As I Have Loved You

A sacrament meeting talk based on the popular Primary Song, and scripture.  I delivered this in December 2018.  At places it is in outline with my telling the story suggested.  It included a tribute to my sister and grandmother.  It also has quotes from President Monson and Jeffrey R. Holland.  Also a mention of Vern Wardle and the "I love you squeezes."  This was also the meeting where Baby Hadley was blessed, Caleb and Annie's baby.

Introduction: Last Supper

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1. A New Commandment I Give Unto You:  A divine mandate

Jesus said love ev’ryone (outstretch arms);

Treat them kindly, too (turn to neighbor and shake hands). Three squeeze four squeeze

When your heart is filled with love (place hands on heart),

Others will love you (hug self).

I’ll Walk with You

If you don’t walk as most people do,

Some people walk away from you,

But I won’t! I won’t!

If you don’t talk as most people do,

Some people talk and laugh at you,

But I won’t! I won’t!

I’ll walk with you. I’ll talk with you.

That’s how I’ll show my love for you.

Jesus walked away from none.

He gave his love to ev’ryone.

So I will! I will!

Jesus blessed all he could see,

Then turned and said, “Come, follow me.”

And I will! I will!

I will! I will!

I’ll walk with you. I’ll talk with you.

That’s how I’ll show my love for you.

We Are Different

I know you, and you know me.

We are as diff’rent as the sun and the sea.

I know you, and you know me,

And that’s the way it is supposed to be.

I help you, and you help me.

We learn from problems, and we’re starting to see.

I help you, and you help me,

And that’s the way it is supposed to be.

I love you, and you love me.

We reach together for the best we can be.

I love you, and you love me,

And that’s the way it is supposed to be. 

2. As I have Loved You

Example John 13: 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Water to wine

10 lepers

adulterous woman

man with palsy

issue of blood

Feeding the 5000 gospel of John, boy

Americas, healed the sick and blessed the people

3, Love One Another

Song  As I have loved you with sign

Jeffrey R Holland

Given the monumental challenge of addressing inequity in the world, what can one man or woman do? The Master Himself offered an answer. When, prior to His betrayal and Crucifixion, Mary anointed Jesus’s head with an expensive burial ointment, Judas Iscariot protested this extravagance and “murmured against her.”⁷

Jesus said:

“Why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work. …

“She hath done what she could.”⁸

So how might we “do what we can”?

For one thing, we can, as King Benjamin taught, cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves. Perhaps some have created their own difficulties, but don’t the rest of us do exactly the same thing? Isn’t that why this compassionate ruler asks, “Are we not all beggars?”¹¹ Don’t we all cry out for help and hope and answers to prayers? Don’t we all beg for forgiveness for mistakes we have made and troubles we have caused? Don’t we all implore that grace will compensate for our weaknesses, that mercy will triumph over justice at least in our case? Little wonder that King Benjamin says we obtain a remission of our sins by pleading to God, who compassionately responds, but we retain a remission of our sins by compassionately responding to the poor who plead to us.¹²

Law of the Fast

In that regard, I pay a personal tribute to President Thomas Spencer Monson. I have been blessed by an association with this man for 47 years now, and the image of him I will cherish until I die is of him flying home from then–economically devastated East Germany in his house slippers because he had given away not only his second suit and his extra shirts but the very shoes from off his feet. More than any man I know, President Monson has “done all he could” for the widow and the fatherless, the poor and the oppressed.

President Monson 

The prophet Mormon outlined one of the key characteristics of the Savior and which is to be emulated by His disciples. Said he:

“And if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

“And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked. …

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”¹

Brethren, we do not honor the priesthood of God if we are not kind to others.

My dear friend and associate Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin was truly a kind man. Said he:

“Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.

“Jesus, our Savior, was the epitome of kindness and compassion.”²

The scriptures teach us that the righteous exercise of the priesthood is dependent upon our living the principles of kindness, charity, and love. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read:

“No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, … by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

“By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile.”³

Brethren, let us examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior’s example by being kind, loving, and charitable. And as we do so, we will be in a better position to call down the powers of heaven for ourselves, for our families, and for our fellow travelers in this sometimes difficult journey back to our heavenly home.

