This past weekend, I spoke in church about Service. We all could be a little nicer, kinder, and more helpful. Here it is for those of you that missed it.
Compassion
for others has always been a fundamental characteristic of members of The
Church of Jesus
Christ
of Latter-day Saints. The prophet Alma said:
“Ye
are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are
willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are
willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in
need of comfort.”
These
attributes define who we are, what we can be, and ultimately whom we serve.
It is in our best
interest to follow the simple counsel in the hymn Lord, I Would Follow Thee.
It begins,
Savior may I learn
to love thee, walk the path that thou hast shown.
A
few weeks ago in YW, we talked about the attributes of Christ, and how it was
important to become like Christ, by developing attributes similar to His. It was a great reminder, that if we want to be like Him, we need to live like Him.
In
November of 2005, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said it best, when he said, “To
follow Christ is to become more like Him. It is to learn from His character. As
spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate
Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to
learn His gospel by living His teachings.”
Christ
lived a life of service, a life of focusing on the needs of others, and
ultimately giving His own life to save each one of us.
Pause
to help and lift another, finding strength beyond my own.
When our beloved prophet, President Thomas S.
Monson,
was asked on his birthday in August 2008 what would be the ideal gift that
members worldwide could give him? He said without a moment’s hesitation, “Find
someone who is having a hard time, … and do something for them.”
Many years ago, “A young mother on an overnight flight
with a two-year-old daughter was stranded by bad weather in Chicago airport without
food or clean clothing for the child and without money. She was … pregnant and
threatened with miscarriage, so she was under doctor’s instructions not to
carry the child unless it was essential. Hour after hour she stood in one line
after another, trying to get a flight to Michigan. The terminal was noisy, full
of tired, frustrated, grumpy passengers, and she heard critical references to
her crying child and to her sliding her child along the floor with her foot as
the line moved forward. No one offered to help with the soaked, hungry,
exhausted child.
“Then, the woman later reported, ‘someone came towards
us and with a kindly smile said, “Is there something I could do to help you?”
With a grateful sigh I accepted his offer. He lifted my sobbing little daughter
from the cold floor and lovingly held her to him while he patted her gently on
the back. He asked if she could chew a piece of gum. When she was settled down,
he carried her with him and said something kindly to the others in the line
ahead of me, about how I needed their help. They seemed to agree and then he
went up to the ticket counter [at the front of the line] and made arrangements
with the clerk for me to be put on a flight leaving shortly. He walked with us
to a bench, where we chatted a moment, until he was assured that I would be
fine. He went on his way. About a week later I saw a picture of Apostle
Spencer W. Kimball and recognized him as the stranger in the airport.’”
Several years later, President Kimball received a letter that read, in part:
“Dear President Kimball:
“I am a student at Brigham Young University. I have just
returned from my mission in Munich, West Germany. I had a lovely mission and
learned much. …
“I was sitting in priesthood meeting last week, when a
story was told of a loving service which you performed some twenty-one years
ago in the Chicago airport. The story told of how you met a young pregnant
mother with a … screaming child, in … distress, waiting in a long line for her
tickets. She was threatening miscarriage and therefore couldn’t lift her child
to comfort her. She had experienced four previous miscarriages, which gave
added reason for the doctor’s orders not to bend or lift.
“You comforted the crying child and explained the
dilemma to the other passengers in line. This act of love took the strain and
tension off my mother. I was born a few months later in Flint, Michigan.
“I just want to thank you for your love. Thank you for
your example!”
Savior, may I
learn to love thee-Lord, I would follow thee.
Each
year tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints submit their papers for full-time
missionary service. Seniors put aside the diversions of retirement, the
comforts of home, and the loving companionship of children and grandchildren
and go forth to serve strangers in unfamiliar places. Young men and women put
work and education on hold and make themselves available to serve wherever they
are assigned. Hundreds of thousands of faithful members participate in the
unselfish service we call “temple work,” which has no motive other than love
and service for our fellowmen, living and dead. The same unselfish service is
given by legions of officers and teachers in our stakes and wards and branches.
All are uncompensated in worldly terms but committed to Christlike service to their
fellowmen.
Who am I to judge
another, when I walk imperfectly?
3
Nephi 27:27 reads, “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? I say unto you, even as I am.”
Christ
was never critical of those whom he came in contact with. In John chapter 8, it tells of Christ, and when
the scribes and Pharisees bought an adulterous woman before Him. They were trying to trick Him, and remind Him
of the Law of Moses, where such behavior should be stoned. Christ paused, “and
with his finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not. So when they continues asking Him, He lifted
up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first
cast a stone at her.” Those who were
present, went out, one by one. Not a
single one remained, and the woman was sent to go and sin no more.
We
are all imperfect. A true act of service
is not judging others.
In the quiet heart
is hidden, sorrow that the eye can’t see.
They
say that you should not judge another until you walk a mile in their
shoes. Elder Holland Shared a wonderful
message of hope for those struggling with depression and other issues in his
conference talk, entitled, “Like a Broken Vessel”. He concludes his talk with the reassuring
words,
“I
bear witness of that day when loved ones whom we knew to have disabilities in
mortality will stand before us glorified and grand, breathtakingly perfect in
body and mind. What a thrilling moment
that will be! I do not know whether we
will be happier for ourselves that we have witnessed such a miracle or happier
for them that they are fully perfect and finally “free at last”. Until that hour when Christ’s consummate gift
is evident to us all, may we live by faith, hold fast to home and show
“compassion one to another.”
