Speaking to more than 23,000 young adults in BYU's Marriott Center and to thousands of others watching a satellite telecast Sunday evening, Feb. 5, President Thomas S. Monson said, "I think in your minds tonight, wherever you are, your question would be, `How is President Howard W. Hunter?'
"I'm here to tell you," President Monson said to those assembled for the BYU Church Educational System Fireside. (President Hunter has been resting at his apartment after having been in the hospital Jan. 12-16.)President Monson, second counselor to President Hunter in the First Presidency, related to the congregation some details of a visit he had with the Church leader that morning.
President Monson said he told President Hunter he was going to speak to the young adults of the Church that evening, and asked if he could express President Hunter's love for them. "A great big smile came across his face. He said, `I wish you would. Tell them I love them and that I feel I am much improved.' "
President Monson noted, "Truly, he looked remarkably well for a man who has been so seriously ill. We chatted for some time."
The focus of President Monson's message was on President Hunter. President Monson referred to Sir Thomas More, an English statesman and author (1478-1535) who suffered isolation and scorn because of his steadfastness in holding to his beliefs. Sir Thomas More's story is told in A Man for All Seasons, a book about his life that was made into a film.
"Today, amid the conflicts of our time and the turbulence we frequently encounter, we reach out to such a one," President Monson said. "Our Heavenly Father, knowing our need, has provided `a man for all seasons.' His name is President Howard W. Hunter. He is our prophet, seer and revelator. He is an island of calm amidst a sea of storm. He is like a lighthouse to the mariner. He is your friend and mine."
President Monson then spoke about President Hunter as he has come to know him during the more than 31 years they have served together.
"What narrowed-down list of virtues shall I choose to describe Howard W. Hunter, the man whom we sustain as Prophet, Seer and Revelator - even as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?"
President Monson said President Hunter is a legend - even a life - of virtues. He said he had time to speak of only six from a much more lengthy list:
Courtesy. "Whether in a moment of pleasant conversation or in times of constant pain, he is ever courteous," President Monson said. He told of a painter who said President Hunter graciously thanked him and his crew for painting a room in his home.
"True courtesy is universally appreciated. Courtesy is akin to kindness, to which President Hunter is no stranger."
Humility. " Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.' (D&C 112:10.) Never boastful or lifted up with pride, President Hunter speaks often concerning the talents of others and praises their many accomplishments. As for him, he adheres to the Proverb,Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth.' " (Prov. 27:2.)
President Monson spoke of President Hunter's humility while accomplishing great works, such as being instrumental as a stake president in the coordination of fund-raising among all the stakes in Southern California to acquire the large Perris, Calif., citrus groves, which then became one of the largest and most successful welfare projects in the Church. He said President Hunter, also while a stake president in California, coordinated myriad details pertaining to the dedication of the Los Angeles Temple. "He generously gave credit to others and ensured that his name was not excessively featured, even though he had been a driving force behind these monumental undertakings."
Deliberateness. "Others have confidence in the judgment of Howard W. Hunter, because he studies out the matter at hand, weighs it against the never-failing scales of experience and inspiration, and clearly presents his opinion."
Love. "President Hunter is a caring and a loving person. He is attracted to children, and they are attracted to him. He is aware of the poor, the downtrodden and the disadvantaged, and he ministers to them."
President Monson spoke of the love President Hunter demonstrated among members of the Church worldwide and within his own family.
Scholarship. "President Hunter is a scholar," President Monson said. "He knows history and he loves archaeology, having served for years as president of the New World Archaeological Foundation. He is as familiar with the ruins at Tikal or Chichen-Itza and with the huge stones in far-off Baalbek in Lebanon as he is with the streets of Salt Lake City. He studies the scriptures, he teaches their precepts, he lives their laws, he follows their divine direction. His personal library is the envy of all. And his volumes are not only displayed; they are read. He adheres to the Lord's counsel, `Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.' " (Prov. 88:118.)
President Monson said President Hunter's counsel as a scholar or as a prophet would be the same: Follow in the footsteps of the Savior and grow in "wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man." (See Luke 2:52.)
Loyalty. "President Hunter has been loyal to the royal within him. He is loyal to the Christian code of conduct that has ever guided his footsteps. He is an `example of the believers,' as the Apostle Paul counseled his young friend, Timothy. He is beloved of the Lord. He is guided by God. He is loyal to truth."
The fireside was the first in a series of seven to be held in 1995 for single and married college-age young adult members of the Church. The fireside was carried by the Church satellite network throughout North America to as far north as Alaska and as far south as Mexico, and to islands of the Caribbean. In some eastern locales, the fireside, which began at 7 p.m. (MST), was videotaped for viewing on another date because of the lateness of the hour at which it started.
Welcoming President Monson and his wife, Frances, to the Marriott Center were BYU Pres. Rex E. Lee and his wife, Janet. Also greeting President and Sister Monson were Stanley Peterson, the Church Educational System's Administrator of Religious Education and Elementary and Secondary Education, and his wife, Anna.
Music for the fireside was provided by a choir from the institute of religion adjacent to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The choir was directed by Richard Openshaw; Esther Brough accompanied on the piano for "Consider the Lilies," and Travis Schiffman accompanied for "Here Am I."
The Brigham Young University 4th Stake functioned as host of the fireside, with second counselor Scott Cameron conducting the meeting, and stake Pres. John S. Tanner introducing President Monson. Pres. Tanner spoke of the "sweet memory" he had when, in 1963, shortly after President Monson was ordained an apostle, he visited with the Tanner family in their home. "Over the intervening years, I suspect that countless thousands of lives have been blessed by President Thomas S. Monson, whose ministry now has included service as the second counselor to two presidents of the Church," Pres. Tanner said.
The fireside's opening prayer was offered by Scott M. Petersen, a second-year law student from Orem, Utah; Sylvia Ramachandran, a senior majoring in art from Herriman, Utah, gave the closing prayer.
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