Paul E. Koelliker, a General Authority from the Church, spoke at the well attended semi-annual Baltimore Stake Conference in Essex, Maryland yesterday. During his remarks, he told us that President Thomas S. Monson who is now the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his predecessor, Gordon B. Hinckley, are remarkable men who are just as good as you think they are!
Elder Koelliker then shared a personal experience he had on March 21, 1999 during the dedication of the new temple in Madrid, Spain. President Hinckley had to leave for an important meeting in Israel and left his first counselor, President Monson, in charge of the final dedicatory service. Elder Koelliker who was assigned to assist the brethren during these dedication sessions was responsible to get President Monson to the Celestial Room before the meeting was to begin. He had carefully examined the layout of the building and determined the most efficient route.
As he led President Monson along the temple corridor, the Church leader stopped and knelt down next to a mother who was seated there with her son. "I would like you to come with me to the Celestial Room," President Monson said.
"I can't, because of my son," she replied.
With some hesitation, he arose and slowly continued on his way; but after just a few steps, the Lord's servant returned to the woman's side and encouraged her a second time to come with her son to the Celestial Room. But the mother quietly refused his offer a second time because of her son.
Reluctantly, President Monson left her again to preside over the temple dedication. As soon as the Church leader reached his destination, however, he directed his assistant to go back and bring the two of them into the room. When Elder Koelliker told the woman that he was supposed to bring them to the Celestial Room, the mother sadly responded, "My son has a disease that causes him to uncontrollably make loud noises without any warning. (Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder in which you display unusual movements or make sounds over which you may have little or no control). He might unintentionally disrupt the meeting." The elder then reported back to President Monson why the two did not come back with him.
Reluctantly, President Monson left her again to preside over the temple dedication. As soon as the Church leader reached his destination, however, he directed his assistant to go back and bring the two of them into the room. When Elder Koelliker told the woman that he was supposed to bring them to the Celestial Room, the mother sadly responded, "My son has a disease that causes him to uncontrollably make loud noises without any warning. (Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder in which you display unusual movements or make sounds over which you may have little or no control). He might unintentionally disrupt the meeting." The elder then reported back to President Monson why the two did not come back with him.
At the conclusion of the dedication service, President Monson stood in front of the large floral arrangement in front of the podium and pulled out a beautiful yellow rose. Those Church members standing nearby assumed that he was taking the flower as a memento of this sacred occasion; but as he retraced his steps back through the temple corridor with Elder Koelliker at his side, God's Special Witness found the woman still seated with her son. As a sweet act of kindness, he knelt and tenderly handed her the yellow rose.
As Elder Koelliker finished telling us this heart-warming true story, those of us seated in the choir seats in the front of the chapel could plainly see a family located in the first few rows of the congregation with a young boy who also has Tourette syndrome. What a blessing for those parents of a special-needs child to hear this sweet message of love and encouragement.
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