Ministering to the one has been a hallmark of President Thomas S. Monson's lifetime of service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On countless occasions across the world, President Monson has felt the Spirit's gentle prompting to stop whatever else he was doing and lovingly go to the aid of someone in need. In sharing a remarkable experience that demonstrates his sensitivity to the Spirit and his love for children, President Monson recounted the time he was led to the bedside of a dying girl in answer to her sincere prayer.
Christal was a 10-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with cancer. She lived about 80 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana, and when her prognosis became terminal, her family made plans to visit Salt Lake City in hopes that Christal might receive a blessing from a General Authority. The family did not know any of the Brethren personally, so when they showed Christal a picture of all the General Authorities, she pointed to President Monson and told her family he was the person from whom she wanted to receive a blessing.
Here is the rest of the story as told in October 1975 General Conference, in President Monson's own words:
Christal never made the flight to Salt Lake City. Her condition deteriorated. The end drew nigh. But her faith did not waver. To her parents, she said, “Isn’t stake conference approaching? Isn’t a General Authority assigned? And why not Brother Monson? If I can’t go to him, the Lord can send him to me.”
Meanwhile in Salt Lake City, with no knowledge of the events
transpiring in Shreveport, a most unusual situation developed. For the weekend
of the Shreveport Louisiana Stake Conference, I had been assigned to El Paso,
Texas. President Ezra Taft Benson called me to his office and explained that
one of the other Brethren had done some preparatory work regarding the stake
division in El Paso. He asked if I would mind were another to be assigned to El
Paso and I assigned elsewhere. Of course there was no problem—anywhere would be
fine with me. Then President Benson said, “Brother Monson, I feel impressed to
have you visit the Shreveport Louisiana Stake.” The assignment was accepted.
The day came. I arrived in Shreveport.
That Saturday afternoon was filled with meetings—one with
the stake presidency, one with priesthood leaders, one with the patriarch, then
yet another with the general leadership of the stake. Rather apologetically,
Stake President Charles F. Cagle asked if my schedule would permit me time to
provide a blessing to a ten-year-old girl afflicted with cancer. I responded that, if possible, I would do so, and then
inquired if she would be at the conference, or was she in a Shreveport
hospital? Knowing the time was tightly scheduled, President Cage almost
whispered that Christal was confined to her home—more than eighty miles from
Shreveport!
I examined the schedule of meetings for that evening and the
next morning—even my return flight. There simply was no available time. An
alternative suggestion came to mind. Could we not remember the little one in
our public prayers at conference? Surely the Lord would understand. On this
basis, we proceeded with the scheduled meetings.
When the word was communicated to the Methvin family, there
was understanding but a trace of disappointment as well. Hadn’t the Lord heard
their prayers? Hadn’t he provided that Brother Monson would come to Shreveport?
Again the family prayed, asking for a final favor—that their precious Christal
would realize her desire.
At the very moment the Methvin family knelt in prayer, the
clock in the stake center showed the time to be 7:45. The leadership meeting
had been inspirational. I was sorting my notes, preparing to step to the
pulpit, when I heard a voice speak to my spirit. The message was brief, the words
familiar: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for
of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14.)
My notes became a blur. My thoughts turned to a tiny girl in need of a
blessing. The decision was made. The meeting schedule was altered. After all,
people are more important than meetings. I turned to Bishop James Serra and
asked that he leave the meeting and advise the Methvins.
The Methvin family had just arisen from their knees when the
telephone rang and the message was relayed that early Sunday morning—the Lord’s
day—in a spirit of fasting and prayer, we would journey to Christal’s bedside.
I shall ever remember and never forget that early-morning
journey to a heaven the Methvin family calls home. I have been in hallowed
places—even holy houses—but never have I felt more strongly the presence of the
Lord than in the Methvin home. Christal looked so tiny lying peacefully on such
a large bed. The room was bright and cheerful. The sunshine from the east
window filled the bedroom with light as the Lord filled our hearts with love.
The family surrounded Christal’s bedside. I gazed down at a
child who was too ill to rise—almost too weak to speak. Her illness had now
rendered her sightless. So strong was the spirit that I fell to my knees, took
her frail hand in mine, and said simply, “Christal, I am here.” She parted her
lips and whispered, “Brother Monson, I just knew you would come.” I looked
around the room. No one was standing. Each was on bended knee. A blessing was
given. A faint smile crossed Christal’s face. Her whispered “thank you”
provided an appropriate benediction. Quietly, each filed from the room.
Four days later, on Thursday, as Church members in
Shreveport joined their faith with the Methvin family and Christal’s name was
remembered in a special prayer to a kind and loving Heavenly Father, her pure
spirit left its disease-ravaged body and entered the
paradise of God...
I bear witness that Jesus of Nazareth does love little
children, that he listens to your prayers and responds to them. The Master did
indeed utter those words, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and
forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14.) I know these are the words he spoke to the throng gathered
on the coast of Judea by the waters of Jordan—for I have read them. I know these are the words he spoke to an apostle on
assignment in Shreveport, Louisiana—for I heard them.
To these truths I bear record, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
President Thomas S. Monson, “The
Faith of a Child,” October 1975 General Conference.
President Thomas S. Monson has served as the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since February 3, 2008. He had served as a Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church since November 10, 1985. Most recently, on March 12, 1995, he was set apart as First Counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley. Prior to that, on June 5, 1994, he was called as Second Counselor to President Howard W. Hunter, and on November 10, 1985, as Second Counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson. He was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 4, 1963, and ordained an Apostle on October 10, 1963, at the age of 36.
President Thomas S. Monson has served as the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since February 3, 2008. He had served as a Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church since November 10, 1985. Most recently, on March 12, 1995, he was set apart as First Counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley. Prior to that, on June 5, 1994, he was called as Second Counselor to President Howard W. Hunter, and on November 10, 1985, as Second Counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson. He was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 4, 1963, and ordained an Apostle on October 10, 1963, at the age of 36.
