When President Monson walked in I remembered that Grandmother Hanson loves the Prophet. I remembered her story about President Spencer W. Kimball: "President Kimball said, he wouldn't eat a cracker without praying over it," she'd tell me, "and I'm the same way. I'd never eat a cracker before thanking God." I recalled how during her more dangerous stages of Alzheimer's, she walked the 2 miles from her home in Bountiful Utah to Sizzler, without telling anyone. When we finally found her she insisted she was waiting for the Apostles to come. Once during a Kaysville 20th ward's sacrament meeting Grandma leaned over to me and wryly said, "there are a lot of apostles in your ward, huh?"
Sitting there with Grandma in the presence of a living Prophet I said, "Grandma, that's the prophet. That's our prophet. Are you happy to see him?" In response, Grandma managed to rattle out a gorgeous "yes," in her distinct soprano, seldom heard voice; a voice I can still hear when I imagine her singing, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas," a Christmas tradition, that for most of my life was as sure as the rising sun.
As I sat there I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Grandma lived by faith. She forgave. She advocated kindness. And I am in her debt. Her goodness yields immeasurable blessings, for me and for all of her offspring.
I love her. She taught me to be faithful to God's Prophet under any circumstance. Thanks Grandma.
I also love this video.
