In almost EVERY situation, President Monson had been there before us. These precious seniors told about his tender comments, his comforting blessings, and his loving kindness. One women who was visiting her elderly friend told me that President Monson also gave her a blessing and told her that the Lord was pleased with the service she gave her neighbor.

I have profound respect for President Monson’s devotion to the elderly, his Christlike service, and his compassion. I also watched him attend a graveside service of one of our elderly members. He visited with and comforted the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and spoke directly to the little children in his remarks. He also paid close attention to some elderly family members who were finding it difficult to get to and from the grave. He made certain that they rode in his car to the gravesite from the mortuary. I have learned the President Monson is a great example of those things he teaches in General Conference.

He amazes me.

But since he can’t be everywhere with everyone, I think of our VT and other church assignments as being delegated actions of the kind of service he might give, which is, of course, supposed to be for the Lord. So I like that notion in the OP of trying to be more like him.

I guess my thought is that we shouldn’t minimize what our own personal service can mean to those whose lives we might touch — be it on the airplane with a stranger, or the neighbor or visiting teachee who needs a loving gesture or word. We may not be prophets or have other ‘big’ callings, but we can be instruments in God’s hands in our own spheres of influence.

They are just people, as all prophets have been. But when you are with them in person you feel the spirit communicate that they have been called of God and are endowed with power.

You know how when the high councilor comes to speak in your ward that they always bring love and greetings from the stake president? Well, once when Pres. Hinckley was speaking and expressing those same feelings of love from the Lord for us, it became profoundly clear to me that this was a comparable situation: President Monson (now) is the Lord’s mouthpiece to us in the same way that the high councilor is, for the purpose of High Council Sunday, the mouthpiece for the stake president and somehow it made me feel the Lord’s love that much more for me–that He would have and send a prophet to periodically remind me of it.

That these men are tender and devoted in their service, their full-time, never get a night off for the rest of their lives service, is awe-inspiring, ennobling and humbling. The Lord certainly does love us to give us living prophets, picking and then tutoring and inspiring them so that they will be willing and able to love us as He loves us. Just another tender mercy, to be so indivually known of and loved by the Lord.