffic engineering. Busy and demanding church callings also followed. He served in two bishoprics in Oakland.
He established a very successful Traffic Engineering Consulting Business, TJKM with three of his friends. For 30 years it was very successful.
In early 1980 they came to Sacramento when he was called as a bishop. He talked to Marie about his impressions when he was called as a bishop. He said he never felt such a load on his shoulders. As his responsibility increased with other callings he became more humble. He was always humble, he didn't strive for attention.
It was during this time that his two granddaughters Krystina and JoAnna came to live with them. They were 3 and 4 at the time. The granddaughters were raised by them for 15 years.
When then Patriarch Owen Stewart passed away, Krystina said to Arnold..... grandpa are you going to be called as the next Patriarch? He answered her saying, no there are many good men. Then they went on vacation for 2 weeks. When he came back he received the calling.
Looked at his notes in his Book of Remembrance-he had a special note on Marie- to quote him... She is a tall beautiful brunette with a great sensitivity for the needs of people. She is highly talented in music and the arts. She loves to travel and see new things having an outstanding interest in people and places. We went together for 6 months and were engaged in March of 51.
Marie and I closed our conversation and I asked her for final thoughts.
She said we have been married for 67 years. What a journey it has been. Marie said "Always treat men the way you want them to be and they will become that way. Then she said....But he always was.
Say anything you want about me but just don't say something bad about Arnold.
Marie said she wanted Arnold to go first so he could pull her through the veil. He was organized, a hard worker and committed and she loves him dearly.
He had good gospel conversations with his father in Twin Falls. His dad told him once "if I weren't so old I would join the Church.
The Temple President came over and said "I just want to see how my friend is"
Marie prayed for him to go quick and not suffer, her prayers were answered.
She said, ...He loves the brothers he works with. He was a mentor to many.
I was able to reach out to several people, men and women that know Arnold and received his love and guidance. They gave me their thoughts on his impact and impressions on their lives. Some over a span of years. I have their permission to share that now.
The first is Dave Hill
Dave Hill , Former Bishop, Stake President and Mission President
Here are three of many memories of Arnold:
1 - I worked with Arnold in several stake capacities when I was a very young man. Though he was 23 years my senior, he always treated me as an equal. He showed such patience with me and gently taught me leadership skills that have positively impacted my church service. His kind and loving approach made it very easy to seek for and accept his counsel. He was to me the epitome of wisdom.
2 - I remember his beautiful singing voice and loved to be in stake meetings where he would sing the hymns of Zion. The Spirit always attended his singing.
3 - He pronounced patriarchal blessings to three of my children. I remember the beautiful spirit that was in his home and the loving way he visited with my children prior to and after receiving their blessings. He was so positive with them and made them feel like a million dollars.
We've lost an amazing man and we'll miss him greatly,
Robin Smith
Thoughts/Memories
Soft Spoken, loving, kind, intelligent, compassionate and talented
I loved to hear Arnold and Marie sing duets for so many occasions. .. .they were a wonderful visual example of two people. . . who were so different in temperament and personality. . .one calm and patient and the other a fiery force. . . who were able to blend their voices and their lives together in valiant service to the Lord, and their family.
I was privileged to serve as a Relief Society President to Arnold when he was Bishop of the Fair Oaks II Ward. We were meeting in the Deseret Building. I had been the President for 6 months when he called me into his office . . ..His demeanor was very solemn. . .He was gentle and kind to me as he explained that what he had to share with me. . .as he put it " would try my faith!" He then explained that the ward was being divided and the dividing line was my street and our family would be in the newly recreated Northridge Ward. Change is always difficult and Arnold was very sensitive to what our feelings would be . . .he knew this would not be welcome news because it would separate our family from some very long time wonderful friends, which included Arnold and Marie.
Arnold and Marie's love and service to their family was so evident in all they did and was most evident when, during the time that can be referred to as "Their Golden Years. . .when you have raised your children and provided for your family and would now have time for themselves. . . they took on the monumental challenge of raising, loving and nurturing two of their beautiful young granddaughters.
