A Tribute to President Monson

After attending the temple this morning I felt a desire to give a tribute to President Monson and to do so in a way that I hope will inspire others.  I apologize for not proofreading this very much before publishing it.

I woke up at ~4:30 AM with the thought of going to the temple.  Knowing I only had around 6 hours of sleep, I decided to go some other morning this week and try to get back to sleep.  4:50 AM rolled around and I felt like I was awake as though I had a good night’s sleep.  I then thought about how, if I was efficient, I could quickly get my suit on and make it to the 5:30 AM session at the Gilbert Temple.

While sitting in the chapel area in the temple, a temple patron informed us that President Monson had passed away during the night.  As he spoke, I felt the Spirit unmistakably testify to my heart that President Monson is a good man and that our Heavenly Father is well pleased with him. As I took part in the temple session and felt the spirit throughout the session, I also reflected on how President Monson may have sorrowed that he, at least for many years, was rejected in conference as a prophet by several individuals.    

Towards the end of each temple session, I often take time in the celestial room to ponder and wait for a verse to come into my mind to look up in the scriptures. As I have done this over the years, I have found that, perhaps, 50% or more of the time a certain verse will come to my mind that seems to be a direct message to me on some matter.  Towards the end of this particular session, a verse in the Book of Mormon came to my mind—Mosiah 14:3.  I read the following:

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

This verse about Christ was from Isaiah and was quoted here in the book of Mosiah by a man named Abinadi who was called by the Lord to preach repentance and was later martyred. I couldn’t help but think that in addition to feeling depressed at the temporary separation from his wife who passed to the other side over four and half years ago, perhaps President Monson, unbeknownst to us, was sorrowful that he was rejected publicly in general conference year after year, something the prior few latter day prophets did not endure.  I love President Monson.  I pray that at his passing he was embraced on the other side by many of the people whose lives have been changed because of all the good he has done.  The following is one of my favorite stories that I reflect on occasionally:

Twenty-three-year-old Tom Monson, relatively new bishop of the Sixth-Seventh Ward in the Temple View Stake, was uncharacteristically restless as the stake priesthood leadership meeting progressed. He had the distinct impression that he should leave the meeting immediately and drive to the Veterans’ Hospital high up on the Avenues of Salt Lake City. Before leaving home that night he had received a telephone call informing him that an older member of his ward was ill and had been admitted to the hospital for care. Could the bishop, the caller wondered, find a moment to go by the hospital sometime and give a blessing? The busy young leader explained that he was just on his way to a stake meeting but that he certainly would be pleased to go by the hospital as soon as the meeting was concluded.

Now the prompting was stronger than ever: “Leave the meeting and proceed to the hospital at once.” But the stake president himself was speaking at the pulpit! It would be most discourteous to stand in the middle of the presiding officer’s message, make one’s way over an entire row of brethren, and then exit the building altogether. Painfully he waited out the final moments of the stake president’s message, then bolted for the door even before the benediction had been pronounced.

Running the full length of the corridor on the fourth floor of the hospital, the young bishop saw a flurry of activity outside the designated room. A nurse stopped him and said, “Are you Bishop Monson?”

“Yes,” was the anxious reply.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “The patient was calling your name just before he passed away.”

Fighting back the tears, Thomas S. Monson turned and walked back into the night. He vowed then and there that he would never again fail to act upon a prompting from the Lord. He would acknowledge the impressions of the Spirit when they came, and he would follow wherever they led him, ever to be “on the Lord’s errand.”

You cannot understand President Thomas S. Monson, newly called Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, without understanding the repetition of such promptings in his life and the absolute loyalty with which he has kept that early promise to obey them. 

-          By Jeffrey R. Holland (click here)

-           

I have read many stories of how President Monson was indeed inspired in a way that can only come by way of a miracle.

When I was 19 years old, a newly baptized member of the church, I attended a regional conference where President Monson presided.  It was at the Capital Center Arena in the Washington D.C. area.  I was in one of the folding chairs in the arena area.  While gazing at him, he nodded his head and sent a smile my way.  I was grateful for that.  I felt he was a good man. 