_{4. By this Shall All Men Know Ye are my Disciples}

_{Mathew 5: 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be}

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mina Geneve Brandli Springall Wright, by my sister Sara

Grandma was always so very kind, just not to only a few but to all those she came in contact with. I never remember a harsh word coming from her lips; she was a picture of patience, love and caring. Grandma’s neighbors all had a great respect and love for her. When she became ill and [too] old to care completely for herself they were always there to help. And I know they were in their own way trying to pay Grandma back for all she had done for them.

My grandmother died when she was 80 years old and I was 21 years old. She had been a widow for 14 years… At her funeral I gave her life history. She was my most favorite. I guess you could say she’s my hero and I want to be just like her.

Being an example vs. being prideful

This Little Gospel Light of Mine

Introduction to the Book of Mormon

Sunday School: Introduction to the Book of Mormon

http://lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/the-book-of-mormon-keystone-of-our-religion?lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-_3CbLE9nk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wvl2HmTv_U&feature=related

These are links for an introduction to the Book of Mormon.  The first is a talk from President Benson.  The second is a movie and the third a song.  I want everyone to know that I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon.  It is a book of God and will bring us closer to Christ.  It is the keystone of our church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_ac3tWeV3I 

I wanted to share this last link from Elder Holland.  This is his testimony of the Book of Mormon.  Again I testify that this is a true book.  I pray tat you take the time to study it, ponder what you read, and ask God if it is not a true book.  It will change your life.   There was a long scripture we didn't get to in class today, which is a vision Mormon had of our day.
Mormon 8

 25 And behold, their ^aprayers were also in behalf of him that the Lord should suffer to bring these things forth.

 26 And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for ^aout of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that ^bmiracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak ^cfrom the dead.

 27 And it shall come in a day when the ^ablood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret ^bcombinations and the works of darkness.

 28 Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be ^adenied, and ^bchurches become defiled and be ^clifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.

 29 Yea, it shall come in a day when ^athere shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and ^bvapors of smoke in foreign lands;

 30 And there shall also be heard of ^awars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places.

 31 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great ^apollutionsupon the face of the earth; there shall be ^bmurders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it ^cmattereth not, for the Lord will ^duphold such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the ^egall of bitterness and in the ^fbonds of iniquity.

 32 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be ^achurches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins.

 33 O ye wicked and perverse and ^astiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get ^bgain? Why have ye ^ctransfiguredthe holy word of God, that ye might bring ^ddamnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the ^erevelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.

 34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.

 35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

 36 And I know that ye do ^awalk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not ^blift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of ^cvery fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

 37 For behold, ye do love ^amoney, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

 38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ^aashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that ^bmisery which never dies—because of the ^cpraise of the world?

 39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

 40 Yea, why do ye build up your ^asecret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

  41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the ^ablood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.

Light The World day 23 2017: Visit Those In Prison

"I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

—Matthew 25:36

The short film with this day shows a prisoner receiving a photo album from home.  Sometimes any little something can make some one's day.  However, those in a penitentiary are not the only ones in prison.  there are those in prison to drug or illness; things that take away choice.  Jeffrey R. Holland reminded us to show compassion to all God's children.  I work with people with mental illness.  A big issue facing persons with mental illness is that of Stigma.  Sometimes a person will not get needed and available help because of stigma.  

Elder Holland's Testimony: The Book of Mormon is the Word of God

Powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I love Elder Holland talks.

Preserving Religious Freedom

This clip features three apostles who talk about what religious liberty means, and the fight we will have to preserve our religious liberty.  Religious liberty is more than just the freedom to believe.  It has to include the freedom to express your religion.  They are not advocating a fight of guns, but a fight of minds, standing up for our rights to practice religion according to our own conscience.  Being active in this cause will help us preserve our liberties.

