Follow The Prophet – The Words & Deeds of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

It seems there may be some readers that have misunderstood the purpose of this website. Some have even suggested we are “stalking the prophet.”  The sentiment of “stalking” is in stark contrast with the intent of this site.

The purpose of the site is to post public activities of the prophet, such as those already reported in the Church News. We also may periodically post anecdotal vignettes such as sittings at “normal” places like Dee’s restaurant. Foremost and more important, we desire to highlight anything he teaches about the gospel.

We desire to aggregate these events in a central location, and to provide links to the original sources.  Some have suggested we should be “following the Savior” instead. We do not disagree. However, there are thousands of sites already providing this service. We noticed there were no sites dedicated to sharing the wonderful life and example of the living prophet, primarily with the members of the church who venerate him and want to follow his example.

The site will hopefully help members of the Church better know what the prophet is doing, what he is teaching, and to get to know the prophet as a person better.  Most of the posts will be from major news media about the prophet’s travels around the world to visit with the Saints (such as the links to the BYU-Hawaii newspaper), giving devotional addresses, dedicating temples, visiting the Saints, and links to transcripts of his teachings. We may occasionally include personal interactions with members if there are any.  The prophet is always teaching, everywhere he goes.

Because we have the prophet’s safety in mind, the posts will be published well after the prophet has visited the locations, sometimes several days after.  We have no plans to post daily. You will notice already on the site that there have only been a handful of posts every month for the last few months.  We have no plans or desires to track the prophet’s every movement in real-time, and we do not plan to publish anything that is not already public knowledge.

FollowTheProphet.net is a site that aims to help members of the Church stay close to the prophet, and stay connected with his teachings and counsels.

Positive Feedback

We were pleased that Larry Richman, Director of the Church Publications and Media Project Office for the Church, posted a complimentary blog over at LDS Media Talk about this new site.

We are also pleased that Emily Jensen from the Mormon Times website, published by the Deseret News, also posted a complimentary snippet about this new site.

Rachel Bruner, About.com’s guide to Latter-day Saints, likewise has written, “I think this site will be a great resource for members of the Church, and help us feel more connected to him, especially with the impossibility of every member being able to personally meet the prophet.”

Another friend of ours, Greg McMurdie, who is a Search Engine Marketer for the Church said, “Great site Bryce. Congratulations! I’ve been wondering when someone might do this.”

We’ve had many others give us positive feedback of the site.

We have worked hard to make the site uplifting and to provide aggregated public information, especially to members who live far from the prophet, to help them feel more connected to him, and to keep abreast of his teachings and example.  Some mothers have already expressed interest in using the site as a teaching aide with their children, to help them better come to know President Monson.  Hopefully the information on this site will be viewed in that sort of light.

Today we are pleased to formally announce the launch of the FollowTheProphet.net website.  This site’s mission is to help members of the Church follow the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by collecting all the news, talks, speeches, devotionals, dedications, interactions, and activities he does and posting links to those things in one central location.  This way members of the Church may more easily learn more about the prophet, and his ongoing counsel to us, as well as his daily example.  A more comprehensive introduction can be read on the About page, as well as short bios of the founders of the site.

Much of the news about the prophet comes from his travels around the world as he visits the members of the Church, and dedicates temples.  Because of this, many of the posts will follow a similar format.  The prophet’s location will be noted, as well as the date he was there.  Links to news stories and reports on his visits will be included, as well as the transcripts of any talks he gives.  Short snippets of things he said or did will also be included.  Please note that we will only post about the prophet’s activities some time after he has visited a location, unless it is a scheduled event, so there is absolutely no security concern for the prophet.

A Global Map is also included on the site.  This will show markers at all the locations we have noted.  Clicking on these markers will show the dates when the prophet was there, with a link to the post on the site which describes his visit there.

You can “follow the prophet” in several ways – Twitter, RSS feed, by email, or Facebook.  Use whichever way is most comfortable to you.

We hope that this site is useful to you, and helps you follow in the footsteps of our beloved prophet, learn more about him, and his words to us.  It may be particularly fun to use as a teaching aide with your young children, to help them learn more about President Monson, and what he has been doing recently.

If you have any tips, suggestions, questions, or comments, we’d love to hear from you on our Contact Us page.

Location: Salt Lake City, UT (Home)
Purpose: Taking care of wife

President Monson was scheduled to attend the State of Hawaii Regional Conference of all the stakes of the Hawaiian Islands this last weekend, from the Canon Activities Center at BYU-Hawaii, but a few days before his trip he decided that he could not go.  Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was in attendance, however.  The BYU-Hawaii student news site Ke Alakai reports:

President Monson had originally planned on attending the Regional Conference in person, but an injury sustained by his wife Frances earlier in the week precluded him from coming. Elder Perry described a meeting in Salt Lake City, in which President Monson said to him, “Tom, I’m not going to Hawaii.” President Monson explained that his first responsibility was to his wife and family, and that he needed to attend to them.