While I was pondering at the temple this morning, I opened up the Book of Mormon intending to read about Nephi’s account of the Tree of Life.  Instead, however, when I opened the book to search for the right chapter, it opened to 2 Nephi 16 (click here).  I happened to glance at the following words in the header: “Isaiah sees the Lord”.  I have often thought about what a great, great blessing it would be to be permitted in the presence of the Lord.  I look forward to that day that I may have that great blessing.  I know that for some, that great privilege may come in this life.  I love a quote that was given by Elder Larry R. Lawrence in the October 2015 General Conference entitled “What Lack I Yet? (click here).  Please take a few minutes to listen to this talk.  I love this talk and have listened to it a few times.  At the end of his talk, he quoted Spencer W. Kimball who was a former prophet of the LDS church.  Here’s excerpt from Elder Lawrence’s talk:

Be persistent, brothers and sisters, but never be discouraged. We will have to go beyond the grave before we actually reach perfection, but here in mortality we can lay the foundation. “It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today.”

If spiritual growth is not a priority in our lives, if we are not on a course of steady improvement, we will miss out on the important experiences that God wants to give us.

Years ago I read these words of President Spencer W. Kimball, which had a lasting impact on me. He said: “I have learned that where there is a prayerful heart, a hungering after righteousness, a forsaking of sins, and obedience to the commandments of God, the Lord pours out more and more light until there is finally power to pierce the heavenly veil. ... A person of such righteousness has the priceless promise that one day he shall see the Lord’s face and know that he is.”

It is my prayer that this ultimate experience can be ours someday as we allow the Holy Ghost to lead us home.

I have that desire to see our Lord’s face someday.  For now though, I will do my best each day to serve him with all my heart might mind and strength by serving those around me and keeping my life clean.  We are counseled to “not attend, view, or participate in anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way.”  I find that to be increasingly hard as I give my children their freedom to, within reason, bring various movies into our home that violates this admonition.  Nevertheless, I try not to get discouraged and look forward with great hope that I too may someday be admitted into the presence of the Lord.  As I go to sleep at night, it brings me great peace as I imagine what that day will be like.  I am filled with hope and anticipation when I read the following words from Elder Melvin J. Ballard (1873–1939), a of the quorum of the 12 apostles said “I would give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt!”.  He shared a very sacred experience that is published on LDS.org which is entitled “I Know That He Lives”:  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/12/i-know-that-he-lives?lang=eng

Going back to my experience this morning in the temple, when I opened the Book of Mormon and happened upon the words “Isaiah sees the Lord” in the header of 2 Nephi 16 (click here), I decided to read that chapter instead taking that time pursue my recent focus on the Tree of Life.  At the end of the chapter, the following in verse 12:

“…there shall be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.”

The word “forsake” means “To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart from”.  I have felt some of that as I have listened in multiple general conferences people rejecting President Monson.  I believe he has been the Lord’s chosen servant to lead His church.  I have been blessed time and time again as I have put into action counsel given by the Lords selected leaders, both men and women.  For instance, I frequently listen to talks or audio books from those that have been called to lead his church and last week, one of the talks I listened to was from Sherry Dew.  In her talk “You Were Born to Lead, You Were Born for Glory “ given Dec. 9, 2003 at a BYU devotional I have been inspired to continue to put into action helping in the effort to change lives!:

My dear young friends, I repeat that these are the days in which a true leader wants to live. These are days when opportunities to change lives and even destinies are nearly endless. You are running the anchor leg of the relay because you were born to lead. You were born for glory.

I have also been blessed as I have put into action our former bishops inspired counsel to attend the temple more often.  Concerning President Monson, I immediately put into action that counsel he gave to the church in the April 2017 general conference.  The excerpt is below:

This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.

We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children.

If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far. However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study.

My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I printed the following portion of this on a large poster that I hang up each time I have taught the adult gospel doctrine Sunday school class: “If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so… I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day”.  Putting this counsel he provided into action has helped me through the day to feel closer to the Lord and feel is ongoing protection. 

Perhaps the most emphasized counsel given by President Monson has been the paraphrased as “To The Rescue” (click here).  I recently was listening to an audio book with my young son while on a car drive from John Bytheway called “Super Sonic Saints”.  It’s full of faith promoting stories from LDS fighter pilots.  I have really enjoyed listening to this book.  It was always a dream of mine to following in my father’s footsteps and be a naval fighter pilot.  In one of the stories in the book is from Lt. Col. Ralph Hansen.  He was called on a rescue mission using his A-10 Thunderbolt to find a downed F-15 pilot in the mountains at night during a snow storm.  He had already spent many hours in the air prior to the rescue and needed permission to take part in the rescue by shooting night flares into the air to help shed light on the ground.  This went on for several hours before the search was finally called off.  They found the F-15 the next morning.  It had crashed and killed the pilot.  Brother Hansen shared what he learned when the rescue mission was called off and he was flying home:

I learned that night that in life, as in flying, we often do not see the need for a course correction until it is too late. We try to make efforts to prevent an accident, but sometimes we just do the best we can to help in the aftermath. Sometimes that help comes in the form of providing light to the searchers, and often we need to set aside our own comfort and safety and go out into the dark and cold to rescue one who is lost or in peril. Sometimes we will be successful; other times we won’t; but we must continue to do all that we can.

