Skip to main content

We Thank Thee, O God...


If you don't know who this amazing man is I invite you to find out.

I have to admit that I was having a very hard time letting go of President Hinckley. I know President Monson doesn't mind. He's having a hard time, himself. It's hard to let go of a man you loved so much and with whom you felt that you had such an intimate connection. I felt that I could have walked right into President Hinckley's front room and made myself at home. I know, it's a little silly, but I really felt that close to him.

So when President Monson succeeded him as president of the Church, I struggled. Naturally I prayed for him, and have continued to do so every day since he was made the president. But it just didn't click for me...

Until yesterday.

I don't know how to describe this, but I know that President Monson IS the prophet. I know he is who God, or loving Heavenly Father wants to be at the helm at this time. When I heard him speak yesterday morning, I heard the voice of President Hinckley. It reminded me of the time that President Young (then president of the Quorum of the Twelve) spoke to the folks at Nauvoo and people then heard the voice of Brother Joseph.

The idea of the mantle passing from one prophet to another stems from the story of Elijah and Elisha. If you remember, Elisha had become one of the chief attendants to the prophet Elijah. When he was taken up into heaven, Elijah's mantle was removed and returned to the earth. Elisha picked up the mantle and put it on in a very symbolic gesture. As a further symbol of his new authority, when reaching the Jordan Elisha smote the river and walked across on dry ground again. He then went on to perform great miracles, including raising the dead, healing leprosy, and providing food in the famine for the widow's family.

The mantle now rests with President Monson. Of this I have witnessed and can testify. It is miraculous and wondrous.

Thank God for his matchless mercy! Thank God for a living prophet!

God lives and loves us.

Comments

LivingstonClan said…
Funny Bill--you echo my thoughts exactly! I felt the same way about President Hinkley, and was saying to Mike while we we watching Conference that it is still weird for me sometimes to say Pres. Monsen instead of Pres. Hinkley. But yesterday when Pres. Monsen gave his closing remarks, and asked us to pray for him, it really touched me. I have always loved to hear him speak, and I felt that same confirmation you mention that HE is truly now our Prophet, and how blessed are we for that?! Love you!
April 6, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Anonymous said…
So well said, BC. You echo the thoughts of many, I am sure. . . including me.
April 6, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Anonymous said…
To guide us in these latter days...

We thank thee for every blessing...

And love to obey thy command.
April 7, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Bill Cobabe said…
Ironically, this was the email I received from the LDS Gems service I subscribe to. It sends out little thoughts like this every day. It really brightens my day to read this kind of thing. And since I think this has universal application, I am posting it here:

"Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel's end—no dawn to break the night's darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea 'Is there no balm in Gilead?' (Jeremiah 8:22). We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face."

Thomas S. Monson, "Looking Back and Moving Forward," Ensign, May 2008, 90
Topics
April 7, 2009 at 6:10 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Baptism

Yesterday Ellie was baptized. She turned eight on January 27, 2020, and she made the decision to be baptized. I want to tell you a little bit about Ellie. I have never met a child that is quite like Ellie. She is full of life and fire and joy and light. She knows no fear and is infectious in her passion for life and for goodness and for FUN!!! Above all things, she seeks the joy and fun in life. She is also wickedly clever and funny, she’s a delight to be around and makes everyone feel so good. Because she is happy, she wants everyone else to be happy. I first met sweet Elizabeth in 2018, and on the day I met her she was not feeling well. We decided that a movie would be a fun thing for a sick little girl, so I brought one of my favorites to share with her - The Neverending Story. When I got to the house, I picked her right up. It had been a very long time since I was able to pick up a girl, and she snuggled right into my arms. Her poor sick body was warm, but I was more impressed ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...
18 comments
Read more

Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel. He probably walked. Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Chris...
7 comments
Read more