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.

Thomas S. Monson, 16th President of the Church

President Thomas Spencer Monson, Our New Prophet.

Here is the article from the associated press: SALT LAKE CITY: Thomas S. Monson, a leader who became known for his folksy storytelling as he ascended through church ranks, was introduced Monday as the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Monson, 80, succeeds Gordon B. Hinckley, who died last month at age 97. Out of respect for the deceased president, the Mormon church never names a successor until after funeral services. Hinckley was buried Saturday.

The church relies on a pattern of apostolic succession in selecting a new president. Since the early part of the 20th century, the position has always passed to the most-senior member of its Council of Twelve Apostles, the second-tier of church leadership. President Thomas S. Monson was formally chosen Sunday and ordained in a private ceremony inside the Salt Lake Temple.

President Monson said he was prepared to follow President Hinckley, and intends to travel the world to be among church members and to continue President Hinckley's legacy of building small temples in places where the church is growing.

"It's not difficult because he blazed the trail," President Monson said at a news conference. "I worked with him for so long — 44 years. We knew each other so well. I knew and testify afresh that he was the Lord's prophet."

Latter-day Saints know President Monson as a compassionate storyteller whose parables recount the stories of individuals resolving their struggles through faith.

As a senior church leader, President Monson has served as an international envoy for the church and supervised the expansion of humanitarian programs. He's also known for forming ecumenical partnership with other faiths — an effort President Monson said he planned to continue as church president.

"I think it's important that we eliminate the weakness of one standing alone and substitute for it the strength of people working together," he said.

President Monson was called to the Council of Twelve Apostles in October 1963 at the age of 36, after serving as a local church bishop and as director of the church's Canadian missionary activities in Toronto.

He went on to serve as counselor to President Hinckley and two previous presidents in the church's highest leadership circle, the First Presidency.

He is the youngest man to hold the presidency since President Spencer W. Kimball, who was 78 when named president in 1973. Mormon presidents serve for life.

As president, President Monson will shepherd a growing church with 13 million members in 160 countries. Of those, about 5.7 million are in the United States. One-third of church members live in Utah.

President Monson, a Navy World War II veteran, is a graduate of the University of Utah and holds a master's degree in business administration from the church-owned Brigham Young University in Provo.

Professionally, he worked for the church's secular businesses, including the Deseret Morning News and the Deseret News Press. He was also the representative who served on the boards of other church-owned businesses, including KSL-TV and Beneficial Life Insurance Co.

He has been married to Frances Beverly Johnson since 1948. The couple has three children. eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

President Monson named as his two top advisers First Counselor Henry B. Eyring, 74, and Second Counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

President Eyring previously served as Hinckley's second counselor.

Presidents Uchtdorf and Monson have known each other since the 1980s. He was a regional church leader in Germany when President Monson was working as an envoy to nations behind the Iron Curtain and dedicated a Mormon temple in Freiberg, then part of East Germany. (End of Article)

Yesterday (February 3), in the Salt Lake Temple, President Monson was ordained and set apart as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

Family Home Evening Questions:

1. When was President Monson called to be an apostle?
2. What number of Prophet is President Monson in this dispensation?
3. Where did President Monson serve as a Mission President?
4. How many children do President and Sister Monson have?
5. How old is President Monson?

1. 44 years ago
2. 16th
3. Toronto, Canada
4. Three
5. 80 years old

Elder Uchtdorf, Newest Member of First Presidency

Taking Flight
It was 1 October 2004, just a day before the annual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf was taking a stroll with his wife, Harriet, when the conversation turned to the historic nature of the meeting where not one, but two modern-day apostles would be sustained. The more they walked and talked, the more anxious Elder Uchtdorf and Harriet became for the yet unidentified men whose lives would be changed forever by the lifelong appointment.

“As soon as we returned home we got down on our knees and prayed for these men and their families,” Elder Uchtdorf said. The very next day, a stunned Elder Uchtdorf was summoned to President Gordon B. Hinckley’s office and asked to become a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. That weekend he stood before thousands of Church members assembled in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City, with millions more watching via satellite around the world. Expressing his reaction to becoming an apostle he said, “I have a great sense of inadequacy, and I have felt a sweet agony from a deep and often painful examination of my soul during the many hours which have passed day and night since Friday morning of this week.”

