News Release

Missionaries Live by the Words of President Monson

Three missionaries stationed in Nairobi, Kenya express their thoughts on what impressed them most about President Thomas S. Monson.

There are 95 missionaries in action in Kenya. They come from many of the 186 countries represented by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide. Three missionaries stationed in Nairobi, Kenya express their thoughts on what impressed them most about President Thomas S. Monson.

“What I remember about President Monson is his wonderful stories of little Tommy Monson, and the happiness and joy that he always carried with him. I think my favorite story will always be how he had planned to burn the weeds for his family and how he expected the fire to magically stop.

President Monson taught me how to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong and the importance of acting on the first prompting. His teachings have helped me in my missionary work, and I will be forever grateful that I see his name signed on my mission call.                               

Elder Le Cheminant, from Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.

    

Elder Thuo writes, “I remember a lot about the late Prophet Thomas S. Monson. His love to the people, his cheerful spirit, but what really inspired me the most is his talk about making choices.  I can’t remember when he gave the talk, but I remember part of it. It inspired me because I was faced with a choice to make and it wasn’t easy. I was to choose between serving a mission or continuing with college and my life.

President Monson said, “Choose the harder right than the easier wrong.” He went on to relate the story of Alice in Lewis Carroll’s classic story of Alice in Wonderland. When Alice came to a crossroad with two paths before her, stretching in opposite directions, she was confronted by a cat who she asked which path she was to follow. The cat answered, ‘That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t matter which path you take.’

That story touched me because I knew where I wanted to go and that is in the presence of Heavenly Father in His Celestial Kingdom. I know that some people thought I made a stupid choice to stop my studies and serve a mission for two years. I know I made the right choice to serve Heavenly Father’s sons and daughters, teaching them on my mission. I am grateful for the life of Prophet Thomas S. Monson and his selfless service for us. I know he was a prophet of God.” Elder Thuo, from Nairobi, Kenya, called to serve in Johannesburg Mission.

“I remember when I was younger, waking up on Conference Sunday and sitting on the floor in my pajamas, trying hard to stay awake. My tender mother would always make sure we were paying full attention while President Monson spoke. This gave me better respect for him as the prophet. I recently listened to one of his first General Conference addresses—he called it ‘Finishers Wanted.’ He embodied all the attributes of a true finisher, he said, ‘let us have the courage to not die bravely, but to live decently.’ I know Thomas Spencer Monson was a prophet of God. Not only did he live decently but he was a friend to all, and always stood for light and truth.”

Elder Fuller from Arlington, Texas

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