Phil Baker Remembers
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Fond memories of a wonderful man
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Arthur Sevy It was with great sadness we were informed of the passing of our dear friend Art Sevy. Art was a special person and a spiritual giant in the lives of those of us fortunate enough to be numbered among his friends. Our love and sympathies reach out to Fern, Douglas, Michael, Julene, Bruce, Eric and all of his extended family. I first met Bishop Sevy when serving as a missionary in the Upland Ward in 1967, 37 years ago. I was a recent convert to the Kingdom, an enthusiastic Elder whose knowledge of the Church was very rudimentary, hailing from a small branch of the Church, in Adelaide, South Australia. Bishop Sevy invited my companion and me to attend Ward Council and Priesthood Executive meetings. The efficient and effective proceedings of those meetings, presided over by Bishop Sevy, was a revelation to me. I also recognised that although Bishop was highly intelligent, he remained a humble and spiritual person, much loved by the Ward members. I also felt a beautiful spirit whenever my companion and I were visiting the Sevy home. This was particularly evident to me as a recent convert to the Church. My companions and I worked very hard to find, teach and baptise those who hearts were prepared to accept the gospel truths we presented. We were blessed with several baptisms over those six months, and the Upland Bishopric and members were quite outstanding in their acceptance and fellowship of these new members. So I felt very sad when I received my transfer notice to serve in Garden Grove. I remember approaching the stand after the Sacrament meeting to share the news of my transfer with Bishop Sevy. I asked if he would autograph the back page of my scriptures. He expressed regret about my transfer then wrote something that was to have a profound effect on my future life. “Elder Baker, you are one of the finest examples of the gospel of Jesus Christ I have ever known . May the Lord bless you always.” Bishop Art Sevy, Upland Ward I knew that I wasn’t that good, but here was a man that I had grown to love and admire, who had seen some divine potential in an uneducated young man from down-under. Several times during my life’s journey, I have taken great comfort and inspiration from those kind words given to me on that Sunday in 1967. Many years later I was serving as the Bishop of Paradise Ward in South Australia. Imagine my excitement when the Mission President phoned with the news that an Elder & Sister Sevy who had been called to the Adelaide Mission, had written asking him if an Elder Philip Baker still resided in Adelaide? We had a joyous reunion when greeting them at the airport. They were later assigned to Darwin Branch, 2000 miles north of Adelaide, a Branch that I had once presided over as Branch and District President. During their mission we had Art & Fern stay in our home during training conferences. My IBM career allowed me and my family to occasionally visit the U.S. We were always warmly welcomed by our dear friends Art and Fern, if ever we had an opportunity to visit San Diego. I particularly took notice of Art’s participation in the building of a temporary “Visitors Centre” during the San Diego Temple Open House and phoned him several times to discuss my assignment as Multi-stake Director of Public Affairs during the Perth Australia Temple Open House in 2001. His advice was both encouraging and very useful. Our friendship over 37 years has been special. Art has shared many personal insights of a spiritual dimension with me and my family. One such experience involved the strong prompting Art had to invite a stranger he and Fern had met at the San Diego Greyhound Bus depot home to sleep the night. This elderly person was in transit, but was to have spent all night on a seat at the bus depot. The man accepted Art’s offer of a shower and a light meal before retiring. Early the next morning the Sevy’s dropped him back at the bus depot. The following day Art and Fern were attending Stake Conference. Art was listening to a speaker when this same man from the night before walked into the foyer. He caught Art’s eye, smiled , walked across the chapel and out of the building again. Art got up followed him but the old man had disappeared. I believe Art received a spiritual witness from this stranger, and I have no doubt that Art will meet this person again in the next world. So how can I adequately write a farewell to a loved friend who has touch my life for the better? It really is not possible. I think it was John Ruskin who said, “I believe the test of a great man is humility. I do not mean by humility the doubt in one’s own personal power, but really , truly, great men have the curious feeling that greatness is not in them, but through them, and they see the divine in every other human soul and are foolishly, endlessly, incredibly merciful.” I think Art qualifies as a really, truly great man. Art was a man of faith, a man of integrity and loyalty. He has a special relationship with the Saviour Jesus Christ. He indeed qualifies to be numbered with the noble and great intelligences “that were organised before the world was.” I will always give thanks to God for the opportunity he gave to me, as a young convert , to have the friendship of such a special man. I will miss him very much, but will always rejoice in the knowledge that Art continues in the great work of the Kingdom in the Celestial realms. Our love to you all. PHILIP & TRISH BAKER Perth , Western Australia 4thFebruary 2004 |