Becoming an apostle was an unlikely capstone to a life that began in Mahrisch-Ostrau, Czechoslovakia, on 6 November 1940. Elder Uchtdorf was the youngest of four children in a family that would flee as refugees two times during his childhood. When his father, Karl, was conscripted into the German army and taken from his family, Elder Uchtdorf’s mother, Hildegard wanted to get as close as possible to the western front. She left all their possessions and took her small family to Zwickau, Germany.

Karl Uchtdorf survived the war but was a bitter opponent of both the Nazi and the Communist regimes. Labeled a dissident, he fled with his family to the safety of Frankfurt, West Germany. Elder Uchtdorf described his father as a very idealistic man with a strong personal character. “He taught us to do what you know is right and follow that path and don’t worry about consequences.”

Of his childhood Elder Uchtdorf said, “I played in bombed-out houses and grew up with the ever-present consequences of a lost war and the awareness that my own country had inflicted terrible pain on many nations during the horrific World War II.”
It was his mother who provided sweet moments for the young Dieter at great personal sacrifice. At Christmastime he recalled there was little money for the necessities of life, much less for presents, but his mother surprised the children with “stollen,” a traditional German Christmas cake. It was only later in his life looking at pictures that Elder Uchtdorf realized his mother had gone without. “She was almost like you see in war movies and the people who were starving. That’s how she looked at that time when she was providing for us.”

Despite the harsh circumstances living in postwar Germany, Elder Uchtdorf said the Lord was looking after his family through the efforts of a single elderly woman who invited his grandmother to attend a service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “My grandmother and my parents accepted the invitation,” he said. “They went to church, felt the Spirit, were uplifted by the kindness of the members and were baptized.”

When Dieter turned 8 years old, he too was baptized, in an indoor swimming pool. He vividly recalls his apprehension of going into the water because he had never learned to swim. “I will always remember the feeling of warmth, safety, and importance as I came out of the water after this sacred ordinance had been performed,” he said. The family was quite dedicated to their new faith. Elder Uchtdorf fondly remembers his father and two older brothers deciding who would wear the one suit they all shared to church each Sunday.

It was during Elder Uchtdorf’s teenage years that he discovered his love for flying. He started riding his bicycle to the Frankfurt airport to watch the airplanes land and take flight and imagining what it would be like to one day take to the skies.
Following his dream, he started with an engineering education at age 18, followed by six years in the German air force. Then, in a reciprocal relationship between the German and U.S. governments, he entered fighter pilot training school in Texas where, as a German, he won wings in the American Air Force. At the young age of 29 he was made a captain with Lufthansa airlines and swiftly rose to the top of the organization, being named as senior vice president of flight operations in 1982.
In the midst of his occupational successes he was called to numerous Church positions in Germany and eventually into full-time Church service in 1994. Those who have worked with Elder Uchtdorf praise his leadership qualities and ability to reach out to others. Elder Dean Larsen said, “Elder Uchtdorf so genuinely loves people and is so engagingly personable that wherever he went he was embraced literally and figuratively.”

Applying lessons learned from his childhood, Elder Uchtdorf faced opposition with optimism. He helped convince the German government that Mormonism should not be included in a list of “sects” — being included on such a list would have seriously hindered the work the Church in the country. His colleagues noted that Elder Uchtdorf’s position with Lufthansa gave government officials confidence they had nothing to fear from the Mormon faith.

Although Elder Uchtdorf carried heavy responsibilities, his heart was in the home with his family. He met his wife, Harriet, at a Church meeting and several years later they married, on 14 December 1962.
“She’s really wonderful, she’s the best companion I could ask for in my life,” Elder Uchtdorf said. Longtime friend and Church associate Hanno Luschin agrees: “In spite of his professional recognition and his varied Church callings, a great measure of his success in his life is the quality of his marriage, as expressed in his absolute loyalty to Harriet and her unfailing support for him.”
The Uchtdorfs eventually welcomed two children into their home, Guido and Antje. Antje said the enthusiasm of her parents made for a charmed childhood. “Everything is exciting to Mom, and Dad makes things exciting. He made everything an adventure — even going to the grocery store. They took us on some of the most exciting family vacations a child could imagine.”

