The Temple of Our Soul

Ladies and gentlemen, family, friends, and  loved ones, welcome and thank you for attending 
this memorial service.  Today we are here to recognize those individuals who so selflessly gave their 
bodies so that others may benefit.  On behalf of the class of 2002 of Saint Louis University School 
of Medicine, I would like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to the body donors, and the 
friends and loved ones who supported them in their decision to donate.  Through their donation we 
are able to learn anatomy far better than could possibly be conveyed to us in the greatest of 
textbooks or computer illustrations.  A donated body is the ultimate teaching tool.
An excerpt from 1 Corinthians 3:17  reads:  ?for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye 
are.?  This scripture tells me that the human body is the temple of our soul.   It is my hope that we 
have all had the opportunity to visit one of God?s great temples, a cathedral, a synagogue or a even a 
beautiful church.  As one reverently enters a temple one quickly come to recognize the 
overwhelming amount of beauty.  Upon closer observation it is easy to find many intricacies and 
unique features in each room.  One could move about a temple for days without fear of ceasing to 
learn.  My self and my fellow classmates have had the unique opportunity to reverently visit one of 
the most elaborate and sacred temples of all; the temple that once housed the soul of your family 
member, friend, and loved one.  This temple is a great one, it contains many unique and intricate 
openings, corridors, and hallways.  The ceiling and walls of each room are more magnificent than 
can be described in words.  Through the generosity of your loved one we have been able to enter 
into this most magnificent temple.

After we graciously leave this temple, what then?  As we all know, it is impossible to leave 
any temple without many enriched memories.  The indelible image of these temples, the temples of 
your loved ones will be burned into our minds forever.  During our lifetime at some point we all 
look and wonder how we could be of service to our fellow man and woman.  One day sometime 
ago, all of the individuals who have let their temples rest here, made a decision that their final 
service on earth would be of infinite value.  Their service will never end, it will never tarnish, and 
importantly the image of their temple will always grow in our minds and in the minds of others.  In 
the year of 2002 we will become doctors.  We will share the everlasting image of these temples with 
other students who will become doctors and share their knowledge with others.  The image of the 
temple of your loved one will be shared with others as long as medicine exists. If it were not for the 
everlasting impression of the temples of these great souls who have given so freely, the class of 2002 
doctors would help few.  Without a thorough understanding of these temples we would not be able 
to extend the life of your grandson, granddaughter or any other loved one.  In a sense, the service 
rendered here at SLU by your loved one will inevitably help to prolong the life of a family member 
somewhere down the line.  For your support of those who have so selflessly given their temple, I 
give you my deepest appreciation.