Pres. Monson visits elderly on birthday
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President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, observed his 61st birthday Sunday, Aug. 21, engaged in one of his favorite activities - visiting residents in a nursing home.
After having been honored by General Authority colleagues and their wives at a reception in the Church Administration Building two days earlier, President Monson spent part of his birthday with his wife, Frances; their two sons and daughter and their spouses; and five grandchildren.He paused in his busy schedule to go to Wasatch Villa Convalescent Nursing Home, where he has been a frequent visitor for many years. "Everyone just brightened up when he came in," said Wanda Rosander, wife of Paul Rosander, president of the Wasatch Villa Branch, Salt Lake Valley View Stake. "We didn't know it was his birthday. He just went around like he always does, shaking hands with everyone and talking with them.
"He arrived quite a while before our sacrament meeting and visited with a lot of the residents, and stayed for some time after the meeting. During sacrament meeting, he gave a talk, and just brought everyone into his message. He has that special ability to make each person feel loved and important.
"Over the years, he has become well acquainted with several residents, and he makes a special point of visiting them. Some were unable to come to the meeting, so he went to their rooms. When you think about how busy he must be, you realize how much he must love these people to take time to visit like that.
"If we had known it was his birthday, we would have sung `Happy Birthday' to him, but I'm sure he knows how much everyone there loves him."
