So I am taking the initiative to make this blog more of a journal and less of a blog about Alex. Not that my life is that exciting, but I do have one or two experiences that I would like to record before I forget them. I was reminded of my experience of meeting Thomas S. Monson by the recent Draper Temple dedication and although this instance happened when I was a teenager, it is important enough that I want my children to know about it.
When I was 16 years old, my grandmother, Zella Farr Smith, passed away. I was not extremely close with her but she had pretty much been the only grandparent I had ever known my entire life. One grandfather passed away before I was born, the other passed away when I was one years old, and my other grandmother lived in Germany so I only had the opportunity to meet her twice. That, combined with the fact that I had never really experienced someone close to me dying made it a really difficult time. Up until then, I had had a cousin pass away when I was eight but I didn't even know her so I wasn't really affected. I remember my Grandmother's funeral pretty vivadly and I was pretty upset the entire time.
My grandmother was best friends with Sister Hinckley and Grandma and Grandpa had belonged to a book group with her and President Hinckley. Unfortunately, when she passed away, President Hinckley and his wife were out of the country on church business and were unable to attend. In their place, they sent a letter of condolences and the then apostles Thomas S. Monson and Russell M. Nelson. Before the funeral, I was standing off to the side of the viewing room, crying while lots of people mingled around me. All of a sudden, someone came up to me and embraced me in a big bear hug. It took me a second to realize that it was Thomas S. Monson. I don't remember if he said anything to me, but I will NEVER forget how sweet and understanding he was. I had never met him before but he had recognized that I was in need and he had consoled me. This is the kind of man he is. He was much bigger and taller than I had thought from seeing him on TV but as gentle as a teddy bear. My Dad observed what had happened and afterwards said to me, "Do you realize that you were just hugged by the man who will someday be the prophet?" Of course I had realized that I had been hugged by an apostle which was pretty neat in and of itself, but in my adolescence, I had forgotten that he would someday (and has!) become the prophet.
I am so glad that this wonderful man has been chosen to lead the church today in these turbulent times. I can personally testify that his kindness, wisdom, and gentleness is sincere and that he takes the need of the insignificant individual to heart the same way the Savior would. I am so glad that the Lord has set up a system of true and proper authority so that when one prophet passes on to the next life, another one is ready to take his place. I know that President Monson is a true prophet of God with all the authority, powers and priesthoods that goes along with it and I seal my testimony of this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
When I was 16 years old, my grandmother, Zella Farr Smith, passed away. I was not extremely close with her but she had pretty much been the only grandparent I had ever known my entire life. One grandfather passed away before I was born, the other passed away when I was one years old, and my other grandmother lived in Germany so I only had the opportunity to meet her twice. That, combined with the fact that I had never really experienced someone close to me dying made it a really difficult time. Up until then, I had had a cousin pass away when I was eight but I didn't even know her so I wasn't really affected. I remember my Grandmother's funeral pretty vivadly and I was pretty upset the entire time.
My grandmother was best friends with Sister Hinckley and Grandma and Grandpa had belonged to a book group with her and President Hinckley. Unfortunately, when she passed away, President Hinckley and his wife were out of the country on church business and were unable to attend. In their place, they sent a letter of condolences and the then apostles Thomas S. Monson and Russell M. Nelson. Before the funeral, I was standing off to the side of the viewing room, crying while lots of people mingled around me. All of a sudden, someone came up to me and embraced me in a big bear hug. It took me a second to realize that it was Thomas S. Monson. I don't remember if he said anything to me, but I will NEVER forget how sweet and understanding he was. I had never met him before but he had recognized that I was in need and he had consoled me. This is the kind of man he is. He was much bigger and taller than I had thought from seeing him on TV but as gentle as a teddy bear. My Dad observed what had happened and afterwards said to me, "Do you realize that you were just hugged by the man who will someday be the prophet?" Of course I had realized that I had been hugged by an apostle which was pretty neat in and of itself, but in my adolescence, I had forgotten that he would someday (and has!) become the prophet.
I am so glad that this wonderful man has been chosen to lead the church today in these turbulent times. I can personally testify that his kindness, wisdom, and gentleness is sincere and that he takes the need of the insignificant individual to heart the same way the Savior would. I am so glad that the Lord has set up a system of true and proper authority so that when one prophet passes on to the next life, another one is ready to take his place. I know that President Monson is a true prophet of God with all the authority, powers and priesthoods that goes along with it and I seal my testimony of this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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