A Tribute to Thomas S. Monson

The Salt Lake City International Airport is an interesting place. So many people go through there each with his/her own story. It's been years since I flew on a plane, but I used to do it often when I was in school. On one occasion I was coming or going from Colorado or Virginia (I can't remember what the occasion was exactly), and there was Elder Thomas S. Monson going somewhere. He saw that I recognized him and smiled and nodded at me. I appreciated that, very kind of him.


After eight years of his presidency, I am finally getting his biography read so that I can add it to my list. (I've read the biography of each prophet since Spencer W. Kimball.) In the reading, I discovered two other times our paths have "crossed." First, he became chairman of the Missionary Executive Committee in 1976, and was the one who decided where I would serve in 1977. It was Spencer W. Kimball who signed the letter, but Elder Monson made the decision. And second, he, along with Pres. Eyring and Pres. Uchtdorf, granted my sealing clearance and sent a letter wishing me well.


I found the book difficult to read. I think I read everything twice just to grasp what was going on. Perhaps my mind really wasn't focused on it, but also, I think it could have been written with a little more care, and the quantity of information included seemed astronomical.


The section I found most interesting was his work in Germany in the aftermath of WWII beginning in 1962. Germany had been divided by the victors into four military zones, occupied by American, British, French, and Russian armies. Quickly, the US, England and France had begun to rebuild the shattered economy of "their" Germany. Russia, on the other hand, isolated its portion and established a police state where censorship and travel restrictions set back recovery efforts for half a century. Also, the city of Berlin, located deep in the Soviet Zone, had, like Germany itself, been divided into four sectors under the four military powers. The American, English, and French sectors became known as West Berlin; the Soviet sector became known as East Berlin.


On the morning of August 13, 1961, West Berliners awoke to find a barbed-wire wall encircling their side of the city, with armed guards lined up along it to "protect" the citizens of the Soviet Zone, now the GDR, from Western influences. Communications and travel were shut down as well. That September, Erich Honecker, a tough Communist who had scrambled to authority after the war, directed the construction of miles of concrete that became known as the Berlin Wall.


Churches were faced with punitive practices by the government, designed to discourage religious activity. The intent was to supplant Christianity with Socialist dogma and practices. The GDR granted the right to exist --unlike in other Communist countries -- but made religious practice very difficult and always suspect. There could be no missionary activity, no religious materials, and no entry to universities nor advancement in the workplace to any citizen demonstrating religious inclinations.


Germany, had long been a stronghold for the Church. It was one of the most productive areas of membership growth in the Church. Some of the Church's German branches that now fell in the Soviet Zone had first been established before many in the newly settled communities in Utah. Those who were able, hundreds of thousands of East Germans, fled to other nations during those first years after the war. Fully a fifth of the population got out. President David O. McKay had traveled to West Berlin in 1952, and 1,300 members had been allowed to cross over from the East Zone to hear him speak, some selling the little they had to make the trip. The day after, the GDR government refused to allow East German citizens to visit. On another occasion, Elder Spencer W. Kimball spoke of his "glorious vision" of what would happen if the members stayed in Germany and did their part "unselfishly to rebuild the great kingdom." Many did stay in the Zone "because of the words of the prophets."


The Berlin Wall went up in 1961, and no General Authority had attempted to visit the Soviet Zone in Germany since then. In 1968, and "trusting in the Lord," Elder Monson decided he would be the one to make that visit. He visited behind the Berlin Wall several times, every time asking permission and giving explanation of intent, as required. Never were rules broken; always protocols were followed. The GDR leaders were not used to their rules being honored by religions. Elder Russell M. Nelson would later call it, "disarming." Eventually, a mission was formed out of already existing members as no one could pass behind the Wall very often. Little by little progress was made as members, Elder Monson, and other leadership slowly but gently moved things forward. Elder Monson dedicated the country blessing the people with everything that any other member could hope for, returned home and was concerned about how it all would come to pass. Elder Uchtdorf said he kept track of the fulfillment of each blessing.


Eventually, the request to build a temple behind the Wall was made to the GDR government leaders. They did not deny the request, so Elder Monson proceeded forward. In 1985 the Freiberg, Germany temple was dedicated and thousands came to the open house. In October of 1988 in the GDR to
dedicate the first stake center in Dresden, government leaders of the GDR hosted a dinner for Elder Monson and other Church leaders. At another meeting held after the dedication a few days later between GDR government leaders and invited Church leaders, (I picture Satan across the table from Christ) one of the leaders, the State Secretary of Religious Affairs, confided, "I know you; I trust you. You and I can speak honestly as friends. I believe some of the same principles you believe (he commented about his wife and marriage), and if I were joining a church today, I would join your church." He also said that the meeting was one "of complete agreement on the basic ideology of life." Another leader contributed, "We and your church are dependent upon great human ideals. These included the protection of life...the surety of peace...good and honest work...the strengthening of homeland...freedom of family...raising children. These will be important to society in the future." Herr Honecker, one of the most feared leaders of the Communist world, said that his people also advocated the strength of the family. He said that he had observed Elder Monson and the Church's activities for many years and had seen that the Church taught its members to obey and sustain the law of the land, that it emphasized the family, and the Church members were ideal citizens. At this same meeting, permission was granted to allow missionaries to leave their country as well as to enter their country. The first missionaries to accomplish this were sent in March and May of 1989.


