President Grant sent a note to Golden. The note read that…
““President Grant sent a note to Golden. The note read that there was a member of the stake presidency from Coalville, who had passed away. His wife had requested Golden speak at the funeral. Golden didn’t get the note until he returned from a Church assignment in Southern California. By then the funeral was in an hour, and Coalville was almost two hours away He hopped in his Model T and drove as fast as he could. When he arrived, the funeral was almost over. The bishop saw Golden walk in. "Brother Kimball, come forward. We’d like to hear from you." He went up and said, "I’m very happy to be here. I’m sorry I’m late. I want to tell you what a wonderful person this man was. I knew him, I’ve stayed in his home. He was an inspiration to me. He was a good father, he was a good husband. He goes to a great reward." As he started to hit his stride, he looked out in the audience. About the eighth row back, there sat the man he thought was dead! So he looked down in the casket. He did not recognize the man lying there. Confused, he turned and said, "Say Bishop, who the hell’s dead around here anyway?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A humorous story where a funeral speaker, delayed by travel, mistakenly addresses the dead as if alive, highlighting miscommunication and reverence.
In simple terms: A delayed speaker jokes about the dead.
Key Takeaway
Be punctual and verify details.
Themes
humor
miscommunication
faith
death
community
Mood
lighthearted
respectful
ironic
Type
Good father:1
Good husband:0
Humor:1
Religion:0
Southern california:0
Wonderful person:0
Say Bishop:0
Stake Presidency:0
Funeral Golden:0
Requested Golden:0
Brother Kimball:0
When to use this quote
- funeral planning
- church leadership
- public speaking
- travel logistics
Key Concepts
social faux pas
religious practice
storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance respect and humor?
- What safeguards prevent such mix‑ups?
A Different Perspective
Humor may downplay the solemnity of death.