Jeffery R. Holland - The Last Days

This short video is taken from a conference talk from October 2009.  It was titled Safety for the Soul.    What starts as a discourse on the last days, ends as a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon.  Holland concludes his talk with:

Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived”15—and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you. Of this I earnestly testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The Savior Understands Me

This is part of a series on Mormon Channel entitled "A Little Better."  In this series Church leaders talk about ways to be better.  In this film Elder Holland talks about having a personal relationship with the Savior.

Dec 17: Jesus Cared for His Mother and So Can You

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave an excellent discourse on motherhood in his conference talk October 2015, entitles "Behold Your Mother."  This refers to the statement Jesus made to John while he was on the cross, providing for the welfare of his mother.
A few years back I wrote a poem, "The Peace of Home" about my mother.  My mother is now in a nursing home in Logan, Utah.  I don't see her often enough, nor do I call enough.  Somethings need to change.

Special Witness - Elder Holland

An apostolic witness from the garden of Gethsemane.

Good Things to Come

In the gospel of Jesus Christ we have the assurance that things will get better.

A New Day for the Book of Mormon

The BYUTV documentary has me very excited to read the Book of Mormon, in a different light.  It
contains interviews with many different scholars, and many different aspects of the Book of Mormon. these aspects includes as literature, as theology, and as proof of its authenticity.    It includes the testimony of scholars, apostles, authors, theologians and many more.  It talks about when many people came to know that the book is a true book of revealed scripture from God, which adds its testimony of Jesus Christ to the testimony by the Bible.  It is a companion to the Bible, not a replacement.  I would encourage all to view this presentation, as I think it will strengthen testimony of those who already believe, and encourage all to investigate this book with real intent one more time.  I know it is a true book.  I am looking forward to a year of intense study.

Sunday Talk: What is the Lord's Way to Care for the Poor and Needy?

What is the Lord's Way to Care for the Poor and Needy?

The great commandments (tell)  Mark 12 several people tempt the Lord by asking him questions, hoping to find something in his words with which they can accuse him.  A scribe watches this questioning, and satisfied with Jesus' answers, approaches Jesus in an attitude to learn, "Which is the greatest commandment?"

mark 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Brother Uchtdorf quoting J Reuben Clark: As always, we can look to our perfect example, Jesus Christ, for a pattern. As President J. Reuben Clark Jr. taught, “When the Savior came upon the earth he had two great missions; one was to work out the Messiahship, the atonement for the fall, and the fulfilment of the law; the other was the work which he did among his brethren and sisters in the flesh by way of relieving their sufferings.”⁸

President Uchtdorf points out that a coin had two sides.  Such is our worship.  We must tend to the spiritual as well as the temporal.  You cannot have one without the other.

President Uchtdorf said, "Unfortunately, there are those who overlook the temporal because they consider it less important. They treasure the spiritual while minimizing the temporal. While it is important to have our thoughts inclined toward heaven, we miss the essence of our religion if our hands are not also inclined toward our fellowman."

Brigham Young: In 1856 when Brigham Young was presented with the news that the handcart companies were late, he immediately knew they would be in trouble.  General Conference was the next day, and he introduced the theme,  saying in essence, I will now give you the subject for those who speak today.  Our brethren are on the plains, far from the safety of this place.  They must be brought here.  We will send them aid.  then quoting President Young:

“I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the Celestial Kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains. And attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal duties. Otherwise, your faith will be in vain. The preaching you have heard will be in vain to you, and you will sink toHell, unless you attend to the things we tell you.”

Almost two months later when those in the last handcart company finally arrived, it was again Sunday and President Young was speaking in church:  

“When those persons arrive I do not want to see them put into houses by themselves; I want to have them distributed in the city among the families that have good and comfortable houses; and I wish all the sisters now before me, and all who know how and can, to nurse and wait upon the new comers and prudently administer medicine and food to them. To speak upon these things is a part of my religion, for it pertains to taking care of the Saints. …

“The afternoon meeting will be omitted, for I wish the sisters to go home and prepare to give those who have just arrived a mouthful of something to eat, and to wash them and nurse them up. You know that I would give more for a dish of pudding and milk, or a baked potato and salt, were I in the situation of those persons who have just come in, than I would for all your prayers, though you were to stay here all the afternoon and pray. Prayer is good, but when baked potatoes and pudding and milk are needed, prayer will not supply their place on this occasion; give every duty its proper time and place. 