I have often looked back at my experience that night, so many years ago. I still wish that I could have done something to help make the story have a happy ending. But I did learn about the need to give our all to reach out to those who need us, a lesson I will never forget.

I like this story because I feel we would do all we can to help someone that has gone missing or is drowning or needs immediate help but what do we do when it’s not so urgent but the person is still losing their way slowly.  I feel this is the Lords church.  I feel we are here for a short time on the earth and that we are tempted.  I feel it’s so important to not wait till an urgent situation comes up to provide help.  I feel that when we see loved ones or friends or even strangers lose their way that we should do all we can to help and provide ongoing help.   A simple kind note, a visit, an expression of your testimony concerning what this life is about that that there is reason for great hope of what lies ahead in the next life if we can try to keep on the right course.  Whatever is needed, I feel it’s important to give that help before it reaches a point of being urgent. 

Sometimes we may not be in a position to be the one “to the rescue”.  We may feel discouraged or need a boost from others before and challenge that lies ahead.  To those that may be feeling that way at this time, I wish to encourage you that there is a loving Heavenly Father ever watchful over you.  No matter what you are going through, no matter what your past mistakes, “His hand is stretched out still.” (2 Nephi 19:12 click here).  I have felt this several times in my life.  I am grateful to have the faith that He is there and cares about us.  I have had multiple miracles that I have been a part of that has given me that hope.

In closing, for those that have also felt sad to see people reject president Monson in past conferences, I listened, I would like to share an account from a book I have been listening to called “Seek This Jesus” by Neill Marriot.  Sister Marriot lived in the south as a devote Christian.  While being taught by the missionaries, her and her friends were invited to the mission home.  Upon arriving, the mission president and his wife met them on the front walkway.  Upon seeing these good young adult women arriving, the president said to his wife, “are you thinking what I’m thinking”  To which his wife said “yes”.  As a side humorous comment, Sister Marriot shared that she thought it to be strange if Mormons could read one another’s minds.  The mission president then said to them, “you look like members of our church”.  Sister Marriot felt complimented by the remark.  However, upon getting back in the car to go home after they met in the mission home, her friends shared how they felt offended.  I like this story because it reminds me that even our close circle of friends may have differing views than we do.  No matter their views, we should always follow the commandment, not advice, not simple counsel but, rather the commandment that Jesus gave to us to “Love on another” (see John 13:34 click here).

For those whose views of our prophet differ from mine, I ask that we don’t get into a debate but rather to let his death be an opportunity for us to come together in the spirit of peace.  I am careful to bring up verses that could spark a debate in a public forum.  I feel it’s best to have such discussions privately in a spirit of love with one another.   I feel that the moment these discussion reach the level of contention the Spirit of the Lord departs and the adversary’s influence starts taking hold.

I believe President Monson was called of the Lord to lead what I believe to be the Lord’s church, organized once again during this last dispensation before Jesus Christ Himself comes to earth once more, but this time to rule and to reign. That day will precede the great calamities prophesied though, such as what has been foretold by John in the Book of Revelations (click here).  For those of you that would like to know if we are led by a prophet and whether this is the Lord’s church, I invite you to fast this Sunday for a full day and ask the Lord in prayer, humbly, if what I have shared is true.  I can imagine, especially with the passing of President Monson that if you do so, asking in faith (see James 1:5 click here), He will reveal this truth to you.  If you do and He does answer your prayer, never stop putting your faith into action.  Study, ponder, pray, serve others and never stop fighting the good fight (2 Timothy 4: 7 click here) doing so always in love (John 17:26 click here).  I would also be happy to answer any questions you may have and provide any help I can on your quest for truth and righteous living.  I am not an expert in the scriptures, but I can share with you some experiences I have had that I hope may provide you some strength and hope.