Sons of Thunder- When Arnold was a Bishop he called strong willed men to be his counselors. They were young, smart, sand had strong Testimonies, they worked hard and got things done. They picked up the nickname of Sons of Thunder. Marie chuckles when she says it or hears it. Both of them have since been Strong Leaders in the Church. At one time they had Bishops offices across from each other.
Larry Brasher- in the early years, he was one of the Son's of Thunder
Arnold was a very patient and unassuming man. When he was disappointed or upset with someone he always expressed it calmly and with love. I don’t ever remember him raising his voice. He was always a mentor and example to me of meekness, love and patience.
It was a joy to serve as a counselor to him in the bishopric and then again as a sealer.
Gerry Smith
We were very young at the time. He was an exceptional person. A great example of a Church Leader. Kind ,generous and happy. He had the most genuine smile of anyone I know.
Anne Brasher
Serving as his RS president, he sent me on many errands to visit families.
I would return to report after the visits. There would be personal crisis or financial crisis.
I would be concerned and upset. Sometimes I had a plan of action.
He would calmly say:
“Well, lets wait. Things have a way of working themselves out.”
I used to think he was crazy. We needed to move on it. But he was right, many things resolve themselves, or other solutions appear.
Or....He also said.......
“Take all those problems and put them in a bundle and put them right here, next to you. Do not take those problems and put them on your shoulders. They are not your problems. In this bundle, we can all work on them together.”
He was always patient and kind and had a smile.
And he worked hard, very hard.
He was like a duck, quiet and serene on the top, and paddling like crazy underneath, where no one could see
Priscilla Palu Price
She was a caregiver several years ago. She reached out and said....I love this man with all my heart and miss him dearly. Thank you Arnold for seeing the woman in me that I still have a hard time believing myself to be. You will forever be in my heart.
Byron and Uva
Ever since Uva and I first met Arnold and Marie they have been good friends to us.
Arnold never made me feel like he was above me, but treated me like good buddies would, even though he is a great man in his career and especially in the gospel. I always looked up to him as a mentor...
Arnold was fun to golf with. We had good times and talks while golfing. I wasn’t all about winning, but having a good time together...I’ll miss him! Byron Harris
My memories of Arnold are of a gentle soul who was quick to laugh and showed, through his example, his limitless compassion for others. He was always excited when we went to the temple to do sealings because we always made sure he was officiating.
He made sealings so memorable for Byron and I. Marie and Arnold have always set such a wonderful example for our ward as how to live as the Savior would ask!
Uva
I talked to each of Arnold and Marie's children about thoughts they would like expressed at these services.
Mark
I love my father very much. He had a Spiritual Conviction. He was moved by doing things that are right and correct. He was driven by Duty and Honor. I have been driven by passion and emotion in my life. It’s in my DNA from my mother. I have also been taught by my mother the importance of Devotion. I think that is why my dad married her. When you are devoted you can get through the ups and downs. Mom was devoted to dad and dad did things for the right reasons. Because of my dad I have been able to take the passion and emotion…which I get from my mother...and harness it. This has been a great blessing to me.
Cindy
He was so dear to me. Dad was Optimistic, he always had a smile on his face. He always called me "His Sunshine". She always considered that such a compliment. Both of us had the same outlook ...We hoped for the best in life. I learned from him an example of how to live life. He was such an example of how marriage should be. He was a wonderful husband. Fiercely loyal to my mother. They were married 67 years, 10 months and 21 days. He was always devoted making sure my mother's needs were taken care of. What a blessing to them and family members to witness it.
Story on his birthday, which was on Saturday a couple weeks ago. She calls the story "Where is my sweetheart?" It was hard for her mother to be at the party, Arnold had always been her rock. When dad came in, he tuned everyone and everything out and said , "Where is my Sweetheart?"
One last thing.... his display in the foyer says: Love of Family and Service to The Lord.