What is the Lord's Way to Care for the Poor and Needy?

Legos and Skylar:  If we put Legos together haphazardly, we get something, but not what the Legos were intended to be.  

"The Lord’s way of caring for the needy is different from the world’s way.  He is not only interested in our immediate needs; He is also concerned about our eternal progression. For this reason, the Lord’s way has always included self-reliance and service to our neighbor in addition to caring for the poor” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Providing in the Lord’s Way,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 54).  

Personal stories: growing up, some idea of the Lord’s way.  pull home, pull out of mud, push Butch Halstead, come upon woman with broken hip.  Mom’s broken neck. welfare system, missionary suits: mom county clerk

President Uchtdorf: This very hour there are many members of the Church who are suffering. They are hungry, stretched financially, and struggling with all manner of physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. They pray with all the energy of their souls for succor, for relief.

We are all enlisted. “All” means all.  ...there is something everyone can contribute.¹¹

Alfred P. Doolittle, a character from My Fair Lady sand, The Lord above made man to help his neighbor, but with a little bit of luck when he comes around you won't be home.  Many of us put blinders on, and do our best to avoid helping others.  However we should keep ourselves open to the idea of helping others.  

When Alma Amulek and the Zoromites the found a group who were poorer, who had been turned out from the church becasue of the coarse apparel.  To these people Amulek said:

 “After [you] have [prayed], if[you] turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if [you] have [it], to those who stand in need—I say untoyou, … your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and [you] are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.”¹⁵ ALma 34:28

President Eyring in a discourse entitled: Opportunities to do good, gives a list of things we can be doing:

First, all people are happier and feel more self-respect when they can provide for themselves and their family and then reach out to take care of others. 

Elmore model

A second gospel principle that has been a guide to me in welfare work is the power and blessing of unity. 

the third principle of action in welfare work for me: Draw your family into the work with you so that they can learn to care for each other as they care for others.

The fourth valuable principle of Church welfare I learned as a bishop....  I found that the Lord sends the Holy Ghost to make it possible to “seek, and ye shall find.” I also learned to involve the Relief Society president in the search. She may get the revelation before you do.

President Uchtdorf:  The place to begin is to familiarize ourselves with what the Lord has already revealed.  

providentliving.org

justserve.org

Jeffrey R. Holland, in conference address entitled: Are we not all beggars, told the story of Mary and Judas Iscariot.  Mary anointed Jesus with oil, and Judas felt it was a waste.  Jesus responded to leave her alone. "She hath done what she could"

the star fish

2.For one thing, we can, as King Benjamin taught, cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves. 

(another talk) Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being me  

3.In addition to taking merciful action in their behalf, we should also pray for those in need....  I don’t know exactly how each of you should fulfill your obligation to those who do not or cannot always help themselves. But I know that God knows, and He will help you and guide you in compassionate acts of discipleship if you are conscientiously wanting and praying and looking for ways to keep a commandment He has given us again and again. 

4.  We are always expected to help ourselves before we seek help from others.

5. all who are physically able are to observe the law of the fast. Isiah  58: 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?  7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

three quarters of a million people are helped annually with fast offering donations.  WHat a blessing that our bishops have this resource.  Additionally millions of dollars are donated by church members to be used in humanitarian efforts.

As we seek for spiritual blessings, may we not lose sight of the temporal needs around us.  We are all enlisted.  Because we have been given much we too must give. As I have Loved you, love one another, Jesus said love everyone, treat them kindly too.  

In the name of Jesus Christ AMEN  

Sacrament Meeting Talk 11/23/14: Are We Not All Beggars

Ths Bishop presented us a magnet for our fridge at tithing settlement.  It is a statement from President Monson and our ward theme for the coming year: Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar.
We were taught this lesson by the primary children as they sang a Janice Kapp Perry song:

1. I'm trying to be like Jesus;
I'm following in his ways.
I'm trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

2. I'm trying to love my neighbor;
I'm learning to serve my friends.
I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.
I try to remember the lessons he taught.
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:

"Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught."

