Apostolic reflections on the affliction of cancer

ELDER Neal A. Maxwell of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Quorum of the Twelve spoke candidly to the Deseret News about his cancer, in 1999, some 5 years before his passing in 2004.

And, contrary to what many people may suspect, he considered his cancerous disease to be more of a blessing than anything else.

Speaking at the annual National Cancer Survivors Day for Utah at Hogle Zoo on June 5, 1999, he said one of the blessings of cancer is that it can help a person sort out the big things from the little things in life.

Here's more of the original Deseret News interview:

"We have a different perspective, a sharper focus," he said about cancer patients. "I've been given by the Lord a delay en route."

Elder Maxwell, age 72 at the time, said hair is one of those things that doesn't seem as important after suffering from cancer. A loving conversation with your family, however, ends up seeming very critical.

He was diagnosed with leukemia three years ago. It was caught fairly early but was progressing very rapidly. He had multiple chemotherapies and ended up spending 46 days in the hospital.

Elder Maxwell was only able to work part time in his church duties until 10 months ago when he regained his strength and returned to full-time status.

"I feel much better now," he said.

He's still receiving some chemotherapy but remains very hopeful.

"Each of us faces an eventual exit route," he said of life.

Elder Maxwell said quite a number of general authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been stricken with cancer, including President Spencer W. Kimball, Elder Bruce R. McConkie and President Howard W. Hunter.

"There's no immunity from suffering," he said of church leaders. "Only variation from suffering. How we handle it is the key."

He's especially thankful for the special care his wife, Colleen, whom he describes as a "Florence Nightingale," provided him.

Elder Maxwell said leukemia also has given him a much greater appreciation of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Another blessing he made reference to from his illness was a better capacity to receive help from others.

"We must learn to receive," he said.

He said he also has a greater respect for the doctors and nurses who deal with cancer patients on a daily basis. He credited the advances of medical science for also helping more cancer patients recover.

"I'm wiser by the experience," he said.

The church leader advised cancer patients against wondering why me and why now? He urged patients not to allow tomorrow to overhang today and to continue to avoid self-pity.

He had told the organizers of the event that he wasn't looking for any special treatment or recognition there. He was just glad to attend such an event where special kinship can be felt.

"I draw from their fellowship," he said.

Indeed, he was not dressed in the usual suit and tie apparel of the general authority, but rather a jacket, T-shirt and casual pants. He even carried and sometimes wore a baseball cap.

-Written by Lynn Arave and published in the Deseret News, June 6, 1999.

SIDE NOTE: As a reporter, I was fortunate to be able to speak one-on-one and privately that day with Elder Maxwell for about 7 minutes. I also thought of a great final question just as others noticed Elder Maxwell and came flooding over, swamping him in a sea of zoo-goers -- and it was interview over. I don’t recall what that unasked query was, but I guess I was not supposed to ask it ….

Some years later, I would attend a memorial service for Elder Maxwell (not sponsored by the LDS Church) at the University of Utah. I was surprised how well he had impressed many non-members of the Church. I’m sure he is currently reaching out to many others now in the Spirit World, as perhaps only his gentle, poetic style can do. --Lynn Arave.

NOTE: This article and all of the NighUntoKolob blog are NOT an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the author's conclusions and opinions only.