WASHINGTON, D.C.
President Thomas S. Monson met with President Barack Obama at the White House Monday afternoon, July 20.
Accompanied by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., President Monson paid what was described as a "courtesy visit" to the nation's leader. Sen. Reid, a Church member, helped arrange the meeting with President Obama.
President Monson and Elder Oaks presented the U.S. president with five large leather-bound volumes of his family history going back through several generations and covering hundreds of years.
After the meeting concluded, President Obama issued the following statement:
"I enjoyed my meeting with President Monson and Elder Oaks. I'm grateful for the genealogical records that they brought with them and am looking forward to reading through the materials with my daughters. It's something our family will treasure for years to come."
Of the visit and presentation, President Monson said: "President Obama's heritage is rich with examples of leadership, sacrifice and service. We were very pleased to research his family history and are honored to present it to him today."
Elder Oaks, chairman of the Church's Temple and Family History Executive Council, oversees the Church's family history program. He said, "The Church has great resources and experience in genealogy work, and we are proud to have researched such a unique and impressive family history."
Sen. Reid said, "I thank President Monson and Elder Oaks for sharing our religion's tradition of genealogical research with the president and his family. I am also glad that President Obama and Elder Oaks had an opportunity to discuss their shared passion of the law. Recognizing the president and first lady's deep regard for family, I am honored that our church can have any part in documenting their family history."
The Church has presented personal histories to other U.S. presidents, including Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
The meeting on Monday was the first between the nation's leader and President Monson. During his presidential campaign last year, Mr. Obama was scheduled for a visit to Salt Lake City on Feb. 2. However, he canceled his planned stop in deference to funeral services that day for President Gordon B. Hinckley, who passed away Jan. 27, 2008, at the age of 97.
