"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention."
Confirming a Small but Meaningful Miracle from President Monson's Life
by Jeff Lindsay
In
his October 2011 General Conference address, "Stand
in Holy Places,"
President Thomas S. Monson shared an experience as a small part of
his talk that I find instructive in several ways. The experience was
actually a miracle, a small one but a meaningful one.
It
also demonstrates something that people who have observed and listen
to Thomas S. Monson have long known: this is a man who seeks and
listens to inspiration from God.
But
there are other lessons for us as we consider how he prepared to
receive this inspiration, how he listened to it, and how he had the
courage to act on it.
As
you read the account below, also notice the many specific details
that are provided that can be used to validate the story. People,
places, dates. I hope all of you will take care to record your own
spiritual experiences and small miracles with such useful detail for
your own posterity (or even your own blog).
Interestingly,
after I shared this story in a talk in Nanjing yesterday, I had two
different people from the audience approach me to validate the
account. One person, Bryce F. from Altamont, Utah, met the Dutch man
in this story, Peter Mourik, during a sealing session at the Provo
Temple a couple of weeks after President Monson shared the story.
He
asked if the story as related by President Monson happened as
described, and received confirmation that the story was correct. He
also learned other details from Brother Mourik, who related that at
the time the powerful impression came prompting him to rush to the
temple, he was in a meeting with LDS servicemen.
Another
young man in the congregation also told me that he had been a
roommate with a son of Peter Mourik and had asked about the story,
also receiving confirmation.
Here
is the account from President Monson:
Since
that time of long ago, I have had countless prayers answered. Not a
day has gone by that I have not communicated with my Father in Heaven
through prayer....
I
am always humbled and grateful when my Heavenly Father communicates
with me through His inspiration. I have learned to recognize it, to
trust it, and to follow it. Time and time again I have been the
recipient of such inspiration.
One
rather dramatic experience took place in August of 1987 during the
dedication of the Frankfurt Germany Temple. President Ezra Taft
Benson had been with us for the first day or two of the dedication
but had returned home, and so it became my opportunity to conduct the
remaining sessions.
On
Saturday we had a session for our Dutch members who were in the
Frankfurt Temple district. I was well acquainted with one of our
outstanding leaders from the Netherlands, Brother Peter Mourik.
Just
prior to the session, I had the distinct impression that Brother
Mourik should be called upon to speak to his fellow Dutch members
during the session and that, in fact, he should be the first speaker.
Not
having seen him in the temple that morning, I passed a note to Elder
Carlos E. Asay, our Area President, asking whether Peter Mourik was
in attendance at the session.
Just
prior to standing up to begin the session, I received a note back
from Elder Asay indicating that Brother Mourik was actually not in
attendance, that he was involved elsewhere, and that he was planning
to attend the dedicatory session in the temple the following day with
the servicemen stakes.
As
I stood at the pulpit to welcome the people and to outline the
program, I received unmistakable inspiration once again that I was to
announce Peter Mourik as the first speaker. This was counter to all
my instincts, for I had just heard from Elder Asay that Brother
Mourik was definitely not in the temple.
Trusting
in the inspiration, however, I announced the choir presentation and
the prayer and then indicated that our first speaker would be Brother
Peter Mourik.
As
I returned to my seat, I glanced toward Elder Asay; I saw on his face
a look of alarm. He later told me that when I had announced Brother
Mourik as the first speaker, he couldn’t believe his ears. He
said he knew that I had received his note and that I indeed had read
it, and he couldn’t fathom why I would then announce Brother
Mourik as a speaker, knowing he wasn’t anywhere in the temple.
During
the time all of this was taking place, Peter Mourik was in a meeting
at the area offices in Porthstrasse. As his meeting was going
forward, he suddenly turned to Elder Thomas A. Hawkes Jr., who was
then the regional representative, and asked, “How fast can you
get me to the temple?”
Elder
Hawkes, who was known to drive rather rapidly in his small sports
car, answered, “I can have you there in 10 minutes! But why do
you need to go to the temple?”
Brother
Mourik admitted he did not know why he needed to go to the temple but
that he knew he had to get there. The two of them set out for the
temple immediately.
During
the magnificent choir number, I glanced around, thinking that at any
moment I would see Peter Mourik. I did not. Remarkably, however, I
felt no alarm. I had a sweet, undeniable assurance that all would be
well.
Brother
Mourik entered the front door of the temple just as the opening
prayer was concluding, still not knowing why he was there. As he
hurried down the hall, he saw my image on the monitor and heard me
announce, “We will now hear from Brother Peter Mourik.”
To
the astonishment of Elder Asay, Peter Mourik immediately walked into
the room and took his place at the podium.
Following
the session, Brother Mourik and I discussed that which had taken
place prior to his opportunity to speak. I have pondered the
inspiration which came that day not only to me but also to Peter
Mourik.
That
remarkable experience has provided an undeniable witness to me of the
importance of being worthy to receive such inspiration and then
trusting it — and following it — when it comes.
I
know without question that the Lord intended for those who were
present at that session of the Frankfurt Temple dedication to hear
the powerful, touching testimony of His servant Brother Peter Mourik.
We
don't know why, but for some reason the Lord wanted Brother Mourik to
speak at this event, and provided guidance to two people willing to
listen to make it happen. This does not mean that the Lord endorses
every decision, action, or attitude of either of those imperfect men.
It
does not mean that this event was more important than all the other
big issues going on in the world. It does not mean that the Lord
endorses fast driving in sports cars.
But
it does remind us that miracles do happen. It also reminds us that we
do have leaders who seek and listen to the promptings of the Spirit
in their lives, however imperfect some of them may be.
The
point of President Monson's story, however, is not about how inspired
he is, but about how each of us has the privilege, if we will seek
it, of receiving personal revelation and guidance to help us
throughout our lives.
May
we pursue that privilege and live so that we can stay close enough to
the Lord that we can hear and respond when He wishes to guide.
Jeff Lindsay has been defending the Church on the Internet since 1994, when he launched his
LDSFAQ website under JeffLindsay.com. He has also long been blogging about LDS matters on
the blog Mormanity (mormanity.blogspot.com). Jeff is a longtime resident of Appleton,
Wisconsin, who recently moved to Shanghai, China, with his wife, Kendra.
He works for an Asian corporation as head of intellectual property. Jeff and Kendra are the parents of 4 boys, 3 married and the the youngest on a mission.
He is a former innovation and IP consultant, a former professor, and former Corporate Patent
Strategist and Senior Research Fellow for a multinational corporation.
Jeff Lindsay, Cheryl Perkins and Mukund Karanjikar are authors of the book Conquering
Innovation Fatigue (John Wiley & Sons, 2009).
Jeff has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and is a registered US
patent agent. He has more than 100 granted US patents and is author of numerous publications.
Jeff's hobbies include photography, amateur magic, writing, and Mandarin Chinese.