Name Dropping and Testimony

If there is any appropriate place to name drop in the church, my personal blog is just that place.

I wanted to express my pure delight in sustaining President Thomas S. Monson as our new Prophet, Seer, Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We have already put a picture of him on our wall under our picture of the Savior. I love this man, President Monson. I have always loved his stories and the way he delivers them with love and artistry. He is such a gentle and loving man. Even as a child and especially as a teen I loved to hear him speak. His stories captured my young heart. He has been my favorite apostle from my earliest memory.

Here's my story...

Scott's Aunt Carol and Uncle Steve have been in Pres. Monson's ward for many, many years. In fact, Uncle Steve has been Pres. Monson's Bishop and Stake President for many of those years. Can you imagine? What would that temple recommend interview be like? President Monson performed the sealing ceremony of all of their kids. How very lucky! I wasn't married to Scott when the first 3 got married but was lucky enough to be in the family when the last did. We got the invitation and confirmed that Pres. Monson would perform the ceremony and were on our way to SLC!

The wedding was in August and I had just given birth to Chase 2 weeks prior. Nothing could stop me, however, from this chance to see this man and possibly shake his hand in the temple. I was star-struck about that possibility. We drove up to SLC with our 2 wee ones in tow. I had a good friend that moved from ABQ to SLC just recently ready to take care of the kids while in the temple...even the newborn.

The Salt Lake Temple is a VERY busy place in the summertime. There had to be at least another dozen wedding parties on the grounds at that same exact time we were. I hadn't experienced that many people at a temple before and it seemed to me a bit too chaotic. I was rushed here and waited in line there. But, as always is the case in the temple, as soon as we were in the sealing room...everything slowed down to the calm pace I'm use to in the temple.

In come the happy couple, parents and then President Monson. He shakes hands of all those he recognizes right off and moves to the front of the room. I'm stuck in the corner of the front of the room so I'm basically behind him. I just don't care because I get to hear his voice and counsel personally with my own ears and not from hundreds of miles away through the media waves. I sit quietly in anticipation to hear his advice to this young couple wanting to steal it for use in my own marriage.

As the ceremony ended, Pres. Monson started to leave the room stating he had a very busy schedule. At that moment, Scott's Aunt Carol stands up and says, "Tom, (she called him TOM!) I wanted to introduce you to someone who drove all the way from New Mexico to be here and she just had a baby 2 weeks ago! Pam, stand up so Tom can shake your hand!" WHAT?!?! I was just suppose to quietly soak in the moment from this nice corner. Now I'm standing, quaking, smiling, waving shyly and Pres. Monson looks over at me and says..."What an honor." He marched right over, reached over the front row and gave me a huge hug.

I was so shocked! He said, "what an honor" about shaking MY hand. Totally the opposite! But, he didn't shake my hand...he gave me what felt like a "Grandpa Hug". I felt the love this man had for me. I felt the love this man has for each individual in that room. I felt the love he has for each member of the Church. As I sat, bawling, listening to the counsel he was giving to this new couple. I gained a strong testimony that he really IS a prophet of the Lord. He really is called of God. He really is the Lord's hand on this earth. He really is.

I love Gordon B Hinckley. I miss him. I loved to hear him speak with love and testimony and a bit of humor too! He was the prophet of my married life. He was the prophet that taught me how to be a mother and wife.

I'm so excited for this continuing chapter in the Church. President Monson will continue the Lord's work here on earth. He will continue to teach me to be a good mother and wife. He will teach me how to love unconditionally all my brothers and sisters in this world. He will teach me. I hope to always be so "star-struck" that I will always want to heed his counsel.

Thanks for reading my story. I have been dying to "brag" about my experience of a hug in the temple but never felt it appropriate to name drop in Testimony Meeting or just out of the blue.