The media and Internet is abuzz today with news of the passing of our beloved Mormon leader and Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. Following close behind are news stories speculating about his successor. Tradition has dictated that the longest-serving apostle will become the next president. If that is the case, it will be President Thomas S. Monson.
Thomas S. Monson, Mormon Prophet
At the young age of 36, President Monson was ordained an Apostle and called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 4, 1963. He began his service in the First Presidency on November 10, 1985 when he was called to be the Second Counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson. On June 5, 1994, he was called as the Second Counselor to President Howard W. Hunter. He was called and set apart as First Counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley on March 12, 1995 and he has served in that capacity ever since. That is, until the death of President Hinckley yesterday. The First Presidency is dissolved immediately upon the death of the President and the two counselors return to their positions in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
For a detailed look at how the next Prophet is called, please see this excellent post on “Choosing the Next Prophet” by Candace Salima. If you’d like more information about the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, please refer to BYU’s “Frequently Asked Questions About the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
I’ve always loved listening to President Monson so I want to share a little bit of that experience with you. Please follow this link to his official biography if you’d like more information about his life and his service.
One of my favorite talks by President Monson is “True to the Faith.” He begins this talk with a story he heard while visiting Liahona High School in Tonga. It is the story of the maka-feke. A maka-feke is a Tongan octopus lure. Octopus meat is a delicacy in Tonga and throughout many other Polynesian islands.
In President Monson’s own words;
The teacher explained that Tongan fishermen glide over a reef, paddling their outrigger canoes with one hand and dangling the maka-feke over the side with the other. An octopus dashes out from its rocky lair and seizes the lure, mistaking it for a much-desired meal. So tenacious is the grasp of the octopus and so firm is its instinct not to relinquish the precious prize that fishermen can flip it right into the canoe.
It was an easy transition for the teacher to point out to the eager and wide-eyed youth that the evil one—even Satan—has fashioned so-called maka-fekes with which to ensnare unsuspecting persons and take possession of their destinies.
It was easy enough for us to see the relevance of this story in our lives as well. Even our children were able to understand the important lesson in this story. Consequently, this story quickly became a favorite in our home. We found ourselves using the word ‘maka-feke’ to refer to things that came up which threatened to take our focus away from the Lord. In fact, we remind each other often to “beware of maka-fekes.”
Beware of maka-fekes my friends. Many maka-fekes come in beautiful and alluring packaging. Many more maka-fekes offer popularity, excitement and temporary thrills. In this talk, President Monson referred specifically to the maka-fekes of immorality, pornography, drugs, and excessive debt. There is no shortage of maka-fekes that threaten to destroy our families if we’re not careful. I’m so grateful that inspired leaders like President Monson continue to counsel us about these maka-fekes today.
I love President Monson. I love the simple yet profound way he teaches us. If he is to be our next Prophet, I will sustain and follow him as will every other faithful Latter-day Saint.
