Today I attended the funeral of a man I truly respect in the highest degree of the word. His name was Roger Kotter. He served as the First Counselor in my mission: the Idaho Boise Mission.
President Kotter was larger than life, both in physical stature and spiritual knowledge. I remember many things I learned from him in different settings. He spoke at large meetings, such as Zone Conferences and also in intimate settings with a select few members of the mission leadership, of which I was priviledged to be a part of at the time. With his booming voice and eloquence, he spoke to hearts as he bore his testimony about God and His son, Jesus Christ. He had a love for the Gospel and the happiness and promise it held in his life and the potential it had to affect positively the lives of others.
His sense of humor was a trademark. His dry wit complimented his laid back nature. But more than anything, he loved to smile. He had the kind of impish grin that one can't help but mimick when exposed to it. I recall a time President Kotter was speaking in a meeting about trials and how God is on our side. As he mentioned briefly the adversary, Satan, and how all he wants is for us to be miserable like him, he paused and said, "Satan...psh...what a loser."
To understand the impact Roger Kotter had on the lives of others, one need only to observe the lack of suffecient parking space at his funeral service or enter the chapel and witness the staggering amount of people in attendance. It is clearly evident that this man spent his life the way his Heavenly Father intended: caring for others. Easing burdens, when possible. Doing his best to make the path back to our heavenly home as easy as possible. The number of memories shared and tears shed were not a few.
Personally, Roger Kotter taught me to trust in God. With each anecdote, each quoted scripture and each encouraging word shared in a time of personal frustration, he was sure to use the opportunity to teach of God's love and of His son, Jesus Christ's comfort and mercy.
His love for life was matched only by his desire to help others. Although he will be missed in this life, I am confident he would want us to look forward with an eye not only of faith, but of optimistic comfort, knowing we all have the opportunity to see one another in the life hereafter.
So, Roger, on behalf of us all, from a man who hardly got to know you, we love you. We miss you. And realizing that we're all better people for having known you, I hope we can live the types of lives that would make you proud.
- Mike Hopkins