President Reagan gave his landmark speech with the phrase, "Pres. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" in 1987. Then, in November 1989 news reports indicated a demand for the Berlin Wall to come down, and the Church received word privately that Chairman Honecker would be stepping down that week.


Some other interesting points were these:


1. While working at Deseret Book as classified advertising manager, he applied what he called "Wisdom's Seven Watchwords: Vision, Patience, Balance, Effort, Understanding, Courtesy, and Love." Also, his philosophy was: "You can live with yourself if you treat people the way you would like to be treated." and "Cherish associations with others. I have learned everyone can teach me something. I love to learn something from each person with whom I associate."


2. He always had time for "the one." "The great thing, Eliza, (from My Fair Lady) is not having bad manners or good manners or any particular set of manners, but having the same manners for all human souls; in short, behaving as if you were in heaven, where there are no third-class carriages and where one soul is as good as another." "Have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued."


3. A talk on 'Meeting Your Goliath.'


4. His leadership style has always been to encourage expression of opinion and counsel, whether those ideas mirrored his thinking or not. As Church President, he has been known to say, "You don't help me," when committee members have withheld opinions on a pressing matter. Those who have worked at his side agree he is very open to counsel. "He wants it absolutely straight," they say, and has little patience for those in the room who wait to see what is the "right way" to come out on a particular issue.


5. I like this quote that he took from Robert Louis Stevenson, who best summed up an attitude toward our daily occupations when he declared: "I know what real pleasure is, for I have done good work."


6. I marveled at the events that led up to and culminated in a meeting between GDR and civic officials and Church leaders wherein the GDR leaders stated that the two groups were in "complete agreement on the basic ideology of life." As I read this entry, I thought of Satan and followers on one side of the table, and Christ and his followers on the other.


7. During his presidency, Ronald Reagan asked for advice and counsel from Elder Monson and others to solve a particularly vexing problem that, he said, "has weighed heavily on me." What he hoped for was a "resurgence of the American spirit of generosity," an unprecedented outpouring of good deeds. He hoped the task force could help realize that vision.


8. Thinking I was being indulgent when I asked for a third blessing over a period of two months, I was relieved when I read "two of his physicians had administered to him when he first entered the hospital. President Hinckley had also done so on his visit a few days later. President Hinckley and Elder Wirthlin administered to him on yet another occasion. President Monson had unquestioning faith that he would get well."


9. Considering who to vote for for this 2016 election, I've wondered if we could find someone else, and I saw that "One year, during a highly contested campaign for the post of governor of the state of Utah, President Monson, a serious-minded citizen, had asked Frances which candidate she had chosen at the polls. She replied, "I didn't vote for either candidate. They promised too much for any man to deliver." He looked at her and said, "What did you do? Leave it blank?" She said, "Why no, of course not. I wrote in the name of Howard W. Hunter. He is so modest, so humble; surely he is the type of man Heavenly Father would guide to success."


10. No man was better prepared to engage the Church in such a concerted effort to reach out to those facing the loneliness of the self-absorbed, self-centered cultures of today. President Monson lives by the creed he teaches, He has said many times: the five most important words in the English language are "I am proud of you." The four most important are "What is your opinion?" The three most important are "If you please." The two most important are "Thank you." The least important is "I."


11. Something in which I need to make a more concerted effort...  He has admonished the members to "acquire the language of the Spirit. It is not learned from textbooks written by men, nor is it acquired through reading and memorization. The language of the Spirit comes to him who seeks with all his heart to know God and keep His divine commandments. Proficiency in this 'language' permits one to breach barriers, overcome obstacles, and touch the human heart."


