A poll conducted by Gallup from 15-18 December of this year states President Thomas S. Monson is admired by 1% of America. According to Gallup managing editor Jeffrey Jones, "It is common for the president of the Mormon Church to receive mentions, but (President) Monson is the first to make the top 10".
Congratulations to President Thomas S. Monson! The Mormon Eagle is ecstatic that President Monson won the number 10 spot - it means The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being noticed. But, why is the Church and President Monson being noticed so much? Let us examine this conundrum. Here is what the Eagle thinks.
1. The Holy Ghost
The main reason President Monson is admired so much is because of the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Elder Parley P. Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve taught,
[His influence] quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being (Key to the Science of Theology, 9th ed. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1965], p. 101).
The Holy Spirit, more than anything else, gives wisdom beyond the normal understanding. The Pharisees said of Jesus, "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:46), When Christ was twelve years old, he ministered with the Doctors and Lawyers in the House of God, and "all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Luke 2:47).
2. Keep the Laws and Doctrines of God
The Laws of the Lord given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, as well as all the Prophet's teachings on doctrine, are kept only by the Latter-day Saints. These laws, ordinances, and teachings set us apart from the world and make us holy. The Lord hath said, "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" (Lev. 19:2). Our Prophet has taught us,
Ours is the task to be fitting examples. We are strengthened by the truth that the greatest force in the world today is the power of God as it works through man. If we are on the Lord’s errand, brethren, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Never forget that truth. That divine help, of course, is predicated upon our worthiness. Each must ask: Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? Am I a worthy servant of the Lord (President Thomas S. Monson, "Examples of Righteousness", April 2008 General Conference, Priesthood Session)?
President Monson is indeed holy because he is led by the Holy Ghost which is in him. He stands out on the list of the 10 Most Admired Americans because he is the only person on that list with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, as well as the only man on that list Authorized by God to speak for and with Him. I know this is true and that President Monson is a Prophet of God. I also know that if we keep the commandments and live so as to be led by the Holy Ghost, the world will come after us Latter-day Saints. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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