Episode 660: Melissa Dalton-Bradford, Noted LDS Author, 18-Year-Old Son Parker Died in 2007

My friend Melissa Dalton-Bradford (married mother of four raised over 30 years across nine countries; author of books, articles and poetry; public speaker; MA in Comparative Literature from BYU; co-founder of two non-profits—TSOSrefugees and Mormon Women for Ethical Government), joins us during her trip from her home in Germany to Utah to talk about loss, grief, and living onward.

That’s actually the title of one of her books: On Loss and Living Onward: Collected Voices for the Grieving and Those Who Would Mourn With Them.

She spoke freely about her family’s experience with traumatic loss, and took us through some vital points from her writing. The book takes readers through the death of her son Parker in a drowning accident in 2007 at age 18 and her family’s efforts at finding hope, healing, and peace.

The book in organized in five sections: Life at Death; Love at Death; Living After Death; Learning From Death; and Life, Love and Light Over Death.

Melissa is open, raw, honest, vulnerable, and courageous as she shares her immense pain and truths she and her family have learned on this 16-year journey she willingly shares with others.

With phrases like “The land of grief”, “death is the great educator”, and “we bond on our broken edges,” Melissa gets at the core of why suffering is also the mortar of true community. She also suggests things we should do and should not do to help someone grieving—powerful lists I hope we discuss openly across our faith community to grow into individuals and a people who can fulfill the core covenant of bearing burdens, mourning, comforting, and being witnesses of God’s presence.

I was so deeply moved listening to Melissa. This is a powerful podcast that I encourage all of us to listen to and share with others. It will help you if you are in any sort of grief right now, and it will help all of us who will be walking this road in the future—either in your own grief or walking alongside someone else’s grief.

Thank you, Melissa, for your great work in our community. Your voice is so needed. It is an honor to have you in our home and on the podcast.

Links:

On Loss and Living Onward: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1938301927

Global Mom: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZK9S4F3

Let Me Tell You My Story: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1641700491

Parker’s Obituary: https://www.deseret.com/2007/7/27/19758849/obituary-parker-fairbourne-bradford

More on Parker’s Legacy: https://www.thechurchnews.com/2007/12/15/23232276/young-mans-death-impacts-many-lives