I am writing this blog in hopes of keeping my boy’s memory alive. The more I think about it, the more I realize that Raul’s life was short but so meaningful that it is still impacting my life. If you follow his story long enough, he will touch your life and will inspire you as well.
I am that guy..!
(more coming on this line Raul made his…)
I would like to start by sharing the message I shared at his Celebration of Life. He was a faithful disciple of Christ, was part of the Youth Battalion, and was ready and excited to embark on a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
March 21, 2026
Celebration of Life – Raúl Caleb Márquez
As we sang, “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” I remembered how much Raul loved that song. It was one of the first songs he learned to play on the piano. I remember the two of us singing it together.
I felt the Savior’s love every time Raul played it, and each time I was reassured that my Redeemer was always there for me—always. As I listened to this hymn about turning to Christ for peace, I was blessed with courage to face life’s challenges. Little did I know that, in the process, Raul was also listening, feeling, and experiencing the love of the Savior.
Similar feelings became a recurring experience during church lessons, family discussions at suppertime, seminary classes, Sunday School lessons, and personal scripture study. Raul knew Jesus was real.
On behalf of my family and our extended family, I humbly say to you all: THANK YOU!
Thank you for being present in our lives. To our family and friends in Mexico, the United States, and other countries, THANK YOU.
It became common to hear of people in many places, near and distant, praying and fasting for Raul. Your prayers sustained us through this trying experience. We still feel your sustaining faith and love.
WE LOVE YOU.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for opening your arms and allowing our dear boy, Raul, to come into your lives and into your hearts. We know, and happily recognize, that you loved him too.
Raul was a member of several families. I would like to mention some, at the risk of missing one or two.
The Marquez Family.
A special mention goes to his mom, my sweet and loving wife, Liz. I always said that Raul was the boy version of his mom. He was that good!
His brother, Jair, and his sisters, Jasmine and Sofia, were no less than that. To them, one day before being transferred to the spirit world through death, Raul made this promise:
“My hand will be on your right shoulder, and you will never feel that I have left.”
I love my children so much. Thank you, Raul, Jair, Jasmine, and Sofia, for the opportunity to improve my character.
Raul was also a member of The Page Family, the school he loved. We are so grateful for his high school brothers and sisters, who would rally at home to welcome him back after long stays at the hospital. They visited him at the hospital and gave him opportunities to unload as he freely expressed his feelings.
He was also a member of the Kitsewatsiwin Family and the Millcreek Family. He loved his teachers and admired them so much that he had plans to become one too.
Thank you.
The Basketball Family—players, teammates, parents, and coaches—was also an important part of his life. He experienced wins and defeats, but most importantly, growth in every sense of the word.
The wheelchair basketball team made Raul dream big. That was really good company, and Raul enjoyed it as they toughened him up.
The RC Car Track Family came into his life as he tried to accept a new normal when he could no longer run on two legs. I was there. He found hope for the future and learned a new way of enjoying life. He learned quickly and soon loved the company of compassionate brothers.
To help you know Raul a little more, I would like to share a theme that he took to heart. He would often recite it and work on memorizing it with a band of young brothers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—his covenant family.
I believe it can help us know Raul better and understand how he was able to endure to the end so well and so graciously.
It reads:
Aaronic Priesthood Theme
I am a beloved son of God, and He has a work for me to do.
With all my heart, might, mind, and strength, I will love God, keep my covenants, and use His priesthood to serve others, beginning in my own home.
As I strive to serve, exercise faith, repent, and improve each day, I will qualify to receive temple blessings and the enduring joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I will prepare to become a diligent missionary, loyal husband, and loving father by being a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
I will help prepare the world for the Savior’s return by inviting all to come unto Christ and receive the blessings of His Atonement.
That was Raul.
In a world with many voices calling for his attention, he knew who he was: a son of God, a child of the covenant, and a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Expanding on the type of faith Raul demonstrated, one day, after many failed attempts to get rid of the cancer or keep it at bay, I asked him:
“Raul, the new treatment didn’t work. They have another one to try. What would you like to do?”
He responded:
“I want to do it.”
I asked, “Why? Nothing is working!”
He responded with a faith and determination I had never experienced before. He said:
“Papá, if I’m going to be cured, it’s going to be the Lord’s doing.”
I responded:
“Then why do you still want to try more treatments?”
He said that undergoing every available treatment was his way of showing faith in the power his Savior had to cure him, if that was His will.
Faith is work. Faith requires action.
Raul’s faith was active, not passive. He knew where to place his trust.
Keeping the covenants he had made with God allowed him, in a short period of time, to establish, develop, nurture, and strengthen the relationship with the Savior that was key to enduring to the end—carrying a heavy, very heavy load with so much grace and hope.
On June 3, 2018, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spoke to all the youth of the Church. He said:
“When you know your life is being directed by God, regardless of the challenges and disappointments that may and will come, you will feel joy and peace.”
During that conference, Raul and thousands of other great young men and women enrolled in what is considered to be the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today: helping God gather His children so they can learn who they are, why they are here, and how to get back to their celestial home.
This gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude. Nothing else compares in majesty.
Raul believed that.
He knew he needed help, and he also knew he wasn’t alone. He loved this verse of scripture from the New Testament:
Philippians 4:13:
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
I would like to finish with the following counsel from President Nelson. He said:
“My dear brothers and sisters”—he was referring to all of us here—“the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, His Son, Jesus Christ, and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy.”
Thank you to everyone who was involved in his life.
You all were angels to him.
You were the Lord’s hands.
Matthew 25:35–40
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
I cannot forget the goodness and selfless care that came from his nurses, doctors, and medical staff. You were also the Lord’s hands.
You did so much good for Raul, and in doing so, you also did so much for us.
We love you for this!
I often refer to Raul’s experience as Raul experiencing cancer, rather than as a fight against cancer.
His illness didn’t beat him down. He lived life to the fullest.
In the middle of his experience with cancer, he went to school, danced at prom, learned how to play wheelchair basketball, became a really good RC car racing competitor, and remained a diligent disciple of Christ.
Even on his deathbed, he mustered the strength to smile, to love, and to bless others.
Invincible indeed. A TITAN for good.
As spirit children of God, we were transferred to this earth by birth and began a journey called mortality. Before embarking on any journey, we like to have some assurance of a round-trip ticket.
Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through—and not around—the doors of death.
Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death.
We were born to die, and we die to live.
How?
Because of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
He is the way.
See you soon, Raul.
