An EXTRA SPECIAL Devotional

Yesterday, I was sitting in my dorm room a little longer than normal because my 11 AM class was canceled.  At around 11:20, everyone in our hall started screaming in the hallway.  Whitney went out and ran back in the room screaming,
"PRESIDENT MONSON IS SPEAKING AT THE DEVOTIONAL TOMORROW."

Man, just typing that gives me chills.

President Monson is the latter-day prophet of our church. For him to come to BYU to speak is a HUGE deal.
I didn't see them nor did I get pictures...but apparently kids brought out tents and slept overnight outside the Mariott Center (the basketball stadium where we have these campus wide devotionals).  Kids I know went and stood out in the RAIN for four hours this morning to get a seat up close.
Sadly, I have class in the morning up to devotional time so my friends Janel and Jonathon went as early as they could to get us seats and we were in the top corner of the stadium! Craziness!

My history professor was hilarious this morning in class.  He's quite the sarcastic guy and yesterday in our class's Facebook page (weird how useful technology is!) a freshman girl posted that he should cancel class tomorrow because no one would want to go to class because we'd be late to devotional (class ends at 10:45, devotionals start across campus at 11:05) and most likely not get a seat. So at like 10:20 during class, Prof. Dursteler goes "Rumor has it that some of you are worried about getting to devotional...and apparently this one is pretty important...I mean I don't think the Prophet of God is more important than my class and we all know what he's going to say!" The class muttered "Get married!" He goes, "Well....that's not what I was thinking...but I guess marriage is more important than my class, get out of here!"

I decided to walk with my Sunday Playlist on my iPod to set the tone. I'm sooo glad I did. I arrived with tons of time to spare but the Mariott Center was already PACKED. Students had started sitting behind the podium because everywhere else was full!

A shot of the Marriot Center,
posted on BYU's Facebook Page

When Pres. Monson walked in, we all stood up and a hush fell over us. The Spirit was instantly strong and I had chills. He is quite the character and waved at us all to sit down, laughing to himself. M. Russel Nelson and his daughter also accompanied him.
And of course, when he stood up, what was the first thing he talked about? Marriage!!! He set off with a funny story about giving devotionals and how one girl thought he wasn't married because he can no longer where rings!
His message was on being an example to the believers, which here at BYU is interesting, as majority of us are obviously members. However, reflecting back on his words, I think his message is powerful and needed throughout the church today. He told of a missionary who needed surgery while on his mission in Canada and was sharing a room with 5 other men.  On the morning of this missionary's surgery, all 5 roommates refused breakfast, explaining to the nurse that this missionary had taught them of God and the gospel of Christ, and they were fasting for his surgery to go well.  The doctor explained as well that he would not cost him a fee because "someone on high" had performed the surgery.

He concluded with a quote from the Lion King, saying "Look inside yourself. You are more than what you've become." "Remember that you are a son and daughter of God."
It was by far the best devotional of the year and it was so neat to be in the same room as the prophet of God. During the closing prayer, I received a witness of the Holy Ghost that Thomas S. Monson is the true prophet on the earth today. I'm grateful to go to such a beautiful, spiritual, amazing university.