PROVO, UTAH
Individuals must look to the examples of the prophets and do their best to emulate them, BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson, a member of the Seventy, said during BYU's weekly devotional held Jan. 5. His wife, Sister Sharon Samuelson, joined him in addressing the assembly.
Sharing experiences that have had a great impact on his life, President Samuelson told stories of personal encounters with President David O. McKay, the Church's ninth president, and President Thomas S. Monson.
"I believe we as members of the Church always have tender feelings about the prophet, but with our family it was particularly so with President McKay," he said. "He was not only the prophet and president of the Church, but he was a dear friend of many years to my maternal grandparents."
President Samuelson told of President McKay's association with his grandfather, Joseph Mitchell, as they served a mission to Scotland at the same time. He told of multiple experiences as a young missionary meeting President McKay, and the impact each encounter had on his own life.
One experience President Samuelson spoke of happened when he was a missionary in Scotland. President McKay was visiting with missionaries when a group of reporters barged into the room, asking if he was a true prophet. President McKay responded, "Look me in the eyes. Can you tell me that I am not a prophet?"
"It was a tremendous moment in my life because I knew then better than ever before that he truly was the Lord's prophet and we, as young, inexperienced and unpolished missionaries, were really on the Lord's errand. …
"You might not think any of these experiences to be particularly impressive, but to me they have had a very profound influence on my life that persists to this day," President Samuelson said. "I am grateful for them and especially for the lessons learned and the principles taught by this great prophet."
Looking to President McKay as an example, President Samuelson spoke of four lessons he taught.
President Samuelson said President McKay and President Monson share similarities.
"Let me add just one more [lesson] that I'm convinced many of you share," he said. "That is the tremendous influence this servant of the Lord has had in so many obvious ways on our current president and prophet, Thomas S. Monson. In President Monson we see the same tender consideration and feeling for others that President McKay demonstrated.
"Like President McKay, President Monson has always tried to do not only what he needed to do, but to do what he felt he should as one called to represent the Savior," he said. "I am most grateful for the lessons that these two great priesthood leaders have taught and are continuing to teach me."
Sister Samuelson also spoke of the influence President McKay has had on her life.
Recalling a story from President McKay's life, she told of a motto he read on a stone while on his mission in Scotland. It read, "Whate'er thou art, act well thy part."
Just as the motto became an important guideline for President McKay it, too, can be a guide for everyone today, Sister Samuelson said.
"You have different roles in your lives. These roles often change from day to day or even hour to hour," she said. "Hopefully, you will periodically recall the motto of President McKay and remember to 'act well thy part' in your day-to-day activities. …
"Your lives will continue with new roles as you leave campus life. You will find yourselves having different ones in your families. You will serve in many different capacities and assignments in the Church. You will be leaders as well as followers. In the work place and home, you will create, teach, learn, serve and so forth. You will have vitally important roles in your community, family and Church. Throughout your life, you will have opportunities each day to be reminded of the admonition that was followed by a prophet of the Lord, 'Whate'er thou art, act well thy part.' "
