My february book, "To the Rescue: The biography of Thomas S. Monson.
It was Saturday, February 25, and I was sitting on the couch with Trisha at my side. I express my frustration at the fact that I cannot get into this biography and that it may take me a year to finish. I was somewhere around page 200 of a 530 page book. She looks at me and says, "Yeah, sorry, there is no way you are going to finish that book by the end of February." That's all I needed, sounded like a challenge to me (Thanks, Babe!). Lucky for me, later that night, I reached chapter 19 which lead to 20 and 21. These three chapters are the best chapters in the book and the only reading that helped me stay interested and continue reading.
First of all, let me quickly tell you what I didn't like about the book. #1- Not organized. It did progress in a relatively chronological order but even that was all over the place. Ideas were scattered and not fluid. #2- Repetition. The author seemed to forget that she had already told some stories, and repeated them. I guess it's hard to remember what you've written if there is no organization to it. #3- Lots and lots of lists of names. Oh my goodness there was a lot of name dropping. Some, I agree, are very important people, but sometimes I got so bored reading name after name that I would skip to the next paragraph when the names were done being listed. Overall, I think that the information and stories could have easily been written in 250 pages.
Looking past the writing style and technique, the content of the book was awesome! I learned so many things about President Monson's life, how he was destined to become a prophet, how he was raised to be a great man, how he worked to be successfull and how he labored to support and uplift those in need. Let me share some of my favorites from the book.
On vacation in Vivian Park with his family, Tommy and his friend Danny cleared an area that was going to be used for a bonfire later that night. They lit the June grass on fire and assumed that it would just burn a small circle and then they would be able to extinquish it. To their amazement, the fire kept burning up the mountain side. All the family and townspeople came to the rescue to extinguish the fire. After the event he says he learned a valuable lesson that he has kept with him all his life: Look beyond the immediate to the possible conclusion of an activity. Simply stated, think before you act.
Giving a speech to a group of university students, he once said, "During the last half century, there has been in this country a gradual but continual retreat from standards of excellence in many phases of our life. We observe business without conscience; politics without principle; wealth without works...Refuse to compromise with expedience. Maintain the courage to defy the consensus. Choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. By so doing, you will not detour, but rather will ever remain on the way to perfection."
As he was becoming a well established business man in the community and a righteous leader in the church, he came up with what he calls "Wisdom's Seven Watchwords" which he used to ensure that he remained successfull in all that he did. They are as follows: "Vision, Patience, Balance, Effort, Understanding, Courtesy and Love."
While he was serving as Bishop of the sixth-seventh ward, he had a pamphlet published titled, "A Guide to Happiness through Gospel Service." It outlined 5 principles to aid in teaching the gospel. 1- A personality filled with religious quality. 2- A genuine interest in people. 3-A knowledge of the gospel. 4- A wholesome attitude. 5- A utilization of good teaching methods.
Now come the best chapters in the book. Chapter 19- Weary Not, Chapter 20- Faith of the People, Chapter 21- The Wall Comes Down. So just when I was started to lose any faith in finishing the book by the end of the month, I got to the best cliff hanger of the book. At the end of Chapter 18, it says, "It would become a most significant chapter in his ministry- the rescue of the East German Saints." I know it's not really a cliff hanger, but it was an introduction to a story, and a story is what I needed to read.
President Monson was called as the apostle to supervise the European countries in 1968, about 7 years after the Berlin Wall had been put up. He was amoung one of the first civilians to be allowed to travel into East Germany, and he was definitely the first general athority to enter for decades. He frequently passed into the country through checkpoint charlie and he describes some of his thoughts as he drove through it for the first time. "As he and the Reeses drove toward Gorlitz, they passed through rural areas where farm machinery was horse-drawn, with not a tractor in sight...The autobahns were void of traffic, indicating the scarcity of automobiles in East Germany. Those who did have cars, wrapped themselves in blankets because their vehicles, for the most part, had no heaters." It is so crazy to imagine such a primeval and suppressed country and people! He continued saying his hotel was "the most archaic" he had ever seen with "a bed that resembled a box." President Monsons influence on the people of East Germany and the country would span many decades and would be an incredible blessing for the Saints that endured such hardship. On one of his visits, he delivered the following message to a gathering of Saints, "If you will remain true and faithful to the commandments of God, every blessing any member of the Church enjoys in any other country will be yours." It's hard to imagine that those words would come to fruition in a country imprisoned by a strong communist government. However, that promise was accomplished when the Berlin Wall finally came down and the church was allowed in to the country and a temple was constructed.
President Benson once said, "Only with a faith in the ultimate consummation of the Lord's purposes can people, with all their earthly possesions swept away, continue with spirits sweet and hearts free from bitterness... I promise you the richest of blessings of eternity inasmuch as you continue faithful." That seemed to be a motto for the Saints in East Germany, ever hoping and praying for the fulfillment of the Lord's promises. They were continually asked to abide by the laws of the land and be patient. "That kind of attention to the laws of the land and respect for the governement leaders and the rules they imposed would benefit the Church in years to come..." No doubt it would have been hard to live through the hardships of the time, but the Saints followed the councel of the Church and the laws of the land and in the end, they found freedom. There are countless experiences told in regards to his supervision of East Germany through the decades of change. President Monson was huge in influencing the government but more importantly in directly touching the lives of those members.
Another long term project in the life of Thomas Monson started during his experience in East Germany. The "clothing project" as it is called. His secretary has said that she estimates "he has given away up to ten suits a year for forty years, not to mention the other items of clothing he has shared." That is quite the humanitarian project in itsself for one man to accomplish. And how great for all of the recipients of those articles of clothing. Pretty cool, I think.
At the conclusion of his work in East Germany, he stated, "I have learned from my experience...that man's extremity is but God's opportunity. I am a living witness of how the hand of the Lord has been made manifest in watching over the members of the Church in what once were Communist-ruled countries." Isn't that true? Doesn't it always seem that we learn so much and gain so much strength and insight in times of trouble and hardship? It is an interesting concept, but one that I believe to be true. The hard moments in our life are the ones that really shape and define us!
If you are like me and don't really have the desire/ambition to read the entire biography, you should just pick it up and read chapters 19, 20 and 21. They are interesting, thought provoking and inspiring!!
My final thought of the book comes fittingly from the last chapter. "[President Monson] counsels those just starting out in their families and careers to seek 'the abundant life.' Wishing will not make it so, he says. 'The Lord expects our thinking. He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion.' He cautions: 'To measure the goodness of life by its delights and pleasures and safety is to apply a false standard. The abundant life does not consist of a glut of luxury. It does not make itself content with commercially produced pleasure, the nightclub idea of what is a good time, mistaking it for joy and happiness.' He measures the abundant life by the capacity 'to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility.'" I would add that the abundant life is also measured by the amount of lives that have been changed as a result of our own. I am inspired by President Monson's ability to reach out to the one person in need. It is a quality becoming more and more rare in our complicated world but one that could change the world completely.
Now, for my next book...."The Power of Six"
