We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet...

I love ward conference. There are many reasons to love ward conference but for me one biggest is that I get the opportunity to raise my hand and sustain a man who has been called of God as the Prophet. It means a lot to me to have a Prophet on the earth and to know that his calling was not the result of a popularity contest. He did not have to make speeches or organize a campaign.

I also love that when a prophet dies and a new one is sustained there is a sense of peace that the decision rested in the influence of our Heavenly Father not in a court of the land or an electoral college. In contrast to the current political turmoil that has taken over our airwaves. The passing of the most recent prophet was marked by quick and peaceful passing of the prophetic mantel to his successor.

So today when I raised my hand and sustained Thomas S. Monson as a prophet I felt happy to be able to say that I support the prophet, I will listen to him, I will follow his guidance and I KNOW that he was called of God for the responsibilities he has undertaken. And that is why I love ward conference…