Gary Bell, returned missionary, Ogden resident

Upon arriving in Canada, Gary Bell recalls encountering President Thomas S. Monson, his mission president, at the Toronto train station. "I still remember him saying in a big booming voice: 'Hi. I'm Tom Monson. Welcome to the Canadian Mission.'

"I was always impressed with him as an individual and for his enthusiasm. I never met a missionary (in Canada) that wasn't really convinced he was someday going to sit in leading counsels of the church.

"I remember his capacity for leadership, setting goals and meeting them. I don't think he ever set a goal for his missionaries that we didn't met them."

There were many experiences where he would show up at a missionary's apartment or get an impression to go see them before they did something that was wrong. "He had this goal that he would never send a missionary home early, and he did everything he could to keep every missionary there."

Annual mission reunions in October before the church's general conference each year have been a highlight in Bell's association with President Monson. "President Monson always kids his missionaries that 'when I look at you I have to add on 30 pounds and subtract hair so I can identify who you were."

Pamela J.Atkinson, vice president of Intermountain Healthcare's mission services

"He follows what I perceive as epitomizing the teachings of Christ.

"I think he is a great person. I think there is no doubt in my mind that he will build on President Hinckley's legacy in many ways, but particularly in the humanitarian component. He has rather a great deal of interest in what's going on with people who have so many needs, not just around the world but here locally.

"He always wanted to make sure the LDS Church is doing its part in the community.

"He has been interested in our efforts to end chronic homelesness. He's been in interested in our efforts to make sure everybody who wants to come in during this dreadful weather, like we're having right now, can.

"I don't know if people know how much the LDS Church gets involved with the nonprofit world. President Monson is very aware of what the needs are. If you look at the responsibilities he has with this worldwide church, and yet he has the finger on the pulse of what goes on in this local community.

"I love his sense of humor. Many people know about him being a bishop in a ward with all the widows, and how he continued to visit them. I think that's the measure of the man, that to him everybody is important.