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A Funny Story about Monson

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:06 am
by _Runtu
I've told this story before, but I still think it's funny. Mind you, it's secondhand, but I heard it from several witnesses.

Back when I worked for the church, each department had a Christmas banquet on the 26th floor of the COB. The banquet was always attended by the GAs who had "stewardship" over those departments. Down the hall from my office was the typesetting department, with whom I worked almost every day (being an editor).

Their department had their Christmas banquet one Friday a couple of weeks before Christmas, and the following Monday everyone was buzzing about what had happened. The GA at their banquet was Thomas Monson, who was a counselor in the First Presidency. After dinner, they had entertainment, and as part of that, they set a chair up in the front of the room and had Monson sit down on it.

Then the song "Santa Baby" began, and two spandex-clad secretaries came out wearing Christmas Elf hats. They brought a Santa hat and placed it on Monson's head, lip-synching the song. They tousled his hair, patted his cheeks, and sat on his lap while they sang the song. Monson smiled gamely but nervously throughout.

The next Monday the director of the department was summoned to Monson's office and raked over the coals by a seriously angry Monson. Rumor had it that the secretaries involved were disciplined.

So, take it as apocryphal, but then at least 5 people swore to me that they had been there and had seen it. The only discrepancy was that although most thought it was the Madonna cover, one thought it was the Eartha Kitt version.

Re: A Funny Story about Monson

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:25 am
by _harmony
Runtu wrote:I've told this story before, but I still think it's funny. Mind you, it's secondhand, but I heard it from several witnesses.

Back when I worked for the church, each department had a Christmas banquet on the 26th floor of the COB. The banquet was always attended by the GAs who had "stewardship" over those departments. Down the hall from my office was the typesetting department, with whom I worked almost every day (being an editor).

Their department had their Christmas banquet one Friday a couple of weeks before Christmas, and the following Monday everyone was buzzing about what had happened. The GA at their banquet was Thomas Monson, who was a counselor in the First Presidency. After dinner, they had entertainment, and as part of that, they set a chair up in the front of the room and had Monson sit down on it.

Then the song "Santa Baby" began, and two spandex-clad secretaries came out wearing Christmas Elf hats. They brought a Santa hat and placed it on Monson's head, lip-synching the song. They tousled his hair, patted his cheeks, and sat on his lap while they sang the song. Monson smiled gamely but nervously throughout.

The next Monday the director of the department was summoned to Monson's office and raked over the coals by a seriously angry Monson. Rumor had it that the secretaries involved were disciplined.

So, take it as apocryphal, but then at least 5 people swore to me that they had been there and had seen it. The only discrepancy was that although most thought it was the Madonna cover, one thought it was the Eartha Kitt version.


Hmmm. this could come under several indictments:

1. light mindedness
2. loud laughter
3. evil speaking of the Lord's Annointed (he may be Santa, but he's not a baby)
4. disrespect
5. a serious breech of protocol
6. lack of discernment
7. invading his private space
8. immodesty
9. public embarrassment

If it had been Packer, they all would have been fired. Obviously he was not amused. Anyone with half a brain would have known that.

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:28 am
by _skippy the dead
To be fair, that probably wasn't the most appropriate way to act with a member of the First Presidency (especially having spandex-clad women casually touching him or sitting on his lap). Somebody was going for shock effect.

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:21 am
by _truth dancer
I'm with Skippy on this one.

Kind of difficult to believe. I mean seriously who would think for one minute this would be appropriate in any way whatsoever?

I can't really imagine any COB employee thinking this would be funny to Monson or appropriate for an apostle of the Lord.


~dancer~

Re: A Funny Story about Monson

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:48 am
by _moksha
harmony wrote:
Runtu wrote: The only discrepancy was that although most thought it was the Madonna cover, one thought it was the Eartha Kitt version.


Hmmm. this could come under several indictments:

1. light mindedness
2. loud laughter
3. evil speaking of the Lord's Annointed (he may be Santa, but he's not a baby)
4. disrespect
5. a serious breech of protocol
6. lack of discernment
7. invading his private space
8. immodesty
9. public embarrassment

If it had been Packer, they all would have been fired. Obviously he was not amused. Anyone with half a brain would have known that.


Assuming it was the Eartha Kitt version, President Packer may have also handed out Court of Love invitations. Probably be banned from MAD as well.

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:56 am
by _Imwashingmypirate
That once happened to my head teacher in Secondary School by some female students at a Christmas concert. He just played along. I think that was the year before he retired. He was also my mums head teacher. Apparently he was really strict when my mum was at school, but not now. My mum once spat on his head by accident. LOL. Don't tell him though, he didn't know who it was. My guidance teacher was also my mums and the same librarian is still there and an English teacher as well as the modern studies. Lots. Gosh I am rambling off on a tangent.