“At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of
my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind
was preoccupied with the question ‘How can I possibly do this?’ I left the
office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration
Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at
the floor.
“The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up.
As the door closed, I heard someone ask, ‘What are you looking at down there?’
I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.
“I quickly looked up and responded, ‘Oh, nothing.’
“But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy
briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, ‘It is
better to look up!’
“Since then I have pondered this experience and the role of
prophets. I was burdened and my head was down. As the prophet spoke, I looked
to him. He redirected my focus to look up to God, where I could be healed and
strengthened through Christ’s
Atonement. That is what prophets do for us. They lead us to God.”
~ Elder Carl B. Book, member of the Quorums of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
