As Mormons gear up for another general conference, many of our thoughts have turned to our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.
President Monson has served as an apostle and prophet of the Lord for over 50 years, and for many members of the Church, it's hard to sum up the powerful feelings we have for this man who has inspired us for all or most of our lives. But Sister Sharon Eubank, the first counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society, captured these emotions in a powerful way on Facebook:
I mentioned in the women’s session of general conference that President Thomas S Monson and I are “twins!” I was born at 9 a.m. on a rainy Friday morning in northern California. On that very day in Salt Lake City, Utah, it was 10 a.m. and the south winds were blowing ahead of the rain that was coming east. In those days, there was a conference session on Friday, and in that 10 a.m. session the 36-year-old Thomas Monson was sustained as the newest Apostle. The hour I was born, he was made an Apostle. The day I began my mortal life, he began his life as a witness. So, all my life he has been doing the work of the Lord—54 years in the work. From age 36 to 90, every single day. Without scandal, hypocrisy, or ego he has taught us how to repent, how to love and minister, and about the magnificence of the Savior Jesus Christ. His beautiful wife Frances’s equal sacrifice and work was away from the spotlight. Together they devoted their family years, their holidays, their energy, their retirement, their health—really all they had—because of the love of the Lord and for love of us all. I cannot overstate the contributions of this superb couple to the establishment of Zion. And I love my personal connection to the prophet of God.