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The Cop and President Monson
Because I am a certified police officer for the Stake of Arizona, on Sunday,
January the 26th of 2003, I had the opportunity to work security for our
regional conference at the Mesa Insitute building in Mesa, AZ. There, I had a
most touching and unexpected experience and shared it with the other brethren I
serve with on our stake high-council. This is that e-mail. I first thought to
rewrite it but decided it would take from the message. The fact that this is the
exact message I sent them, written that evening, is the message that needs to be
shared with you. For security purposes, some things were deleted but other than
that, the message is in it's entirety. I kept this e-mail because of it's effect
on me. I decided to place it on the website eight months later. I hope you
enjoy: an encounter between a cop and President Monson.
"Dear Brethren,
May I share a most spiritual moment and
message with you?
As you know, today, Sunday the 26th, was
our regional conference. Elder Gibbons, Elder Howard, Elder Lund,
Elder Ballard and President Monson were there. It came to our stake
building and twenty other stake buildings via satellite. It took place
in the LDS Institute building at 7000 E. McKellips. There were 8 armed
police officers (wearing suit and tie) strategically placed in the
chapel. I learned later that there were many police officers who
wanted and asked to take part in the "Dignitary Protection Detail" for
the Brethren but were not granted that opportunity. Of all the usher
badges you saw, there were only 8...Those were the armed police
officers...I don't know why I was extended that opportunity to
participate but I was. Maybe, as the only member of our stake to be at
the site location, it was to be able to see and share this most
special experience and message with you all.
Our orders were fairly direct. We arrived
early, swept the building, watched for unusual behavior or packages
and were posted in strategic locations. We were to remain unobserved
and we were to prevent...We were to intercept anyone who
tried...We maintained a secured, "safe zone" on the south east end of
the building, etc. During the prayers, we were to...We had many
contingency plans for protecting the Brethren, even one in case
the video transmitting truck outside...Besides that and more, we were
also told to keep the crowd...That when the closing prayer was given,
we were to seal off the stand, lock hands if necessary and keep people
back. We were told that we
did not do a good
enough job on Saturday, the 25th. After the closing prayer today, we
were to seal off the stand and usher the Brethren out the east door
nearest the stand and into a secured area as smoothly and as quickly
as possible. Then into waiting vehicles on the south end of the
building. Even that portion of the parking lot had been secured.
During the time I was there, I didn't seek
the Brethren's hand. I had never seen them in person before and I was
very close to them on occasion and could have. I was in charge of
helping keep the secured area secure. The Brethren's in-and-out to the
building and their retreat and lunch area. I didn't seek their hand
partly because I was thinking about my duties but mostly because I
viewed myself as a "no one." They were constantly surrounded by stake
presidents and wives. Who was I.
The meeting itself, was a powerful
meeting. I testify that administering angels were there,
touching hearts and administering to everyone in the building. The
whole building was charged and you could feel it. The Spirit was so
very thick, Brethren. Afterwards, we tried to secure the Brethren as
we were told but President Monson came up and said, "Let me through"
He walked into the crowd and began shaking hands with everyone and
anyone he could get a hold of.
Brethren, I was so touched. Sometimes you
run into a Church leader or two who you can feel think rather highly
of themselves because of who they are in the Church. But here was
someone who rightly could have had that attitude, the First Councilor
in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints for all the world, and here he was, trying to make everyone
else feel like they were somebody. Brethren, tears keep me from being
able to see the computer screen clearly, but I was so touched by him.
He came down in the crowd and went face to face, hand to hand with
everyone he could. His love, his genuine love for his fellowman was so
obvious, I knew why the Lord had called him to that calling. President
Monson lingered in the chapel, in the secured area, invited people to
come forward, stood outside the building for almost 30 minutes,
shaking hands and greeting people. Anyone who came up. He loves his
fellowman, Brethren. President Monson loves his fellowman.
Usama Bin Laden told his top soldiers once
to judge their men by their strength. He told them that men were like
horses. When you go pick out a horse in an arena, you always pick out
the strongest one. He told his men to always be strong and to pick the
strong. That's true for us too. We tend to pick our horses by their
strength. But the Lord picks His horses by their heart. When I heard
the things told of President Monson by Elder Howard, when I heard his
talk today and when I saw him walk past the secured area and into the
crowd, I knew why President Monson had been called by the Lord. He
loves the people, Brethren. He loves his brothers and sisters and he
shows it in many ways but also by making them feel important.
You and I (outside the Stake Presidency
itself) are not anymore than just members of the Skyline Stake in
Mesa, Arizona. A small portion of the Lord's vineyard. Our callings as
high councilors are temporary and when the Stake President feels to
release us, we are to return to our wards and help where we can. But
until then, to our fellow stake members, we are looked at as being
"someone" and many of them
look at themselves as being the "no ones."
May we follow the example of President
Monson and love our brothers and sisters as the Lord loves us and
wants us to love them. May we do our duties better and may we increase
our capacities to love others. May we walk into the crowds and shake
hands and extend the hand of fellowship. May we look others in the eye
and may they see our love for them as I saw President Monson's love
for others. May we make everyone feel like
they are someone. May
we remind them how much the Lord loves them and how much He needs them
and how much we
as stake members, need them. May we forget about ourselves
and be more diligent in our callings and in helping our brothers
and sisters grow closer to the Lord. May we focus on the eternities.
May we be better husbands, fathers, grandfathers and ward and stake
fathers. May we honor our Melchizedek Priesthood. May we stand as
sentinels in the Lord's army and may we recommit, work harder, and be
about the Lord's business always.
Today was a great day, Brethren.
Samuel"
This message applies to you too, my dear Brother and Sister. May
you and I follow the example President Monson set and go out of our
way to make others feel like they are the "Someone's".
In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
www.LDSCOPS.com
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