Last Monday night a Church Voice Communications employee received a phone call from President Monson who was looking for one of his secretaries, who was not available. The ensuing conversation with this employee was fantastic:

He said that he would try again later and that maybe he would take a drive. He joked and even mentioned taking a walk on the boardwalk. I don’t know how it happened but all of a sudden he and I were talking about Monopoly and he was quizzing me on the different names on the Monopoly board. I have to admit I must be a lousy Monopoly player, I could only remember a few of the properties. I even cheated a little and tried to google the Monopoly board for help. Pres Monson just laughed and said he’s played longer than I have. He knew every property. It was the best 10 minutes I have had in a very long time. I love our Prophet and I love his laughter! I also love that he took just a few minutes out of his busy schedule to joke with me and make me laugh.

See the original post at the link below:
Priceless Happenings – President Monson

President Monson Jokes about Monopoly Board Game is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

The first story is about a woman who is not a member of the Church, but who has a coworker who is, and who she speaks with often about the Church.  While the women is traveling on one occasion she meets a nice older gentleman, and they have a conversation:

…she finds out the gentleman is also a member of the church. She tells him about her co-worker [the member]. They talk and have a friendly conversation. As their meeting is coming to a close he asks her to tell her friend hello. Puzzled, she asks, “Will she know you?” He answers, “Yes, she probably will. Tell her Tommy Monson says hello.”

The second story is Elder Lansing’s account of President Monson’s visits to Elder Marion D. Hanks, who is in the hospital with Alzheimer’s disease.  The things that President Monson did for his friend is touching.

Read the stories and the additional anecdotes in the comments at Segullah:
I’m Trying to Be Like…

Stories of President Monson’s Interactions with People is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

Place: Ensign Stake Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Purpose: William Robert McConkie’s Funeral

Last Saturday, March 13th, President Monson attended and spoke at the funeral of Br. William Robert McConkie, who passed away earlier this month, the youngest brother of Bruce, Briton, James, Margaret (Bill J. Pope), and Oscar W. McConkie Jr.  A grandchild describes the service:

We went to Grandfather McConkie’s funeral, at his funeral the Prophet came. The front row was reserved for the immediate family so we went to go sit on the front row. One of our relatives told us that we shouldn’t sit on the front row, in case our children are too noisy for the prophet, because they will be distracting. Seth told her that the Prophet loves children and that we are going to sit on the front row. We listened to the program and at the end Pres. Monson stood up to speak. He mostly spoke about Bruce R. but the stories he told were pretty funny. In his speech he mentioned the beautiful children on the front row, which was Jordan and Atticus. Then half way through his speech he looked down at Jordan, because she was pointing at him. Pres. Monson said, “little girl, look up here, watch my ears.” Then Pres. Monson wiggled his ears for Jordan. After the program was over, everyone stood up after Pres. Monson stood up and Jordan ran up on the stand right to him. They held both hands together and Grandpa was right their ready with the camera and took their picture. Then Jordan led him off the stage holding his hand, he met me at the bottom of the stairs to hand over Jordan and then he touched Atticus on the cheek and told me how cute he was. It was such a neat experience.

William Robert McConkie’s obituary

President Monson Speaks at William Robert McConkie’s Funeral is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

I had lunch with Aunt Maydae today.
She told me the best story.
Earlier this week she and some friends had dinner at the Lion House.
Maydae and her friends use the underground tunnels in SLC.
On their way home, they were passed by
President Monson in a golf cart, with a driver.
A few minutes later the driver came back, without President Monson.
The driver said,
“The boss told me to take you ladies
wherever you want to go.”
Maydae was tickled and accepted the ride home.

President Monson Sends the Golf Cart Back is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

President Monson’s Favorite Scriptures: Prov. 3:5-6 is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

Sister Ann Dibb, second counselor in the Young Women's general presidency, and daughter of President Monson

Blogger Kimberly Job had the opportunity this week to attend a meeting where Sister Ann Dibb spoke, second counselor in the Young Women’s general presidency, and daughter of President Monson.  Among the many things she spoke about, she gave an intimate glimpse of her father, and what it is like being the daughter of the prophet.

She noted that she is a whiner and that her father is always trying to help her see the bright side of things.  He tells her to let things go if there is nothing she can do about it, which she eventually concedes to.

She gave many fun details about President Monson.  He loves chocolate, and whistles when he’s happy.  He takes care of pigeons, loves going to musicals, fishing, springer spaniels, and attending Utah Jazz basketball games.

Sister Dibb was asked if she can call her father when she wants to.  She said that she respects his time and busy schedule, but that she can talk to him when she needs him.

President Monson loves pictures of his wife, Frances.  He also loves certain television shows including Perry Mason, Antiques Roadshow, Lawrence Welk, sports, and the news.

She said that her father is not perfect, but that she loves him, and is grateful for his example of loving others.

