Young Women General Board Member shares personal thoughts about President Monson

Ann M. Dibb, a member of the Young Women General Board of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the daughter of President Thomas S. Monson, spoke to Brigham Young University-Idaho students in a Tuesday, February 19 devotional address about the extraordinary characteristics her father exemplifies.

Dibb began her address by expressing her love for President Gordon B. Hinckley. "My life has been blessed because I have known President and Sister Hinckley. I have come to know their large, extended family. They are choice people," she said.

After testifying of President Monson's call to lead the Church, Dibb outlined what a prophet is, quoting True to the Faith: "Like the prophets of old, prophets today testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel.  They make known God's will and true character. They speak boldly and clearly, denouncing sin and warning of its consequences," she said.

"I'd like to tell you a little about my father, the prophet," she continued. "He is a great man, and you might be interested in learning about him." Recalling her father's years of military service, Dibb spoke of how her father stayed true to the commandments given him. "He honored and used his priesthood. He made the choice to keep the Lord's commandments. Because he did so, he qualified for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and he received the promised blessings," she said.

Dibb described President Monson as a happy man of great faith who always prays. "My father has always prayed with and for our family morning and night. His prayers are prayers of gratitude for the many blessings we receive. As the family has grown, my father and mother still pray for each family member in their daily prayers," she said.

She also testified of her father's discipleship of Jesus Christ. "I'd like to share with you the most powerful testimony I've heard my father share. It was in his home ward during a sacrament meeting. He related his experience of going to the Holy Land, walking on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and walking where Jesus may have walked... Then he said, ‘I may have walked where Jesus once walked, but what is more important to me is that today, I can walk where Jesus would walk if he were still with us. I can listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and minister to those the Savior would minister to today,'" she said.

Dibb concluded with her personal testimony. "The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth, through revelation, by the Prophet Joseph Smith. We have scriptures to bless us and strengthen us in our day. Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God, and it is through His Atonement and Resurrection that we can return to our Heavenly Father after this mortal probation is complete and receive our eternal exaltation," she said.

Next week's devotional speaker will be Greg Palmer, a member of the BYU-Idaho Religious Education Department faculty. Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham Auditorium. Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.