12. I found this interesting as a perspective on decision making. "He can hear from God and does hear from God," President Henry B. Eyring has observed. "He makes decisions in the most interesting way. He does his homework. He ponders and prays a long time. In other words, he doesn't shoot off quickly. He is not predisposed to a particular direction or decision until he decides it is right. But I'll tell you there will come a moment, usually after a lot of hard work--he does charts, he reads minutes, he asks for lots of opinions, he ponders and prays a long time--and then, very interesting, he's all settled." He exhibits this underlying confidence that things will sort out; they always have and always will  because the Lord's hand is in it." He takes counsel from those who work closely with him. He sincerely wants to hear other views and perspectives and have meaningful discussions, usually before divulging his own opinion. "He wants your opinion, but he is very, very good at telling what your motives are. So if you shade anything for him at all, he sees it. If you hedge, he will say nicely but with a smile, 'But you don't help me. You don't help me.' He wants it absolutely straight. Most people like to win arguments. He likes to get to the truth. He is very interesting that way, very rare." "I have simply put my faith and trust in Him and moved along day by day and week by week." "Reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," he has said. "He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, 'Follow me.' He instructs, 'Go, and do thou likewise.' He pleads, 'Keep my commandments.' Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude."


13. Since this applied to me, I took note of it. "Marriages start out happy," President Monson explains. "And then people don't get along, and the pattern for the Church is that the President will be the ultimate determiner of whether the cancellation of sealing should be approved or not. Some circumstances are tragic. These are hard decisions."


My overall impression was of the "greatness" of this man and his ability to love the individual even in such a high-profile position. At a time when many are claiming the Church doesn't care about certain groups of people with different opinions and physical problems, President Monson is the epitome of "caring." He is truly the one to show all of us how to express love for our "neighbor" regardless of their circumstances.


Also, I was looking over the group who make up the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, and I think he is the last of an era. He is, in a sense, a transitional apostle, being in that position since 1963, and the next apostle was ordained in 1984.

Political Views

The political world has changed so drastically over the past few years that it's difficult to make sense of it. Some would say it hasn't been in the past few years, rather reshaping has been going on for a century, and I can see their point, but I have always voted Republican because I could get behind their platform, not so much the candidate, but in more recent years, supporting a certain candidate leaves confusion as to a specific belief system because of the amount of rumors, lies, and flip flops. So, I have decided to state my position on the issues rather than to declare who or what party I support.

Defense - I think the main purpose of the national government is to provide protection from outside threats. In other words, I think a strong military should always be ready to defend at a moment's notice. While it would be nice, it is very naïve and idealistic to think that we could disarm ourselves and then expect every nation to deal peaceably with the US. Alma 43:45-47. D&C 134:11.

Immigration - The problem of immigration falls under the responsibility of the national government to provide safety for all citizens. I am okay with anyone coming to this country, however, I would prefer that they not be murderers and criminals. There should be a record of everyone who comes into the US just as the government has information on me. I have heard that the process to citizenship is expensive and difficult, but it is the law, and it should be enforced for everyone. If this law is not good, then it should be changed. Until then, it needs to be enforced. The problem of so many undocumented citizens being here in the US is a problem of the individuals and their families for breaking the law and the national government for allowing them to break the law, and if they want to stay, they need to be made legal by following the law.

Health Insurance - I was disappointed when Obamacare was passed into law in March 2010. Before that event happened, I had done a bit of research about the health insurance industry. I wondered why there were issues that the insurance companies could not resolve, yet the federal government was going to fix. I started my research by looking under "health insurance" in Wikipedia. I found that there was an organization that set industry standards and was regulated by the federal government. It's possible that it was called the HIAA - Health Insurance Association of America. I first found it under the subject of "health insurance" in Wikipedia, and it was mentioned as an integral part of the industry. I have recently looked again for this information on the internet, and it is no longer there. So, the history mentioned under "health insurance" that is there now is incomplete, has been changed, or is being covered up. How can history be changed? You hear mention of this type of thing happening, and now I have seen it firsthand.

The issues that were going to be resolved were: pre-existing conditions, health insurance for the self-employed and poor, etc. First, just as easily as the federal government has allowed for pre-existing conditions, the HIAA, the regulatory agent, could have allowed it for the industry. Next, I was skeptical that the federal government could do a better job with health insurance for the poor, especially since they already had a program called Medicaid and CHIP, both of which I had benefited from. Early on, 1994, Medicaid was excellent, provided full coverage for everything with little required remuneration ($25/month). I remember getting full payment for hospital bills for Jay's birth as well as new glasses and dental work for myself from excellent doctors. Again, in 2000 we had Medicaid, this time it was difficult to find a dentist who would honor it. Finally, I found one and took one of my children to him to fill some cavities because the dentist I liked, Dr. Gailey, wouldn't take Medicaid. I walked into his office and the wood flooring was buckled from water damage. The teeth were filled with an amalgam, the cheapest way to fill teeth, and a couple years later the fillings had to be redone because they were done so poorly. Medical doctors could not be found who honored Medicaid for other types of ailments. I had to call many places to find help. Also, when I started working at SIPRelay in 2008, the callers mentioned having problems finding doctors to honor Medicaid. The complaints about VA benefits, government run health insurance for war veterans, were similar.

