Saturday, April 5, 2008

Follow the Prophet

Today the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sustained a new Prophet -- Thomas S. Monson. We haven't had a change like this in over ten years and it is taking me awhile to grow accustomed to the new faces of the First Presidency. Someone once pointed out that the nice thing about having 12 Apostles is that you can generally find at least one with whom your personality jives. It's interesting to ask people who they like to listen to in General Conference and see the wide variety of answers. Everyone seems to have one or two favorites and then they have those who, when they come to the pulpit to speak, use that time to get a snack or take a quick nap. Well, for me, and I hope I don't get struck down for this, President Monson was one who, when he approached the pulpit, I picked up something to read, or took the time to do something else. The man seemed to know every widow in the church and felt compelled to tell a story about "Bernice" every time he spoke! I don't have anything against widows, but after twenty years of stories sometimes a person just can't hear anymore.

Well, now he is the Prophet. I did my own inquiring of the Lord and feel just fine about raising my hand in support of him as Prophet, Seer and Revelator. I will support his actions and directives as Prophet. I also feel like it's okay that I might not like every story he tells, or the poems he recites or even the way he presents his talks. With 6 billion people on the earth, I think the Lord understands about personality conflicts and doesn't expect us to all be best friends. He does, however, expect me to understand that, for a while, Thomas S. Monson is His mouthpiece upon the earth and I am to act accordingly. I can do that. Who knows, maybe I'll end up absolutely loving widow stories and we'll all be reciting poetry before long. Amazing things can happen when the Lord is in charge.

5 comments:

Mel Sims said...

Isn't that funny...? I have always adored President Monson's stories! He's always felt like a grandpa to me. =]

Great to see you on the blog again! =]

Mel

Kristin said...

Touche' Lish-I hope there is a turn around for me as well but that's some really good mother/big sister insight regarding that HF knows about personality conflicts and not being BFF's (best friends forever) BUT he does expect respect, love and support (if we choose to follow the prophet). It will be interesting :)

Noah Vail said...

I've seen miraculous transformations when the mantle actually falls on a new prophet. President Joseph Fielding Smith, who everyone feared would be stern and forbidding, turned into a sweet Grandpa-like figure; President Benson, who was highly political, shunned politics in favor of advocacy for the BoM. I expect President Monson will become less anecdotal and a more dynamic agent of change. But, you're right, he is the Prophet and we'd better listen to him, even if it is more widow stories.

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