Why I admire President Monson.
Christ’s denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees included the caution that the outward observances of the law were less important than the “weighter matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith.” (Matt. 23: 23.)
James, the brother of Jesus and Presiding Bishop of the New Testament Church, whom I regard as the unidentified “Teacher of Righteousness” taught that “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1: 27.)
Thomas Monson’s lifelong ministry to the widows, elderly and fatherless is sincere, real and lasting. One of the widows to whom he paid a visit a few short months ago was my wife’s grandmother, the great-grandmother to my children. At the time, she was confined to an assisted-living home. Without any advance notice President Monson showed up on a stormy Sunday afternoon. Due to the weather conditions, the care center had decided to cancel their Sacrament Meeting. He came through the storm, put the meeting back into place, and conducted this Sabbath celebration for the confined, elderly widows and widowers.
He lives that “pure religion” which includes the “weighter matters” that, above all else, we ought not leave undone.
Virtues are worthy of recognition. I like to take a lead from the Egyptian judgment scale and to weigh a man’s heart against a feather to decide another man’s worthiness before God. For with what judgment we judge we shall be judged. (Matt. 7: 2.)