To read the full notes from Sister Dibb’s meeting, see the link below:

Scribbled Scraps – “A Personal Look at the Prophet”

A Daughter’s View of President Monson is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

Place: West Jordan Sunset Ridge Stake Center, UT
Purpose: The viewing of Br. William David Miller

A couple weeks ago (Jan 14, 2010) President Monson attended the viewing of one of the missionaries who served under him when he was mission president in the Canadian Mission from 1959-1962.  The brother was William David Miller from West Jordan, Utah.

A member from the stake, Julie Weiss, tells of a special experience that happened that evening:

Today was ward conference and our stake president, President Murphy spoke in our Relief Society meeting. He told us what had happened to him this past week. Early on in the week, a Brother Miller from our stake died and his viewing was to be held at our ward building (the stake center) this past Thursday. The day before, the stake presidency conducts their temple recommend interviews. One of the questions asked is if you sustain the prophet and one sister admitted that she was having difficulty sustaining the prophet. The stake president decided that she should not have her recommend renewed yet, but made an appointment to talk to her again on the next night, which was Thursday.

William David Miller

Thursday night came and President Murphy was in the Relief Society room with Brother Miller’s family and friends for the viewing. He looked down the hall and whom should he see coming down it, but President Monson! It turned out that President Monson was Brother Miller’s mission president in Canada and had come to pay his respects to one of his missionaries. President Monson talked to everyone in the room individually and shook their hands. He then gathered with the family in the back corner of the room and told them stories about Brother Miller when he was a missionary.

President Murphy then recalled that the sister that was having trouble sustaining the prophet, was arriving at that time. He went down the hall to his office and she had just walked in the door. He told her that President Monson was in the building and she looked at him as if he were crazy. He told her, “Come with me and I will make sure that he shakes your hand.” She followed him down the hall and saw President Monson inside the room. He eventually came over to talk to her and shook her hand and President Murphy thanked him for coming. President Murphy then took this sister back to his office to talk to her. He said it was a very humble conversation, with the sister in tears. The sister’s husband had also had trouble sustaining the prophet, and she would no doubt go home with a wonderful story to tell him. I gather that all was well with sister from that point on.

President Murphy then told us that it was a miracle and he had no doubt the Lord had a hand in making it so that the Prophet was there in our chapel at the exact time that this sister would be there. What an amazing story! I couldn’t help but look back in the corner of the Relief Society room as he was telling this story and imagine President Monson standing there or walking down the hall of the chapel. I told Brayden and Daniel this experience and said that it makes our chapel even more special to me, since the Prophet had been there.

See the links below for more information:

Julie Weiss – “Wonderful story told to us by our Stake President during Relief Society”
Obituary – William Miller
Remembering William David Miller 1937-2010

President Monson Attends the Viewing of One of His Missionaries is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

Sister Ann M. Dibb, left, Sister Frances Monson, center, and President Thomas S. Monson pose following the Draper Utah Temple dedication sessions. (Gerry Avant)

President Monson’s wife, Sister Frances Monson, fell down last month on November 4th and broke her shoulder and hip.  This is the reason that President Monson could not attend the Regional Conference in Hawaii.  He stayed home to care for Frances.

The Deseret News reports that she is undergoing rehabilitation, according to Scott Trotter, spokesman for the Church, and is making progress towards recovery.  Trotter said that “President Monson wishes to express his gratitude for the prayers and well-wishes of those concerned for Sister Monson’s welfare.”

You can read more about this at the link below:

Deseret News – “Sister Frances Monson, wife of LDS Church president, recovering from fall”

Sister Monson Recovering from a Fall Last Month is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson

A First Presidency meeting room in the Church Administration Building

Last Wednesday evening, a youth group from a ward had the opportunity to go downtown to the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City and receive a tour of some of the rooms where the First Presidency holds their meetings with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Presidency of the Seventy.  The invitation came from their bishop, Bishop Mortensen, who is an assistant secretary to the First Presidency.

The group was able to see several boardroom-style meeting rooms, ask questions, and take pictures.  They saw the door to President Monson’s office, but weren’t able to go inside.  The picture shown here is apparently the room where they meet most often for committee meetings, etc.

The blogger includes a fun anecdote of an exchange once between their bishop and President Monson:

…if you look in the photo, in the left corner is the door that leads to the Prophet’s office. Our Bishop has the responsibility to open it for the Prophet. The wood in the room was imported from Russia, and the door is at least 3 inches thick, so it is heavy and President Monson always jokes with our Bishop because it’s hard. One day they were joking and the Bishop mentioned he was doing push-ups to get ready to open it and Pres. Monson said: “Oh really? Well lets see!” So Bishop Mortensen dropped down and gave the Prophet 10 push-ups and got up and Pres. Monson said: “I meant show me by opening the door!”

You can read more about the tour, and see a couple more pictures, at the link below:

TBUTT13 – “From the office of the First Presidency…”

The First Presidency Meeting Rooms is a post from: Follow The Prophet - The Activities of God's Living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson