Maybe some of you are already reading Pres. Monson\u2019s biography.\u00a0 I\u2019m crossing my fingers for Christmas.\u00a0 I had the opportunity to hear Sis. Swinton share some stories and lessons she learned during this incredible journey she has been blessed to take.<\/p>\n
In order to understand this man, she read forty-seven years worth of Conference talks and journal entries.\u00a0 In many of his talks, it was clear that he favored one particular scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 84:88:<\/p>\n
And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.\u00a0 I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s clear He believes this scripture and has put it to the test more than once.\u00a0 Our prophet really does walk with God.\u00a0 He\u2019s told us before that once, when he didn\u2019t listen to the Spirit, it was such a regrettable experience, he promised he would do whatever the Lord asked no matter how difficult, awkward, or tiring it seemed at the time.<\/p>\n
She discovered that in his journals he consistently recorded experiences of the unsung people he met.\u00a0 The Lord always seemed to point out the one person in the crowd who needed assurances.\u00a0 You know those 85 widows he visited every Christmas?\u00a0 He used his yearly two week vacation to visit them.\u00a0 He also never missed a funeral.<\/p>\n
Pres. Monson once flew to East Germany to give someone a blessing, only to fly back immediately to a busy schedule. \u00a0Sis. Swinton heard him pray for certain people in need that he was aware of; his list was long.\u00a0 He uses his limited time well, with little excuse.<\/p>\n
Maybe visiting neighbors and friends in need isn\u2019t too much to ask of us.\u00a0 Maybe it isn\u2019t so difficult for us to pray for one another with a deep faith and love, and for those who need a boost.<\/p>\n
We are very blessed to have a prophet who loves us, who takes his calling seriously, and can bear the burden with such gratitude and devotion.\u00a0 Pres. Packer said of Pres. Monson, \u201cHe\u2019s more Christlike than the rest of us.\u201d\u00a0 Sis. Swinton hopes that as we read his biography we will simply desire to be better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Maybe some of you are already reading Pres. Monson\u2019s biography.\u00a0 I\u2019m crossing my fingers for Christmas.\u00a0 I had the opportunity to hear Sis. Swinton share some stories and lessons she learned during this incredible journey she has been blessed to take. In order to understand this man, she read forty-seven years worth of Conference talks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[472],"tags":[388,414,36],"class_list":["post-2327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-attitude","tag-prophet","tag-thanksgiving"],"yoast_head":"\n