Thankful Thursday: Thankful for a prophet of God

The Call for Courage

Of course, we will face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but also as a determination to live decently. A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well."

Thomas S. Monson, "The Call for Courage," Ensign, May 2004, 54-55.

I don't know about all of you but I love the first weekend in April and October! I love knowing that those weekends are going to be opportunities to rededicate myself, to make sure my heart and mind and self have my doors turned "toward the temple" and that I can be sure that what I am going to be counseled and instructed to do is coming from God, my Heavenly Father.

As a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe that the Lord continues to call prophets on the earth today and they give us the word of God and the counsel that we need in our ever increasingly troubled world. Every six months we gather together as saints in what we call General Conference and renew ourselves spiritually by the words of the prophets and apostles and also the words that the spirit speaks to our own minds as we are listening, we are taught. There is a peace that fills my soul during Conference time as questions to the troubles of my soul are answered or at least better understood.

For those of you that are familiar with this very thing in which I speak, you know that peace and calm that I am talking about. For those of you who may not be as sure you too can know that peace. Our conference sessions are available via TV and satellite and anyone is invited to watch and participate. I know that most cable stations carry BYU-TV in which it is available on as well as you can click on this link and find it here http://www.lds.org/broadcast.

There is a man of God that I would like to pay tribute to today. His name is Thomas S. Monson and he is our prophet. He is called of God and I trust him and know that the words that he speaks are what God would have him speak. I know that he receives revelation and that he has nothing but love and charity in his heart and that his life is dedicated to the service of God.
His life is an example of faith, strength, love and gentle charity. I am thankful to know that in a world of troubling times I can find peace and hope because I know that through a prophet of God I am not left alone to figure out things on my own. I have guidance and wisdom and clarity to the things that I need to be armored with and protected by, the spiritual things, and this is what I receive through the words of a prophet and through personal study and revelation.

President Monson has the neatest zeal for life. He makes you laugh and is so loveable and real. I loved this picture of him with his pigeons, showing that he is a real person too. Of course his most important calling is that of a prophet called of God I know this with all my heart, mind and soul! I love him. I am anxious to hear the things that he speaks this weekend and know that they will be just what I need.