"Our purpose in life is to be tested, to develop faith, to make and keep sacred covenants, and, later, to leave," writes Elder Russell M. Nelson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter,day Saints. "Our ultimate and highest destiny is to return to our heavenly home. When that time comes, it can be as momentous as the time of birth. Birth is the gateway to mortal life death is the gateway to immortality and eternal life. " In The Gateway We Call Death, Elder Nelson, a surgeon by profession and now a special witness of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, approaches the subject of death from both a medical and a theological point of view to discuss such topics as these: , The purpose of life and of death , The purpose of mourning , When death comes without warning , Factors of choice, such as suicide, euthanasia, and use of mechanical means to extend life , Life after death "As I have come to comprehend more about life in all of its phases," Elder Nelson writes, "I no longer feel that death is always that foe to be feared. Instead, I view it as a potential friend to be understood. " The Gateway We Call Death provides reassurance and comfort for all who seek such understanding.