Life
is quick paced these days. It is easy to
overlook the needs of others, as we try to meet the demands of our family,
work, school, church, and other activities.
How often do we need to stop and listen to the Holy Ghost as he whispers
to our hearts.
One
day, as I was gassing up my car, I had the impression to stop and visit a mom
that I had only met a few times at an exercise class. I quickly dismissed it, and continued filling
up my car. Again I was impressed to stop
and visit this mom. I rationalized my
desire to disregard the prompting, and made a deal with myself, that if the gas
pump ended on a price ending in .00, I would go visit the mom.
Of
course, the pump ended on $.00. It was a
fluke, and I got in my car to head back home.
Again, I felt prompted to go visit this mom. So I made myself another deal, this time the
song on the radio needed to be a specific one.
Just as I said the words in my mind, that song began to play. I dismissed the thought again. I rationalized that there was no way that
this mom would understand if I just randomly showed up on her front porch. A third time, I was prompted to go and visit
this mom. And a third, time I made a deal with myself, that if the rain stopped
I would go. I drove through the parking
lot, as the rain stopped. This time I thought about this a little harder, well,
maybe I could drop by with some flowers and tell her I appreciated attending her
aerobics class earlier that month….Nope, that just sounded strange. I wasn’t going to do it. A fourth time, I was impressed to go to this
woman’s house. I made one final deal out
loud, that if a parking stall opened up right in front of the store, I would go. This time, I could hear the Holy Ghost in my
head, “Seriously, Kelli?” Immediately, a car pulled out of the closest stall to
the front door. It was a handicapped
stall, but I knew what it meant. I could
no longer deny this prompting. I went
into the store to purchase some flowers and head to her home.
I
sat in the driveway for a few minutes, as the house looked rather dark. I ran through a few scenarios in my head, and
decided to just go for it. I knocked on
the door and no one answered. I knocked
again, and decided to leave. Half way
down the driveway, the door opened, and my fitness friend peeked out from
behind the door. She was in tears. I immediately returned with the flowers, and
was invited in. Upon entering the house,
she began to sob uncontrollably, she said she had been praying for someone to
come…..and I had finally arrived.
I would be my
brother’s keeper. I would learn the
healer’s art.
There
are many people who have mastered the healer’s art. I can think of many friends who have set
their own needs aside to help another.
Given up their own comforts for the benefit of others. President Eyring shared with the men some
great words of wisdom at the Priesthood session of Conference this past
October. He said that, “All of us are
blessed with responsibility for others.
To hold the priesthood of God is to be held responsible by God for the
eternal lives of His children. That is
real, that is wonderful, and at times, that can feel overwhelming…..You can
have at least three assurances.
First,
the Lord will give you, if you ask, the feelings of compassion He feels for
those in need. Second, He will provide other….to join with you in your
service. And third, the Lord….will more
that recompense all who join in giving help to those in need…”
Those
are beautiful promises, that we need to be reminded of.
To the wounded and
the weary, I would show a gentle heart.
It
is probably easiest to show a gentle hear to those whose pain is plainly
evident. Our church has rendered service
for many years, in times of great disasters and trouble.
A
few weeks ago, the youth in our ward were able to go up to Deseret Industries
Thrift Store and donate an hour of service.
We had about 35 in attendance, and were able to quickly meet their needs
with the project they had us working on.
I was very interested as Sister VanderHooven, the Missionary assigned to
the DI, shared with us that proceeds made from the DI will be used to purchase
medicine for disaster relief throughout the world. They purchase the necessary medical supplies
for specific needs. Thinking about the
recent typhoon that hit the Philippines, made me appreciate the service that
our youth provided, because their 35 hours of service may have provided the
saving medications to families affected in the storm.
I would be my
brother’s keeper-Lord I would follow thee.
I
have known many families that tend closely to their families needs, as they
care for their elderly parents and grandparents, sick children, and troubled
loved ones. It is very evident in our
own ward of the love we have for one another.
Nearly every weekend, the Priesthood brethren or the sisters are taking
care of the needs of those in our ward.
They offer their services by chopping wood, tending to the needs of children,
caring for elderly family members, cleaning homes and yards, driving them to
necessary appointments, and a myriad of other chores and activities. The best part of this service is the
relationships that develop from them.
Savior, may I love my brother, as I know thou lovest me.
Because
love is the great commandment, it ought to be at
the center of all and
everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal
and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and
nations. Love is the power that initiates
friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes
divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that
warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love
should be our walk and our talk.
Find in thee my strength, my beacon, for thy servant I would
be.
Marvin
J. Ashton said, “As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us,
and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up, our arms out, and walk with
him. What a great blessing to be created in his image and know of our true
potential in and through him!”
Savior may I love my
brother-Lord, I would follow thee.
Elder Richard
G. Scott’s
counsel is precise: “You become an instrument through which the Lord can bless
another. The Spirit will let you feel the Savior’s concern and interest, then
the warmth and strength of His love.”
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