BYU Devotional 09/15/09

Speaker:
President Thomas S. Monson

Jill, Taylor, and I showed up at 8AM to get in line for the devotional today.

I remember my freshman year when President Hinkley spoke at the devotional. It is such a neat opportunity to listen and learn from our Prophets of our church.

We were able to get in ROW 13!! It was awesome. There was no need to watch the giant TV because I could see his expressions myself. :)

President Monson talked about all the Prophets in the LDS church during his life span. He told us stories and interesting facts that we probably don't often hear about.

Here are some of the Notes I took:

President Grant...
Favorite Hymn: Do what is Right
Favorite Food: Milk and Bread
Guiding Principle: Persist

President Smith...
Favorite Hymn: Let Us All Speak Kind Words
Favorite Food: Apple pie with a little milk on top
Guiding Principle: Compassion and Heart towards other people
Favorite Expression: Life is a great tug-a-war between the Lord and Advisory


President McKay...
Favorite Hymn: Oh Say What Is True
Favorite Food: Chocolates
Guiding Principle: Consideration to Others
Favorite Expression/Quote: True Christianity is love action.
Story:
President Monson asked President McKay if this art hanging in his office was of the house he grew up in. President McKay responded with a chuckle and said one day this lady walked into President McKay's office with this picture of a house. She told President McKay she spent all some painting this picture of his house he grew up in. The art was framed and ready to hang. He thanked her and she left. Then he told President Monson that she had painted the wrong house but didn't have the nerve to tell her. But then we followed by saying it was a perfect picture. Because he would sit on his porch and look at this house when he was kid...so it was the perfect view. :)

President Joseph Fielding Smith...
Favorite Hymn: Prayer is the Souls Sincere Desire
Favorite Food: Sweet Pickles
Guiding Principle: Gospel Scholarship. Be Studious!!
Favorite Quote: Wickedness Never was Happiness

President Harold B. Lee...
Favorite Hymn: Praise to the Man Who Communed with Jehovah
Favorite Food: Bread and Milk
Guiding Principle: Be in tune and responsive to the Holy Spirit
Favorite Quote: Stand Ye in Holy Places and Be Not Moved
He was know for his Persuasive Ability

President Kimball...
Favorite Food: Glass of Milk...Crumble bread (a certain kind) inside until thick.
Favorite Expression: Lengthen your stride.
Guiding Principle: Dedication and Humility
Obstacles became his Opportunities.
Story:
President Monson saw President Kimball wearing these shoes that had a giant hole in the sole...big enough to see his sock...in public. President Monson turned to President Kimball's secretary and was like...hey you can't let the Prophet of the Church wear shoes like that. The guy goes...he didn't get those shoes...man. I hide those from him all the time but he still finds them and puts them on. President Kimball was known for saying "My life is like my shoe. To be worn out in the service of my Lord."

President Benson...
Favorite Hymn: How Great Thou Art
Favorite Food: Fresh Raspberries
Guiding Principle: Love
Favorite Quote: What manner of man are you to be?...Even as I (the Lord)

President Hunter...
Favorite Hymn: Have I Done Any Good in the World Today
Favorite Food: Alaskan Crab
Guiding Principle: Ability to look at the Good in All People
Favorite Quote: "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." Modesty...Modesty...Modesty
He was Colorblind.

President Hinkley...
Favorite Food: Pie and Ice Cream
Guiding Principle: Do Your Best
He was a Wordsmith and knew how to phrase everything just perfectly to say what he wanted to portray.

I understand the importance of what he talked about even though it wasn't right there on the surface at first. The church has had many prophets and each and everyone of them have brought and excelled in what the Lord needed them to for the Church and Members. We are so grateful to have Prophets who are so in tuned with the spirit, that they are able to teach and guide us as a church and individuals. I am excited to have President Monson as the Prophet and know he was called of God.