For the past six years every Republican candidate has used the talking point to "repeal and replace Obamacare" as part of their election platform. Voting to repeal it has taken place many times in the Congress. However, the Act has just become more cemented into our society. I wonder if there have ever been laws that were repealed. I know that even in the Old Testament a law that was passed could not be repealed, and the people and even king had to make a law to counter what law they didn't want to live. That is exactly what will be required for us. The Congress needs to start making laws to counter the train wreck of a law that is Obamacare, which I believe has already happened in the problem of financing it.

The health industry gradually has been becoming government run over a long period of time, and it is doubtful if we could put a halt to that significantly, but it should have always stayed within the capitalistic system and stayed within the hands of the doctors. Greed made costs go up and pushed it into the hands of insurance companies, and somehow big business, everyone's employer, was given the burden of paying for it. Insurance should never have been placed under the responsibility of business, but these things have become reified traditions that probably will never change. It was an easy jump to go from the insurance companies to the government.

Constitution - increasingly, presidents are bypassing the constitution to make laws. It's the only way Pres. Obama has operated. Yes, it takes time to create and pass laws, many say too long, but that is the beauty of the constitution in that it allows plenty of time to sift through facts, opinions, and to weigh all sides of an argument. Each one of the amendments is valid for any society and time period and should be safeguarded.

Gun Control – I don’t own a gun, nor have I ever considered it. I can also understand that we would want to stop murders, but if guns were banned, people would find different ways to commit murder. The argument that the guns are causing murders is the age-old argument that an inanimate object has culpability, which I will never agree with. I can understand the arguments of those who support the 2^nd amendment, and I think the populace should be able to defend themselves from outside intruders as well as the federal government, if need be, as it encroaches more and more on our rights. It is ridiculous to think that the government should take care of each person. That is logistically impossible.

Education – Education has gone full circle. Up until 1850 private schools, tutors, and home schooling were the norm. Eventually, reformers organized education to be managed by the states. Then, more recently the federal government offered financial help. Always when someone or something contributes money to a project, they can have a say in how it is run. And that is what has happened. I have seen education change during my lifetime to follow ideologies of progressive thought. For example, the English language is taught in such a strange way. Students aren't learning how to write. For book reports, students can choose to make a poster, draw a character, or write a letter to someone about the book they read. This was going on even in high school. Also, history has been rewritten to cover up social issues of the time rather than reflect actual events, and the points of view of progressivism and liberalism are taught everywhere. Another thing that bothers me is how students are not required to memorize, but "fun" is what school should be all the time. Trust me, I was just as surprised to hear the principal of the school where I was working say that. Changes to the way things are done today will have to start with rejecting the funding provided by the federal government, but that is not happening fast enough causing private schools and home schooling to become prevalent once again.

Abortion – I believe what the LDS church says about abortion.

Terrorism – this subject falls under protection by the federal government, and especially if they are not going to do anything about it, we need to be able to protect ourselves. We have had plenty of infringements, and therefore, it is our right to defend ourselves. The fact that the federal government is not addressing all the terrorism inside the US is Pres. Obama's attempt to get us used to terrorism or chaos around us, and it is working.

Economics – the federal government should stay out of business. They do not sell a product or service, and therefore, they do not have the money to back business. The only money they have is acquired by taxation. Every attempt should be made to keep business in the hands of the people, and people/businesses need to stop going to the government to resolve differences and problems. Yes, people may fail in their business management, but it is up to the people to deal with the consequences of their failures, not the federal government. Dealing with the consequences may involve restructuring of the business, educating on better business practices, kick starting the marketing of the product, tweaking the product to keep up with the times, or, and alas, dissolving the business. Bailing out big business puts the business in the hands of the government, allowing it to monitor and control the business and our buying power. Capitalism is a good thing. It gives people the freedom to do what they want in as devoted a manner as they are inclined. It makes people be decent to each other so that business will thrive. Yes, there will be inequalities, but we should never be working to get rid of inequalities. Inequalities are a result of differences in humans, and trying to make everyone the same is what Lucifer was trying to do. People’s choices reflect differences. The government needs to avoid regulation and taxation to allow business to thrive and ebb and flow as it will. Whenever I hear that a candidate wants to help the economy, I want to say, "stay out of it." Socialism/progressivism/communism are not acceptable solutions to the problems of economics. Distribution of wealth by the federal government is a very dangerous condition which takes away freedom. The evidence against these types of governments can be found in every country that has involved themselves in them. As Cleon Skousen said, "Capitalism has proven to be able to distribute wealth more equitably." It is not a perfect system, but it does allow us to choose how much wealth we want depending on how hard we want to work to seek out information and to get training and to get anything else that is necessary, whereas these other governments take away freedom of choice.