President McKay an example for Y students

BYU students and staff should look to the examples of the prophets and do their best to emulate them, BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson said during a campus devotional Tuesday.

Samuelson shared stories of personal encounters he had with the church's ninth president, President David O. McKay and with current President Thomas S. Monson as he and his wife, Sister Sharon Samuelson, delivered the traditional opening devotional of the winter semester.

"I believe we as members of the church always have tender feelings about the prophet, but with our family it was particularly so with President McKay," he said. "He was not only the prophet and president of the church, but he was a dear friend of many years to my maternal grandparents."

Samuelson told of President McKay's association with his grandfather, Joseph Mitchell, as they served a mission to Scotland at the same time. He told of multiple experiences as a young missionary meeting President McKay and the impact each encounter had on his own life.

One experience took place while Samuelson himself was serving in Scotland as a young man. President McKay was visiting with a group of missionaries when a group of reporters barged into the room. When asked if he was a true prophet, President McKay responded, "Look me in the eyes. Can you tell me that I am not a prophet?"

"It was a tremendous moment in my life," Samuelson said, "because I knew then better than ever before that he truly was the Lord's prophet and we as young, inexperienced and unpolished missionaries were really on the Lord's errand.

"You might not think any of these experiences to be particularly impressive," he said. "but to me they have had a very profound influence on my life that persists to this day. I am grateful for them and especially for the lessons learned and the principles taught by this great prophet."

Samuelson spoke of four lessons President McKay taught through his example.

First, he was considerate of others. "He was a gentleman in every respect, but beyond that he also made extra effort to connect with and relate to everyone he met."

Second, he was loyal to friends and associates. "I think it mattered not to President McKay that his friend, Joseph Mitchell, was not highly educated in the schools of the world. President McKay was unfailingly kind, complimentary and appropriately affectionate."