To illustrate the theme of his priesthood session address, "Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence," (Doctrine and Covenants 107:99), President Thomas S. Monson recalled an assignment he received many years earlier.
Now first counselor in the First Presidency, President Monson had received an assignment as a young apostle to address the 1966 general conference. He had prepared and committed to memory a message entitled "Meeting Your Goliath." But with a telephone call, President David O. McKay changed that assignment, asking then-Elder Monson to join him in speaking to an Easter theme for the Saturday morning session. The session would be rebroadcast on Sunday as the Church's Easter message to the world.
"All of a sudden 'Meeting Your Goliath' didn't quite measure up to an Easter message," he recalled. "I knew I must begin to prepare all over again. There was so little time. Indeed, my 'Goliath' stood before me."
He began about 7 p.m., but by at 1 a.m., he still had not come up with an idea for his talk, he said. "I paused to pray. Soon thereafter there came to my mind the sadness of my neighbors, Mark and Wilma Shumway, in the recent loss of their youngest child. I thought to myself: Perhaps I could speak directly to them and peripherally to all others; for who hasn't lost a dear one and had occasion to grieve? My fingers raced over the typewriter keyboard but could barely keep up with my thoughts."
Rarely has he struggled so hard to fill a prophetic assignment, he said. "However, Heavenly Father had heard my prayer. I shall never forget the experience."
The Lord will also be with all priesthood holders in their solemn duty to honor the priesthood and bring many souls unto the Lord, President Monson said.
Turning to his own experience as a youth in the Aaronic Priesthood, President Monson told of being called upon as the secretary of his deacons quorum to give an accounting of his service and to bear his testimony during a leadership session of stake conference. "I don't recall a single thing I said, but I have never forgotten the experience," he said.
As a teenager, he said, he was president of his teachers quorum. In the quorum was a young man, Fritz Hoerold, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17. He found himself on a large battleship engaged in World Ward II battles in the Pacific, where his ship was severely damaged and many sailors were killed or wounded.
Home on leave, Fritz attended the teachers quorum meeting, where the quorum adviser invited him to speak. "I remember that I asked Fritz to tell us any thoughts he had for our benefit," President Monson said. "After all, we were about the same age. With a wry smile, Fritz responded, 'Don't volunteer for anything!' "
Several years ago, President Monson saw a magazine article about those battles at sea and looked up Fritz so he could send the magazine to him. Learning that he had not yet been ordained an elder and hence had never been to the temple, he wrote a letter encouraging him to qualify for the blessings of the temple. On subsequent occasions, when he would see Fritz and is wife, Joyce, she would always urge President Monson, "Keep working with this man of mine."
He kept up the encouragement, but just a few weeks ago was saddened to see the newspaper obituary for Joyce. He attended the funeral.
"Immediately upon seeing me, Fritz made a beeline to my side," he said. "We both shed a few tears. He asked me to be the final speaker."
During the funeral address, President Monson said, he concluded his remarks by saying: "Fritz, my dear friend and fellow sailor, you have courage, you have determination. You put your life on the line for your country in a time of peril. Now you must heed the call of the bos'n's whistle: 'All aboard — anchor's aweigh' — for your journey to exaltation. Joyce is there waiting for you. I know your dear children and grandchildren are praying for you. Fritz, as your teachers quorum president of long ago, I will strive with all my heart and soul to make certain you won't miss the ship that will carry you and your loved ones to celestial glory.'
"I gave him a Navy salute. Fritz stood and returned the salute.
"Brethren, may each of us be obedient to the easily remembered couplet: 'Do your duty, that is best. Leave unto the Lord the rest.' "