Grant
I love my dad. He turned out to be a great man. Temple worker, Sealer, Father, Grandfather on many levels, Patriarch, and a helper of many people. He and my mom did a lot of good, they made a good team. We kids were a challenge.
As I look back on our experiences, we had a lot of good memories as a family. We went on a vacation every year. Christmas was always a great surprise and anticipation, and we got to live in one of the best and classic neighborhoods in steep hills of the City of Oakland, an older but cool and interesting house, just a mile down the hill from the beautiful Oakland Temple. It was an awesome place to live, steep sidewalks for roller skating with metal wheels, bikes too, and scooters. You could coast forever. I'm thankful to my dad for working real hard to make that possible. He took two jobs, to do it. I had no idea at the time.
We weren't the best behaved kids at church, but my dad was on the stand most of my memory, in a bishopric, so we had to be on our best behavior. We failed on that.
My father was the City Traffic Engineer for the City of Oakland.
I later grew up to be a Traffic Engineer. When I was about 8 I loved cars and traffic. I drew large traffic road diagrams onto 12 pieces of paper taped together to be a poster, knelt on it and drew my planned traffic roadways and bridges for my hot wheels cars. I Also did the same outside in the dirt with larger toy cars and trucks. So I know he was influencing me on this. I loved it when Dad brought home some super cool Traffic Sign stickers. They were thin aluminum reflective stickers of stop signs, yield signs, street name signs, all super colorful and I wanted to stick them on all my books and things.
My dad was instrumental in helping me to succeed in the engineering business, and was always there for advice.
Most important of all, I believe my father did what he was supposed to do, and was there for family, right along with my mom, and they helped many people out, and still do. He is in a very good place today. It must be exciting for him.
Bryce
My father and mother would always take us for a one week vacation twice a year either to Stanly Id. to fish or Tuolumne ... then Disneyland and the coast every year of my youth, he was always nice and attentive to me when I needed it, he was someone who's emotions never controlled his immediate decisions, something I hope to be able to do better at... he worked very hard and did not complain even when very tired.. when I was little when he got home from work, he would always give me a roller coaster ride by grabbing my hands and ankles at the same time and swing me above his head and then through his legs and back up a few more times! It's a lot of fun.
My father Always helped me with what I needed it!!! I always loved that about him...
Lastly, comments from Elder Mark Basset- local area son who now is a General Authority Seventy serving in the Brazil Area Presidency.
It was Bishop Johnson who interviewed me to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and who sent me on my full-time mission. I attribute his loving counsel among the greatest influences which led me down that path to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary in Guatemala.
As busy as bishops are, my bishop and his wife not only encouraged me to participate in, but sat next to me as we sang together in the ward choir. I don’t think I ever would have had any interest in learning to sing if not for Bishop and Sister Johnson sitting with me and teaching me how to follow the parts in the hymn book. When I sing in church meetings today, I still think of them and how they taught me to love the hymns of the Church.
One experience might cause some to question Bishop Johnson’s wisdom. When I was 17 years old, the young men were trying to earn money to participate in a high adventure summer event. One idea we came up with while sitting in the bishop’s office was to detail cars for ward members. The first person to volunteer his car to be cleaned was our quorum president, Bishop Johnson. He called me one day and said he would be out of town for a few days and gave me the keys to his Cadillac. As I think back on this, I can’t help but think he was either very brave of crazy to give that famous Cadillac in the ward with the license plate TJKM CAD to a 17 year old kid. Lucky for me, I didn’t destroy it, and we even gave it back to him with a new shine. I remember him asking me how many “man hours” went into polishing the car. After he gave me the money for our work, it was obvious that he wasn’t looking for a polished car but an opportunity to support the boys he loved.
I will miss seeing my bishop each time I attended the Sacramento Temple. I know he loved serving as a Sealer there, and I also know that he knew that the Sealing power he exercised in the temple made it so families could be together through eternity. That is Bishop Johnson’s promise as well. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Arnold Johnson will be made whole and will rejoin his physical body again to live an eternal life.
Thank you my dear Bishop, I love you!
I say these things in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Charlie Massey