President Monson addressed the conference by satellite.  Ke Alakai reports on President Monson’s talk at the Priesthood Leadership Meeting:

President Monson also spoke on the theme of rescuing those who are, as he termed, “wander[ing] in the wilderness of wonder or the swamp of sin.” He counseled the brethren to remember the worth of souls and to never give up on those who are struggling with activity in the church. He also counseled priesthood leaders to remember and attend to the needs of military servicemen and their families in their callings. President Monson stressed the importance of doing, not just hearing. “It’s in doing,” President Monson stated, “not just training, that souls are saved.”

He also spoke about the “lost battalions” today:

These lost battalions include the aged, the sick, the widowed, the handicapped, and those less active in church worship. President Monson urged members to reach out to these people, to extend help and show love.

“Extend them the hand that helps and the heart that knows compassion,” he said. “By doing so we will bring joy into their hearts. We ourselves will experience the rich satisfaction which comes to us when we help another along the pathway to eternal life.”

You can read more about this event at the following links:

Ke Alakai – “Attendance Limited for Monson Conference”
Ke Alakai – “President Monson to give taped address; Elder Perry coming to conference”
Ke Alakai – “President Monson, Elder Perry instruct brethren at Regional Priesthood Leadership Meeting”
Laceykressin tweet
TravisLawrence tweet
BYU-H Newsroom – “President Thomas S. Monson and Elder L. Tom Perry address saints in Hawaii”
Ke Alakai – “Hawaiian Saints receive instruction from prophets and apostles at Regional Conference”
Mormon Times – “President Monson, Elder Perry heard in Hawaii”

Location: Salt Lake City, UT (Relief Society Building)
Purpose: Celebrating service of two former YM general presidents

A luncheon was held yesterday in honor of two former Young Women general presidents, Sister Florence S. Jacobsen (served 1961 to 1972) and Sister Ruth H. Funk (served 1972 to 1978).  President Monson attended the event to thank the two women for their great service in the Church.  He said that the Lord prepared them to serve in their callings.

Sarah Jane Weaver of the Church News reports on President Monson’s remarks:

“The Church moves on and programs change, but the basic responsibility of helping youth to choose the right when the choice is placed before them is as cardinal a rule today as it has ever been,” said President Monson…

President Monson opened his remarks by speaking of being called as his ward’s MIA superintendent and telling his bishop that if he had a little leeway to work with the YWMIA, as well as the YMMIA, the activity level would increase in the ward. He and the young women leaders worked hard and were successful. “We did it together. That is the secret of MIA, to work together.”

President Thomas S. Monson laughs with Florence Jacobsen at the luncheon. August Miller, Deseret News.

President Monson recalled magnificent dance festivals and musical festivals and the enormous amount of work and prayer that made them a success.

He asked leaders of youth in the Church to be models to follow, to not judge others, and to put their shoulder to the wheel and push along.

“This great Church was not built by any one person,” said President Monson. “The Lord has to inspire those whom He calls. If we trust in the Lord with all of our heart He will respond to our needs. That is the testimony I leave with you.”

Remember, he counseled current leaders of youth, “you are a youth only once.”

“Don’t cheat them out of a road show. Don’t cheat them out of having a position in the three-act play. Don’t cheat them out of having a dance festival, or a music festival or a speech festival. Give them memories to carry into eternity and your name will be called blessed by the Lord.

Thanks be to our Heavenly Father for the prophet that recognizes the importance of teaching our youth standards and values that will impact them for eternity.

More information about the event can be found at these links:

Church News – “Building on a firm foundation for Latter-day Saint young women”
Church News – “Photo Gallery: Young Women leaders honored by Latter-day Saints’ leader”

Location: Salt Lake City, UT (Little America Hotel)
Purpose: Annual Catholic Community Services humanitarian awards dinner

Elder Ballard was awarded the Humanitarian Award by The Catholic Community Services of Utah last night at a special annual dinner, for his efforts in the community to unite people, build bridges, and help those in need.  President Monson, and many others, were in attendance.  A DVD presentation was given in which President Monson said a few words about Elder Ballard’s service.  The Church News reports:

“I have known Elder M. Russell Ballard, whom I call Russ, since I was a young advertising executive at the Deseret News,” said President Monson, “One of Russ’s outstanding traits is that he will always try to lift and encourage others.”

The Church president added that Elder Ballard remains a key contributor to his community.

“He’s not a bystander — if something needs to be accomplished he can usually be found at the center of the activity. His work as a member of the Alliance For Unity in our area has yielded greater unity, the very purpose for which it was established.”

Elder Ballard gave some remarks after accepting the award.  He noted President Monson’s leadership:

“I hope that I can continue to try to walk in the footsteps of President Thomas S. Monson. He has built this bridge between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Catholic Church for many, many years. He’s a great example for me and I think for all of us here tonight.“

Read more about the event at the following link:

Church News – “Elder Ballard Honored by Catholic Community Services”