Though Guido and Antje live overseas with their own families, they understand their father’s commitment to his calling as a special witness of Jesus Christ throughout the world. As he performs his duties, imprinted on his memory are his mother’s efforts to build him up when times were tough. Her example is one Elder Uchtdorf follows today. “When we go out and meet with the people of the world, we’re there to uplift and to help and to strengthen those who need being strengthened, strengthen the feeble knees and lift up the heads which hang down. These are really the things that she did.” (Source: LDS Office of Public Affairs, Feb. 4, 2008)

Family Home Evening Questions:

1. What number in seniority is President Uchtdorf?
2. What quorum is the new quorum for Elder Uchtdorf?
3. What is startling about President Uchtdorf's childhood?
4. Name the other member of the First Presidency and his order of seniority?
5. What was President Uchtdorf's career before becoming an apostle?

Answers:

1. 12th (Elder Bednar is 13th, Elder Cook is 14th, and the new apostle will be sustained in April General Conference)
2. First Presidency (highest quorum in the Church)
3. His childhood home was bombed out twice
4. President Henry B. Eyring (12th)
5. Airline Pilot

Why Tell A Woman She Is Right

Lesson In How to Have a Successful Relationship with your wife (can be applied to how missionaries could get along with their companions.)

Elder Merrill Oaks once said "It is better to be obedient than right."

This lesson in life will help immensely in having successful relationships and even in being happier when frustrated by a leader or mentor.

I remember an experience I had with Jeremy in Hawaii, the December before he went on his mission a number of years ago. He and I were travelling with a work associate and his son, who also was entering the MTC the same day as Jeremy. We were talking about how important it is to get along with missionary companions and how the skills you learn in those experiences will help you in your marriage after the mission. Jeremy, wanting to be funny, said to my colleague and his son, do you know what my dad says is the secret to success in a marriage? My colleague suddenly became very interested and said "I would love to hear that lesson." Jeremy responded, "my dad, says to always tell my mom she is right, is the key to a successful marriage." My friend, then sighed and said to Jeremy, "that is the only way I know to have a successful marriage."

This lesson might be a good opportunity to pause on a serious note and study what the "The Family - A Proclamation To The World" says about women.

"All human beings - male and female are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents and as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual pre-mortal, mortal, and eternal identify and purpose...

Husbands and wives--mothers and fathers--will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations... (to rear children in love and t, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another and to observe the commandments of God...

By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurutre of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."

These quotes show us that men and women to have distinct roles in this world.

Brigham Young spoke about the role of women like this "One thing is very true and we believe it, and that is that a woman is the glory of the man."

President David O. McKay said that motherhood is woman's noblest calling. It is a sacred calling, a partnership with God in bringing his spirit children into the world. To this President Boyd K. Packer said: "When I speak of mothers, I speak not only of those women who have borne children, but also of those who have fostered children born to others, and of the many women who, without children of their own, have moth
ered the children of others."

It would be well to relate the story in the Book of Mormon of the 2000 young men who became great because of the teachings of their mothers. (Alma 53:16-23). The prophet Helaman led them into battle against their enemies and realized they had learned to be honest, brave, and trustworthy from their mothers. These mothers had taught their sons that Heavenly Father would deliver them if they did not doubt. (Alma 56:47) They all survived the war and expressed their faith in the teachings of their mothers by saying "we do not doubt our mothers knew it." (Alma 56:48) Mothers have profound influence on their children world-wide.

Activity:

1) Tell the story of the stripling warriors and draw a picture of them and their mothers.

2) Talk about why motherhood is a partnership with Heavenly Father.

3) Talk about Jeremy's quote about the secret to success in a marriage and why that philosophy works.

4) Tell your favorite joke about women driving.

