Have you ever met a Mormon General Authority…
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:03 pm
Let me clarify it as have you ever met or interacted with a Mormon General Authority outside the chapel and not dealing with religion.
In the early ‘1980s, I was attending a local community college and working for a corporation that interacted with those who travel frequently and check in at an airport. One day in the early ‘80s I met Elder Paul Dunn. He was extremely kind and followed my simple instructions which took like thirty seconds, grabbed his bag and walked towards another check in area. I thought, wow! That’s cool. I had some of his talks on cassette. I listened to them many times on the drive to and from work and loved his war stories. When I got home, I told my mom that I had met Elder Paul Dunn at work that day. I think it was the first time in many years she saw me with a smile and with hope in my eyes.
A few weeks later when I got home from work, I found a letter on my bed from church headquarters. I opened it up and read it. The letter was from Elder Paul Dunn. He basically said it was nice to meet me that day and he thanked me for helping him and wished me well. I thought wow, that’s cool.
Now today as I look back, I’m sure my mom got on the phone the following day, called church headquarters and was transferred to Elder Dunn’s office and told him that the young man he checked in with was her son and then explained my experience with the church during the previous few years.
It was nice for Elder Dunn and his secretary to get the letter typed, signed and put in the mail. Bonus points to Elder Dunn and all those involved for me to get the letter. I’m sure I read it many times during the year bringing a smile and hope.
A few years later I met Elder Thomas S. Monson. He was a big jolly guy with a huge smile. He was pleasant to work with for a few moments.
In the early ‘1980s, I was attending a local community college and working for a corporation that interacted with those who travel frequently and check in at an airport. One day in the early ‘80s I met Elder Paul Dunn. He was extremely kind and followed my simple instructions which took like thirty seconds, grabbed his bag and walked towards another check in area. I thought, wow! That’s cool. I had some of his talks on cassette. I listened to them many times on the drive to and from work and loved his war stories. When I got home, I told my mom that I had met Elder Paul Dunn at work that day. I think it was the first time in many years she saw me with a smile and with hope in my eyes.
A few weeks later when I got home from work, I found a letter on my bed from church headquarters. I opened it up and read it. The letter was from Elder Paul Dunn. He basically said it was nice to meet me that day and he thanked me for helping him and wished me well. I thought wow, that’s cool.
Now today as I look back, I’m sure my mom got on the phone the following day, called church headquarters and was transferred to Elder Dunn’s office and told him that the young man he checked in with was her son and then explained my experience with the church during the previous few years.
It was nice for Elder Dunn and his secretary to get the letter typed, signed and put in the mail. Bonus points to Elder Dunn and all those involved for me to get the letter. I’m sure I read it many times during the year bringing a smile and hope.
A few years later I met Elder Thomas S. Monson. He was a big jolly guy with a huge smile. He was pleasant to work with for a few moments.