Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Thomas S. Monson Remembered As Selfless Leader

Intellectual Reserve, Inc
President Monson's daughter, Ann Dibb, speaks at his funeral in the Conference Center at Temple Square.

The funeral for Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was held today at the Conference Center on Temple Square.

Music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was the centerpiece in the service honoring President Monson, who served for nearly 10 years at the head of the LDS church. He oversaw close to 16 million Mormons worldwide.

 

Monson’s daughter, Ann Dibb, spoke of his desire to express his love for others, even complete strangers.

Credit Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Thomas S. Monson served as the 16th president of the LDS Church for nearly 10 years.

“Once, while visiting a local nursing care facility, he took the hand of a man in a wheelchair," Dibb said. "The man looked up and timidly said, ‘President Monson you have shaken my hand but I need an embrace.’ Without hesitation, Dad bent down and tenderly embraced this dear man.”

This message of service was reiterated by each speaker, including, Russell Nelson, the most senior church apostle expected to take Monson’s place as the top Mormon leader.

“President Monson never sought the limelight," Nelson said. "In a world saturated with 'selfies,' he modeled selflessness.”

Monson, in many respects, shied away from the world stage. Unlike the funeral for his predecessor Gordon Hinckley, the 21,000 seats of the conference center were not entirely filled.

He was not a leader known for bold declarations or photo ops, but to Mormons Monson will be remembered as a man who embodied and encouraged expressions of love through small acts of kindness. The more personal and private, the better.

Lee Hale began listening to KUER while he was teaching English at a Middle School in West Jordan (his one hour commute made for plenty of listening time). Inspired by what he heard he applied for the Kroc Fellowship at NPR headquarters in DC and to his surprise, he got it. Since then he has reported on topics ranging from TSA PreCheck to micro apartments in overcrowded cities to the various ways zoo animals stay cool in the summer heat. But, his primary focus has always been education and he returns to Utah to cover the same schools he was teaching in not long ago. Lee is a graduate of Brigham Young University and is also fascinated with the way religion intersects with the culture and communities of the Beehive State. He hopes to tell stories that accurately reflect the beliefs that Utahns hold dear.
KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.