The Mantle of a Prophet by Mark Stoddard

With the sustaining of Thomas Monson as President of the Church and Prophet, it is good to remember the concept of the Mantle of the Prophet. Here's a quick illustration: My friend, Michael Girilikhes who I worked for at two Los Angeles Street Scene Festivals, was a top CBS executive and started the Disney on Parade shows. He was asked by President McKay to go to Hawaii and create the entertainment for the soon to be opened Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. He met with some opposition to the idea and particularly from Harold B. Lee, then an apostle. Ever the financially prudent advisor, Elder Lee feared the Center would be a financial drain on the Church and said so in a Stake Conference in Hawaii. He also criticized any move to bring "Hollywood types" into the leadership of the Center lest it become what Hollywood often becomes. However, the Center while struggling the first few years became the largest tourist attraction on Oahu, helped finance and educate thousands of students and pours millions of dollars into BYU-Hawaii. Mike notes a remarkable change in Elder Lee: "When Harold B. Lee became President of the Church, I got a call from Arthur Haycock. Would I come over? I came over, and President Lee wanted to apologized to me. He said, "There are times when you don't know all of the matters, and sometimes even our judgment is flawed." We talked for a few minutes, and then I went back to Arthur's office. I said, "I don't understand this. He was so 'these Hollywood people,' and whatever." He said, "I've seen, over all the years that I've been the secretary for different Presidents of the Church, remarkable changes happen when somebody become the President of the Church. There are things you would normally think they would have forgotten long ago, or an attitude that they had, and they just become very different."

My Experiences with President Monson

He sat down next to me in the window seat. His tall frame consumed all the space, but in his dark blue suit with a bright red tie against a crisp white shirt, he looked perfectly at ease in the cramped airplane. His broad smile never left his face as he stowed his brief case and put on his seat belt. When he had completed the flying necessities he asked me how I was doing. I replied I was fine and asked how he was doing. His smile increased as he said he was doing just fine. He was not old, although to a young teenager anyone is their forties is old. Still, his energy was infectious. I'd been planning to read and sleep but in short order I knew that wasn't going to happen. He asked me about my parents, my schooling and then hit on a subject that made his eyes sparkle even more – my Scouting. He loved scouting and hoped I did too. I'd just finished with a survival outing where I thought I would die from hunger so I wasn't too keen in my recommendations. He wanted to hear all about the trip and why, he joked, in the Arizona desert we hadn't been able to find food and water. He especially wanted to hear why I was flying from Phoenix to Salt Lake City for General Conference, and flying alone as well. When I told him my older brother was seated in the back he volunteered to switch places. I assured him the separation was fine with both brothers. He said the he too was headed to General Conference. It surprised me he would tell me that for I had known instantly who he was when he entered the plane. I knew him as an Apostle but was surprised he didn't think I would know that. His modesty impressed me, and impressing a 14 year old isn't easy. He introduced himself as Tom Monson I would guess but no doubt I only heard Elder Thomas S. Monson.As the plane landed he said how much he'd enjoyed meeting me and getting to know me. I just couldn't wait to rub it in to my brother about who I had sat next to. Such was my introduction to this apostle. His affable nature so apparent during his talks at previous General Conferences was the same in person. Not for a moment did I feel anything other than genuine interest from him. He wasn't self-impressed nor lacking in inner confidence. In the years that have followed our paths have crossed numerous times. As a missionary in Australia we had the good fortune, as missionaries all over the world do as well, to have General Authorities regularly visit us. Elder Monson was the visiting apostle one time and met with all of the Elders, Sisters, couples and Stake Missionaries in the Queensland portion of our mission. In his jovial manner he told us of his joy of meeting the missionaries at that he'd just had one amusing encounter. On his way to us he'd stopped in the Samoa. There, he said, he'd been greeted by two missionaries, Elder Reigns and Elder Storm. Their mission president was Elder Flood and his first counselor was Elder Snow. And, "I was there... Elder Monsoon!" That was 1971. More than 30 years later I met Elder Monson at a Ricks College dinner. After he had lifted up my yellow tie and said, "It's a confident businessman who can wear a yellow tie," I said, "You once visited the missionaries in Australia and told us a story about going to Samoa and being greeted by Elder Reigns..." He instantly took over the story and laughed as he recalled the incident and fully completed my story. He added some other details about not only that story but his trip to Australia.I then said, "Well, let me tell you of an incident you probably didn't know about." I then related to him that I had a lady who was investigating the Gospel who just couldn't find the answers to her prayers. She had read much of the Book of Mormon, attended church, embraced the Word of Wisdom and prayed fervently to know in her heart that God lived and that the Church was true. We tried to help her receive the prompting of the Spirit, but to no avail. Still, she persisted to investigate, read, ponder, study and pray. I suggested that maybe she ought to come to a special "fireside" and listen to an apostle of the Christ, Elder Thomas Monson. She agreed. We sat in the middle of the Kangaroo Point chapel in Brisbane, Australia that soon filled to overflowing. Elder Monson gave a typical Elder Monson talk filled with gospel stories, poems, and a cheerful countenance. Our guest soaked it all in and enjoyed it very much. Toward the end of his sermon, he stopped and said, "I feel impressed that at the end of this meeting I need to meet you. So I'd like to go back to that door and meet you. I didn't want you to think I was walking out during the closing hymn so I thought I'd better tell you now." During the closing hymn he did arise and walk to the only door leading out of the chapel. After the closing prayer people began to file out. As they passed Elder Monson he shook many hands and I could hear him plainly saying, "Thank you for coming. Good to meet you. Pleasure to be hear. Thank you for coming." Or at least words to that effect. Very pleasant, cheerful and kind. As we began to walk by him he shook my hand and said, "Good to be here with you." Then he turned and saw our investigator and stopped. He looked at her deeply and extended his hand. As he looked at her and her alone, he paused and then said, "Sister, it is true." She froze for a moment as the tears welled up in her eyes. She whispered, "Thank you" and we left. Elder Monson immediately was back to cheerfully thanking people for coming and wishing them well.I had not prompted him nor given him any reason to know who she was. As we exited to the veranda she was standing by the rail. "It is true," was all she said. She became a diligent, strong member of that ward. When I finished telling him this story he quietly stood and the smile turned to a more serious look and he said, "Thank you for telling me about this good sister. I'm glad I could help." Little did I know on that plane as a young teen or in that chapel as a missionary that Elder Monson would one day lead this Church and be the prophet for all the world, but, he has and it doesn't surprise me a bit. As the mantle of the prophet falls upon him the Church and the world will find another leader worth listening too. The heavens are not sealed but ready to pour out great blessings... if we listen.