Article link: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/houston-belief/article/Stay-funeral-highlights-LDS-customs-5628562.php

Apologies if this has already been posted. This article I believe is written by a Mormon.

On a related note, it's inspiring to see how young Cassidy Stay (the sole survivor in the tragedy) has been handling the tragedy so well, at least publicly. That takes immense strength to do. May God bless this girl.

Commenting on the linked article however; you did not need to mention it was written by a Mormon for me to know that is the case—I only needed to read the title.

It smacks of a TBM covering something by answering a question that most people would not have asked. Most people would not be wondering about the "funeral customs" of LDS. The writer sets up a sort of straw man for the sake of promoting Mormonism.

I can smell it from miles away.

I pray for this little girl and hope God blesses her future.

Well some people may be curious. It would have possibly been an interesting article if not for the timing. I did feel however that it might have been disrespectful to young Cassidy Stay and her family, at least if their permission had not been taken first, to use her home family's funeral as an opportunity to preach about elements of Mormonism that are unrelated to that service, such as the great honour it is to be called to serve the Church, or the Church encouragement to listen to Mormon hymns at home. Perhaps they might have been honoured or uplifted by the opportunity to use the tragedy for good (to their faith) by preaching the Gospel as they understand it. But it is they who have the right to decide that. Journalists can of course write whatever they want without the family's permission, but it would be proper and respectful to ask first.

Can't read the article unless a subscriber.

That's strange. I'm not a subscriber and I can read the article. Try again?

This is the message I get when I click on link.

To continue reading this story, you will need to be a digital subscriber to HoustonChronicle.com.

Here is a link to another story not behind a paywall.

http://guardianlv.com/2014/07/funerals-of-murdered-stay-family-occur-in-texas/

Stay funeral shows LDS customs
By Heather Hemingway

July 17, 2014 | Updated: July 18, 2014 4:02pm

Caskets carrying the six members of the Stay family who were shot and killed last week are escorted after Wednesday's service.
Brett Coomer, Staff

Caskets carrying the six members of the Stay family who were shot and killed last week are escorted after Wednesday's service.

Editor's note: Heather Hemingway writes the Mormon Voice blog at HoustonBelief.com.



Footage of the parade of six white caskets has been broadcast around the world. Still photos of mourners have captured moments in time that could be from any funeral anywhere.

But the church service for six members of the Stay family - shot to death in their Spring home last week - contained elements unique to the Mormon faith.

Roger Lyon, father of 34-year-old Katie Stay, who was killed along with her husband, Stephen, and four of their five children, spoke of his daughter and her devotion to her faith and her family. He spoke of how "families can be together forever," a reference to the Mormon doctrine of "sealing," which guarantees they will be together again as a family in the afterlife.

Katie and Stephen Stay were "sealed," meaning that they had a temple marriage - performed by someone with sealing authority - that ensures they and their children would be a family beyond this life. (This is why Mormon wedding vows replace the traditional phrase "until death do us part" with "for time and all eternity.")

Music as part of services in a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel took on a greater role nearly 30 years ago, and church officials have always encouraged members to listen to sacred music at home as well. Some worship-service hymns are unique to Mormons, but many are sacred songs of other Christian faiths.

During the Stay family service, it was noted that Katie Stay's mother loved "Canon in D" by German composer Johann Pachelbel and listened to it often. At Wednesday's service, a youth string quintet performed the song that Katie Stay had always said she would want played at her funeral. (To others, "Canon in D" is known as a popular wedding song.)

Church hierarchy also factors into Mormon life. The church, from local Sunday school teachers to top offices in Salt Lake City, is staffed by volunteers. To be called to serve the church in any role is considered a great honor.

Harris County Pct. 4 Deputies line the sidewalk as the caskets are taken from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ,16331 Hafer Road, after the funeral service of six members of the Stay family Wednesday, July 16, 2014. ( Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle )
Melissa Phillip, Staff

Harris County Pct. 4 Deputies line the sidewalk as the caskets are taken from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ,16331 Hafer Road, after the funeral service of six members of the Stay family Wednesday, July 16, 2014. ( Melissa Phillip / Houston Chronicle )

Elder Bradley D. Foster, who serves on the church's Second Quorum of the Seventy, came to Houston from Salt Lake City to deliver a message to Stay family relatives, including their surviving daughter, 15-year-old Cassidy. (Foster's rank makes him part of the church's "general authority," the highest level of church leadership.)

Foster brought with him a letter from Thomas Monson, the president of the LDS Church, for Cassidy Stay. The letter said: "Words cannot convey our sorrow … Remember that there is power in fasting and prayer … We pray that you will find strength as you follow the Savior. Our thoughts and prayers are with you."

Though other funerals - secular or not - often recall details of the life of the person who had died, Mormon funerals include the "Life Sketch" in which a timeline of their lives is given. It includes when they were born as well as important events throughout their life. For the Stays, Katie's uncle, Randy Cousins, gave the Life Sketch for all six who died.

Sorry about that. Still not seeing the pay wall myself. Sometimes searching for the article title on Google and then clicking on the article bypasses the pay wall at least temporarily or for a limited number of articles. (New York Times does this.)