Thomas S. Monson as a boy

Thomas S. Monson as a Paperboy

We heard the news this morning that our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson passed away last night at about 10:00 p.m.  I that  know many of you who print my pages to color are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  That is fine, I just want to share a little bit about one of the men who LDS people like me have loved over the last 50+ years.  I am aware that there are good leaders of other religions that do also much good in the world.

We call our prophet the president of the church.  So, President Monson was a great man because he gave much of his attention to the common man.  He once shook my brother in law's hand (when my brother in law was only 15).  Then Elder Monson was dedicating the new ward building or chapel in Belle Fourche, South Dakota.  Afterwards Elder Monson shook hands with all the children's and youth's.  This brother in law, named Myren, went to BYU in Provo, Utah, 3 or so years later.  One day he was walking across campus and Elder Monson was walking the other way. Elder Monson looked at Myren and said, "Hello Myren."  Myren was shocked that Elder Monson could remember who he was.  At the time Elder Monson was a junior member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

Many people over the years came to love him because he could remember their names and he truly cared about them.  When he was a bishop of our church at the young age of 22 he took care of over 80 widows who lived in his ward boundaries.  A ward is a congregation from a given area.  Bishop Monson kept in touch with these widows and even after he was released and was no longer theri bishop he always checked in on them until the very last one passed away.

President Monson served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2.  He then worked for the local paper called the Deseret News.   He started as the manager of the classified ads section.  Then he was made sales manager.  Next he was made assistant manager of the news paper.  His career was interrupted by a call from the prophet to serve a mission as mission president of the Canadian Mission.  He returned to the Deseret News and was made Manager of the Deseret News Press.   I don't know if the young Tommy Monson ever had a paper route but I drew a picture of him delivering papers from the Deseret News.  .  .  a Newspaper where he would be employed and eventually run.  So a drawing of him as a paper boy for the Deseret News seemed fitting.  If he was a paperboy it would have been in the mid 1930's or so.  .   . in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He was called as an Apostle when he was just 36 years old.  You are never released from the calling of Apostle until you pass away.  If you are the most senior apostle you become the Prophet and President of the Church.

Elder and then President Monson taught with stories.  He loved people and loved to serve them.  He would duck out of his busy schedule to go visit an elderly friend in a rest home or a friend in the hospital.

The love of his life passed away a few years ago and now Thomas S. Monson is with his eternal companion for eternity.  We believe that marriage, when you are sealed in the Temple, is for not only time (til death do us part)...but we believe marriage is eternal.  If we are sealed for time and all etenity in the Temple, and we keep God's commandments to be kind, serve others, and stay away from the things that God has forbidden, then we can live for eternity with our Savior Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Parents, and of course our Eternal Companion and our worthy children.