I remember when I was about 9 and I wanted to know how a camera worked. My Dad was an expert on this! He attended BYU, went to Art School in Los Angles and then studies at Cal State Fullerton. He worked with photographer Todd Walker, designed and ran a photography lab at CBS and created his own Advertising Agency out of our home. Just to name few of his accomplishments in photography. However instead of asking my Dad how it worked, I went to my Mom. I remember her laughing at me and asking me, "Why don't you ask your Daddy?" I replied, "I just want the simple answer and I know that he is going to go on forever." I remember her suppressing her laughter as she placed her hand over her mouth. She then walked into the living room and whispered into my Dad's ear. He looked at me through the top half of his glasses and beckoned me over. As I sheepishly walked over and sat on the couch he said to me, "Tell me what you want to know". He lovingly and simply taught me about a camera..I caught the fire.
Being the youngest of 4 I remember being the only kid left at home. My Mom and Dad still insisted on Family Home Evening and Scripture study. With no siblings left at home to distract me, I created my own distractions and spent some of our time together under the coffee table, trying not to be interested. However to this day I can remember the sound of my Mom and Dad reading the scriptures to me and hearing the love they had for these sacred books conveyed in their voices.
I remember seeing his face as I walked out the right side of the room in the MTC and hoping to see his 18 months later. And then the excitement when I stepped of the plane and seeing the joy on his face that I was home.
Dancing at my wedding and him pointing out all the people that came to celebrate with us. Him flying up to Washington to only turn around and drive back to California so that he could be there with me when the boys were born and Matt was serving our Country. The joy I saw as he was one of the first to see the boys come into the world!
This past month he called me often at 8am our time (since the rest of the world was still sleeping). He told me of the books that he was reading and the people that he talked to and made them smile. But his greatest joy was telling me of sharing the gospel and giving copies of the Book of Mormon to even the crankest nurses.
One of my favorite memories is when I was about 7 and not wanting to go to bed. I tried the "water trick" often enough. Finally my Dad took me into his arms and pulled me into his lap. He sat in his chair watching TV cradling me in his arms. I remember placing my ear on his chest and listening to his heart pounding and his steady breathing moving my head gently back and forth. As I listened I tried to pattern my breathing after his. Right then nothing else mattered.
What a great plan our Father in Heaven has given us that he allows us come to families. To know that the knowledge of the older must be passed on to the younger. How grateful I am for the knowledge of the plan and for the knowledge that we are an eternal family.
President Spencer W. Kimball shared that he wanted to wear out his body in the service of the Lord. I have not seen a better example of this than my wonderful Daddy, and I hope to follow his example.
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In memory of John David Fraser May 14, 1933 - May 7, 2010
