Called by a Prophet

Journal Entry, December 20, 2005.

Today at 11:45 a.m., we received a call to preside over a French-speaking mission in July 2006, by President Thomas Spencer Monson. He said that if a couple did not know what was happening by now, they would be pretty slow and that they did not want a couple like that. (We had been invited to visit in Elder Wirthlin's office with Elder Cook, just before Thanksgiving, and they had asked us questions about serving a mission, but were careful to say it wasn't a call and that we would hear from a member of the First Presidency between Thanksgiving and Christmas.)

President Monson then proceeded to ask us about each child and their family, one by one, starting with Joelle. He put us at ease by telling us the history of two sketches in his office which had just been given to him by the mother of the artist--a 17 year old boy who drowned trying to save his dog. He then told us about his photo op with Elder A Theodore Tuttle's granddaughter who had just been married on Salt Lake Temple Square--he said their schedule was so hectic they no long had time to go to the temple grounds for photo sessions. Never once did he say that he had just been with President Hinckley for the past hour. He related to us peer-to-peer on our level.

While speaking to us about our many granddaughters and one grandson (at the time), he told stories of friends who made dresses for granddaughters--only to keep getting grandsons. When the child was finally a girl, she had dozens of dresses. He told how Elder Nelson raised a pair of coveralls up the flag pole to announce the birth of his only son--out of ten children.

When we reached the story of Jeremy and Jamie--President Monson discovered they were born in Toronto and then began to tell us his experiences in Toronto as mission president. He came around from behind the desk and showed us his report to the First Presidency of his mission. He turned the pages slowly and quoted from each page. He pointed out the progress going from 2.16 baptisms per missionary to 5.63. When he completed the mission, they baptized 1000 souls -- up from 300 the first year. The 300th Stake of the Church was created in Toronto while he was mission president. He and his wife had signed the report he showed us.

He told us stories of his children in Canada--a sister (nonmember) who taught his little daughter and was impressed that she could bear her testimony of the Church after reading her an article from the Friend magazine. The lady's name was Mrs. Pepper. She visited the Salt Lake Temple Square before she died and left them a note of her impressions. His daughter did Mrs. Pepper's temple work after she passed on. President Monson's son had his first paper-route in Canada. Their cook mixed chocolate cake in with the soup to make it edible. (She was not a good cook). He spoke of a special, private spot behind the mission home at 123 Loma (next to Casa Loma) in a ravine--where he would retire to pray. He made a promise to the Lord to do everything he could to magnify his calling as a mission president and asked the Lord one thing in return--that he wouldn't lose one missionary. One died of lung cancer six weeks after the mission and two or three tried to run off from the mission but came back. He "rescued" one from Arizona (where H. Burke Peterson was the bishop of the boy). He plotted out a route where the elder had a different bishop to feed him and him him fuel his car every 400 miles back to Toronto. He also got an Elder who tried to run away to Ogden to come back.

President Monson then gave me a memo card with his name on it and had me write three things using his fancy black pen: (These are the words of counsel Harold B. Lee gave him as a new mission president)
1. Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies
2. When you are on the Lord's errand, you are entitled to the Lord's help
3. The Lord shapes the back to bear the burdens placed upon it.

President Monson taught us about the key to getting referrals from members. He said you don't challenge the wards to get 20 baptisms, but rather 20 home teachers to strengthen the ward. He said members should approach these four types of individuals:
1) those suffering the loss of a loved one
2)those who have experienced a birth in the family
3) new move-ins
4) those who have a troubled teen

Throughout the interview, President Monson would pat Diane's hand as he talked to us. He complimented her red and black colors (it was a Christmas outfit because he said it was the color of West High. He went to West High and his wife with to East High. When I told him I taught the living prophets class and often told how he met his wife, he said his father-in-law (to be) cried when they first met.

He also taught of two types of mission presidents--a mother had twins in different missions. She thought one president was good and the other was bad. The one sent pictures of the mission president and their missionary. The other never did. In essence, the latter was the stronger president, but you could never persuade the mother of those boys to believe that.

A truly great and memorable experience with a prophet of God. What a great day for us.

Additional insights from the experience with President Monson:
1) Always pray about transfers so you can tell the missionaries you prayed about it.
2) Don't let your zone leaders butter you up to get a preferred choice of transfers.
3) Take time to date your companion while on the mission.

Family Home Activity:

Retell in your own words the lessons grandpa and grandma learned from President Thomas Spencer Monson.