President Merlin W. Sant — 1972
— President and Sister Sant — 1972 —
In August of 1972, our mission received a new mission president, President Merlin W. Sant. Although President Sant’s personality and leadership style were different than President Ludwig’s, I quickly developed a great love and admiration for our new president. President Sant appeared to be detail oriented and very organized. He was very personable but not a man of many words. In September of 1972, I was called to be an assistant to President Sant, and my love for President Sant deepened as our relationship with each other grew and developed. I truly appreciated and respected his particular leadership style.
During the ensuing weeks, I became acutely aware that President Sant was very concerned, warm-hearted, and flexible enough to accept and use suggestions. I witnessed the many hours he spent deliberating over missionary problems and assignments, the love and deep concern he had for us missionaries, and the many sincere prayers he offered in our behalf. President Sant displayed great dignity and respect for his important calling, which dignity he maintained as an example for us missionaries. He had a great desire to help us live the missionary rules and reach our full potentials. His reluctance to talk to us about our problems was not because he lacked concern, but because he wanted us to learn to solve our own problems and to gain self-confidence and assurance. His every decision and instruction was to help us realize that our potentials were great, that over-dependence on others was a weakening influence, and that we would enjoy greater success as we began to rely on ourselves.
I soon found President Sant to be warm and friendly (within the bounds that his dignity and calling would permit), he liked to have a good laugh along with the rest of us, and he was extremely enjoyable to be around. President Sant maintained his leadership dignity and course of action from the time that he first arrived in the field, for which I greatly admired him. It was easy to understand him and accept him for what he was and stood for.
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