Don't Play Hockey On Sundays

Teaching the Ten Commandments

Can you say the ten commandments in reverse order? Can you remember which one is the fourth commandment? (Keep the Sabbath Day Holy). This video clip shows you why practicing hockey or playing it on Sunday is not a good idea. In fact, playing any sport on Sunday is not what we should do on Sunday if we are to honor it and keep it holy.

This Family Home Evening lesson is for all the children. Spend just a few minutes learning how to memorize the ten commandments by making memory hooks in your mind and you will all remember which commandment is which.

Are you ready to try?

First think of ten words that you associate with the numbers one to ten.

One - telephone pole - think of a telephone pole taller than the other telephone poles.

Two - shoe - one two, buckle my shoe - (think of a golden shoe)

Three - tree (three rhymes with tree)

Four - fore (think of a golf tee and a man yelling 'fore')

Five - drive (think of Dallin behind the steering wheel in the front seat of the car and his parents in the back seat)

Six - sticks (think of someone taking a stick to hit a robber)

Seven - heaven (think of what it takes to get to heaven and what it looks like in those clouds)

Eight - gate (think of a big lock hanging on a chain to secure this gate)

Nine - fine (think of a big judge in the court pounding his gavel and giving out a fine)

Ten - hen (think of a big fat hen laying a golden egg)

Are you having fun? Is your imagination ready for this?

Now match these ten pictures in your mind to each of the ten commandments.

1 - Thou shalt have no other Gods before me - think of one telephone pole bigger than all the rest
2 - Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image - think of a person kneeling down and kissing that golden shoe
3 - Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain - think of a sign on the tree saying that if you say "God's name" it hurts the veins of the tree
4- Honor the Sabbath day - Think of that golfer trying to hit a mustard seed on the tee - isn't that ridiculous...it doesn't work on Sunday
5 - Honor thy parents - Think of Dallin driving his parents around (at the age of 8?)
6 - Thou shalt not kill - Think of someone trying to "kill" that robber with a stick
7 - Thou shalt not commit adultry - think of how to get to heaven a man can't kiss his neighbor's wife
8 - Thou shalt not steal - think of the gate with the lock keeping people from stealing
9 - Thou shalt not bear false witness - think of the judging fining a man for telling a lie
10 - Thou shalt not covet - ok, are you ready for this one. You do not want that hen that lays the golden egg because it is not yours. You want one like it.

Test: Now say the ten commandments to each other in reverse order

Taking Control of Your Life

Use Time Wisely

Reflecting upon the video clip you have just watched, where are you headed in life? Do you let life control you or do you control life?

"I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don't set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference int he results he attains in this life." (Elder M. Russell Ballard)

Follow these guidelines in your life as you set goals:

1. Follow the Spirit
2. Focus on key measurements of your progress
3. Have an action plan of different steps to accomplish
4. Be specific and realistic, but set goals that will make you stretch
5. Set weekly and daily goals
6. Set goals for personal scripture study and study with your spouse
7. Measure your progress each cay, each week and each month. When you fall short of a goal, evaluate your efforts and seek for ways to accomplish the goal. If needed, adjust your expectations. (page 146 Preach My Gospel)

"When perforamnce is meaured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates." (President Thomas S. Monson)

Scripture Study

What does it mean to be accountable?
D&C 58:26-33 D&C 101:78 Ezekiel 33:1-6

Why is agency important in accountability?
2 Nephi 2:26-29 Helaman 14:30-31


Suggestion for your journal

It is the end of the month as this lesson is being prepared. Take a few moments to think about where you are in your life right now. Think of what happens when your children will be grown and married.

--What do you want to say you have done as a parent?

--What do you want to have become?

--What differences would you want others to notice in you?

Celebrating the Life of President Gordon B. Hinckley

On Rachel's 9th birthday (January 27, 2008), at 7 p.m. while surrounded by his family, President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away.

Activity:

1. List the things you remember about President Hinckley
2. What will President Hinckley be known for as the Church remembers his legacy?


A note from MOM - here is a nice slideshow of President Hinckley from the BYU website: