Thomas S. Monson- Lesson 4- Apostle
by: Deborah Pace Rowley
Story: An Impression Unheeded
Twenty-three-year old Tom Monson, relatively new bishop of the Sixth-Seventh Ward in the Temple View Stake, Salt Lake City, was unusually restless as the Stake Priesthood Leadership meeting progressed. He had the distinct impression that he should leave the meeting immediately and drive to the Veteran’s Hospital high up on the avenues of the city. Before leaving home that night he had received a telephone call informing him that an older member of his ward was ill and had been admitted to the hospital for care. Could the Bishop, the caller wondered, find a moment to go by the hospital sometime and give a blessing? The busy young leader explained that he was just on his way to a stake meeting but that he certainly would be pleased to go by the hospital as soon as the meeting was concluded.
Now the prompting was stronger than ever, “Leave the meeting and proceed to the hospital at once.” But the Stake President himself was speaking at the pulpit! It would be most discourteous to stand in the middle of the presiding officer’s message make one’s way over an entire row of brethren, and then exit the building altogether. Painfully he waited out the final moments of the Stake President’s message, then ran for the door even before the closing prayer had been said.
Running the full length of the corridor on the fourth floor of the hospital, the young bishop saw some extra activity outside the designated room. A nurse stopped him and said, “Are you Bishop Monson?”
“Yes,” was the anxious reply.
‘I’m sorry,” she said. “The patient was calling your name just before he died.”
Fighting back the tears, Thomas S. Monson turned and walked back into the night. He vowed then and there that he would never again fail to act upon the prompting from the Lord. He would acknowledge the impressions of the Spirit when they came, and he would follow wherever they led him, ever to be “on the Lord’s errand.” (Jeffry R. Holland, “President Thomas S. Monson: Always on the Lord’s Errand.” Liahona, October 1986, pg. 14)
Activity: Blindfold Road
This activity will illustrate how the Holy Ghost can guide and direct us in our life. Blindfold one member of the family. Then have another member of the family draw a winding road on a piece of paper. The road should be made of two lines with a path in the middle rather than a single line down the paper. Hand the blindfolded person a pencil and put their hand on the piece of paper. Tell them that their job is to draw a line down the road. Do not give them any direction or tell them when their pencil is on the road or when it has moved off the road. Remove the blindfold and have them see how they did in staying on the road.
Now blindfold this person again. Have another family member draw a second road. This time place the person’s pencil at the start of the road and give them instructions as they move down the road. If the pencil starts to veer off the road, say “Errt!” This is the signal to stop suddenly and wait for further instructions. The road designer can then say, “Move to the right a little bit” or “Turn left”etc. After they have successfully moved to the end of the road, remove the blindfold and compare the two attempts. How much easier was it to stay on the road when you had someone to guide you? Let everyone have a turn being blindfolded and designing a road then discuss what you have learned.
This is just like the Holy Ghost in our lives. The Holy Ghost can let us know when we are on track or when we are starting to veer off the straight and narrow path. He can let us know when to turn and where to go. President Monson is a great example of following the Holy Ghost.
Scripture: Following Nephi’s Example
Have the family open their scriptures to 1 Nephi. Ask if there is one scripture in the first few chapters of Nephi’s writing that describes President Monson. The family may suggest that President Monson was born of goodly parents which is true, or that President Monson warns us like Lehi warned the people of Jerusalem. All these things are true, but President Holland says that President Monson is like Nephi and 1 Nephi 3:7 has been a guiding force in his life. Read this statement by Elder Holland followed by the scriptures in 1 Nephi:
“You cannot understand President Thomas S. Monson without understanding the repetition of such promptings in his life and the absolute loyalty with which he has kept that early promise to obey them. Indeed, his life seems something of a sacred manuscript upon which the Holy Ghost has written --and is still writing-- one remarkable spiritual message after another. In this and so many other ways he is much like Nephi of old. President Monson is most like young Nephi in his humility and in his faith. In all that he has so successfully accomplished, he has been firm in his commitment to “go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded”, regardless of the obstacles in the way. Furthermore, he has done it as Nephi himself did it-- “led by the Spirit not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. “(I Nephi 4:6) Little wonder that such as these are enlisted to “bring forth my Zion- for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost.”(1 Nephi 13:37) In light of that promise, surely no Stake Patriarch has been more prophetic than was Brother Frank B. Woodbury that day in March 1944 when he placed his hands on 16-year-old Tom Monson’s head and said:
The Holy Ghost has been conferred upon you to be your inspiration and your guide, to direct you in your labors, and to bring to your mind the things that have passed and to show unto you the things to come. You shall be indeed a leader among your fellows. You shall have the privilege of going into the world to proclaim the message of the gospel and you shall have the spirit of discernment. Seek the Lord in humility to guide and direct you, that you might know the proper course to pursue-- in the high and holy callings unto which you shall be called. (Jeffry R. Holland, “President Thomas S. Monson: Always on the Lords’ Errand, Liahona, October 1986, page 14)
Testimony: Have family members share their testimonies of the Holy Ghost and how it has guided them in their own lives. You may wish to share specific times when you had a prompting of the spirit and what happened when you heeded that prompting.
Treat: Fried Ice Cream
The Holy Ghost often prompts us with thought in our minds and warm feelings in our heart. These warm feelings make everything in life better. We are happy. We can do more. We can endure hard things better and overcome every obstacle. Tell the family that warmth even makes ice cream better. They may be surprised but you can make ice cream more delicious by adding a little bit of heat. Demonstrate this by making fried ice cream together. See the recipe here:
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