TORONTO, ONTARIO
Returning "home" to Toronto, President Thomas S. Monson greeted long-time friends and acknowledged members of the growing Church in Canada as he attended a sacrament meeting on June 26.
As he entered the chapel, he paused from time to time to shake hands or embrace a few local gospel stalwarts he has known since he presided from 1959-62 over the Canadian Mission, which had its headquarters in Toronto. Expressions of joy were shared as he reached out to Everett Pallin, who was his counselor in the mission presidency, and June Pallin, and acknowledged others, shaking hands with as many as he could reach and waving to those he could not. In addition to the Pallins, other acquaintances were: Joseph and Gladys Willmott, Malcom and Helen Warner, Bruce and Dolina Smith, Ethel Stewart and her son, Robert, Douglas and Thelma Dalgleish, Douglas McGinn, Ralph and Mary Culp, Richard and Mary Coatsworth, Manfred and Margaret Schulzke and Stephen and Shirley Hadley.
After the sacrament meeting, President Monson met with some of those members; they recalled events from his tenure as their mission president.
Later, he went to a care center to visit Pat Davies, 94, who was called to serve as a bishop when the Toronto Canada Stake was organized Aug. 14, 1960; President Monson was instrumental in the creation of the stake, which was the 300th in the Church. With the assistance of Elder David Murray, an Area Seventy, President Monson gave blessings to Brother Davies and his wife, Dorothy.
The visit to the bedside of his long-time friend was typical; President Monson is known for his compassionate nature and often visits people in their homes, hospital rooms and care centers. His visit with Brother Davies was but an echo of the message he delivered earlier to members of the Etobicoke and Churchville YSA wards in their combined sacrament meeting.
"What a joy it is, my brothers and sisters, to be here with you this morning," he said. "This visit has been a homecoming for me — to be back in this part of the world which I love, not only with cherished friends but also with the children and grandchildren of cherished friends — many of whom have departed mortality."
He commented on how good it was to see friends from 50 years ago. "There are so many of you I don't recognize, either by name or by face, but I claim you as friends and fellow saints as well. I feel like something of an adopted Canadian citizen myself. Whenever and wherever I hear the rich strains of 'O Canada,' I'm proud and honored to stand."
He brought greetings from his wife, Sister Frances J. Monson, expressing her love for the members.
He expressed gratitude that their daughter, Ann Dibb, second counselor in the general Young Women presidency, was able to travel to Canada with him. She and her older brother, Tom, attended school in Canada, and her younger brother, Clark, was born in Canada while President Monson served as mission president.
"Those glorious days of presiding over the mission, the rich chapters in our lives that are affiliated with our beloved Canada, will be eternal and cherished memories," he said.
President Monson spoke about choices and consequences.
"It has been said that the gate of history turns on small hinges, and so do people's lives. My brothers and sisters, we become what we choose. Our choices determine our destiny."
He quoted Joshua, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve ... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
Some choices may seem more important than others, he said, but no choice is insignificant. "Our goal is to obtain celestial glory, and we need to chart our course so that we can reach that goal."
He shared a three-part formula:
He said faith has always been a fundamental principle of strength for Latter-Saints. "Without it we go nowhere. With it we can accomplish anything in building the kingdom of God," he declared.
To illustrate faith, he told of a couple in Ontario, Roy and Dorothy Fraser, who had come to him as their mission president to receive recommends to go to the Salt Lake Temple — the nearest temple to them at that time — to be sealed as a family with their seven children. President Monson said when he saw the old car they had purchased for the trip, he declared, "That car will never get you to Salt Lake City."
"Sister Fraser responded, 'That car will get us to the temple in Salt Lake City, and that's the difference.' "
President Monson said he learned a lesson in faith that day. The Frasers reached their goal.
To illustrate the filling of the heart with love, he spoke of how the Savior ministered among men and His answer to the lawyer who boldly asked, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:36).
"Matthew records that Jesus said unto him, 'Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself' (Matthew 37-39). And Mark concludes the account with the Savior's statement, 'There is none other command greater than these' (Mark 12:31).
"Love is the catalyst that causes change. Love is the balm that brings healing to the soul."
President Monson spoke of a young man in Toronto who faithfully sat by the bedside of his grandmother, Olive Davies, as she was dying. Her only child had moved from the area. The grandson said he sat by her to comfort her because he loved her and he knew that was what his Heavenly Father would have him do.
Of filling one's life with service, President Monson spoke of Gustav Wacker, who was a branch president in Kingston, Ontario, when President Monson presided over the Canadian Mission. A barber, he cut hair for the missionaries without charge. Although he earned little money himself, he would pay for a taxi to take missionaries home when it was raining and then he would walk to his own home in the rain.
President Monson said, "Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to save.
"During your life you may achieve wealth or fame or social standing. Real success, however, comes from helping others."
While in Canada, President Monson dedicated a camp that bears his name and attended a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
