Mormons Give Prophet ´Warm Fuzzies´

Salt Lake City, Utah – Mormon children who performed acts of service to others sent a jar of "warm fuzzies" to the Mormon Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson as a birthday gift.

In a newspaper interview in Aug. 2008 President Monson said the best gift he could receive on his birthday would be for members of the Church to "find someone who is having a hard time, or is ill, or lonely, and do something for him or her."

At the 179th Semi-annual Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Monson said he was overwhelmed by the response he received as a result of the news article. This year on his 82nd birthday he received hundreds of cards and letters telling him of the acts of service performed during the past year as a birthday present to him in response to his request a year ago.

Among the many gifts sent to him, a group of children sent him a jar containing hundreds of what they called "warm fuzzies," each representing an act of service during the past year by one of the children.

"I can only imagine the happiness these children experienced as they told of their service and then placed a ´warm fuzzie´ in the jar," said President Monson.

The gathering on Temple Square was part of the weekend conference at which members of the Church listened to counsel from their Prophet, as well as from other leaders. Over 100,000 gathered from countries around the world to participate in person, while many of the other 13 plus million members watch by satellite transmission to homes and church buildings all over the world.

President Monson showed images of just some of the hundreds or cards and letters he received from children all over the world, describing their birthday gifts of service to others. He said he also received many birthday cards and notes from teenagers who also performed many acts of service to others.

Many adults also sent messages about service they gave during the year.

President Monson asked Church members to ask themselves each day what they "have done for someone today."

"That service to which all of us have been called is the service of the Lord Jesus Christ," said President Monson. "As He enlists us to His cause, He invites us to draw close to Him."

He then added: "If we truly listen, we may hear that voice from far away say to us, as it spoke to another, ´Well done, thou good and faithful servant.´"