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938
© 1980 by Janice Kapp Perry. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.

When Jesus announced His ministry He focused on his coming to the poor and brokenhearted; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and … set at liberty them that are bruised.”
As I think of the examples of Christ, I like to think on the stories of his healing the sick and the afflicted.  I would like to share four of these stories.
Luke 17 ten Lepers
Luke 8 issue of blood who touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed
John 8 The woman who was taken in adultery

 5 Now Moses in the ^alaw commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

He that is without ^asin among you, let him ^bfirst cast a ^cstone at her.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I ^acondemn thee: go, and ^bsin no ^cmore.

 Mark 2   sick of the palsy who was lowered in his bed into the chamber where the Savior was teaching. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be ^aforgiven thee.

 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

 7 Why doth this man thus speak ^ablasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the ^aSon of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

 11 I say unto thee, ^aArise, and take up thy ^bbed, and go thy way into thine house.

 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God,

Each of those healed, may have been thinking

He healed me, He healed me, I was a slave to pain/sin and He set me free

He went below all things; He carried our sorrows

He took upon himself our guilt, our need, our depression; our sin, our lack, our indiscretion

When Jesus Visited the Americas, He asked the rhetorical question; what manner of men ought we to be?  He answered, Even as I am.  We are not called upon to pay the price of the atonement, but we are asked to follow Jesus. How Can We be Jesus’ exemplar and share his love with others?  What is our role in bringing Jesus’ healing to others?

At the last supper, and just before the atonement, Jesus gave final instruction to his apostles.  Among other lessons he taught:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35).

Many years ago when our children were young, we thought we would have them sing this song with us in church.  Sheri spoke first, and then we were all going to sing, "AS I Have Loved You" with sign.  It was going to be so cute.  However, the kids were small, and they were all sound asleep by the time we were to sing.  Sheri and I stood to sing with children between our feet.

In Luke 10 we read of a lawyer who came to Jesus to tempt Him, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?  Jesus responded, What readest thou?  The lawyer replied, Love God with all you Love your heart mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus agreed with his answer. This do and thou shalt live.

However the lawyer was looking for an argument, so asked another question, Who is my neighbor?  To this Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan:

A man fell among thieves as he traveled to Jericho.  They took his clothes, food and money, and left him for dead.  A Priest walked by, but not wanted to get involved walked on the other side of the road.  A Levite did the same, However the Good Samaritantook mercy upon him, gave him water and bound his wounds applying wine and oil.  He took him to an inn on his donkey, where he left money for his keep.  Jesus then asked the lawyer

36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

 Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

How do we do likewise?  How do we play a part in the healing of the Lord?

1.     1. Do What You Can

prior to His betrayal and Crucifixion, Mary anointed Jesus’s head with an expensive burial ointment, Judas Iscariot protested this extravagance and “murmured against her.”⁷

Jesus said:

“Why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work. …

“She hath done what she could.”⁸

I am reminded of a story about doing what you can.

The Starfish

There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn.  In the distance he saw a frail old man.  As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.  The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the small starfish from the sand to the water.  He asked him, “Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?”  The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.  “But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish,” exclaimed the young man, “How can your effort make any difference?”  The old man looked down at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea said…… “It makes a difference to this one.”

 Adapted from Loren Eiseley

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talked of Mother Theresa in this last conference.

“A journalist once questioned Mother Teresa of Calcutta about her hopeless task of rescuing the destitute in that city. He said that, statistically speaking, she was accomplishing absolutely nothing. This remarkable little woman shot back that her work was about love, not statistics. Notwithstanding the staggering number beyond her reach, she said she could keep the commandment to love God and her neighbor by serving those within her reach with whatever resources she had. “What we do is nothing but a drop in the ocean,” she would say on another occasion. “But if we didn’t do it, the ocean would be one drop less [than it is].”⁹

We may say, we shouldn’t help a particular person, because he hath brought His suffering upon himself.  Elder Holland talking about King Benjamin, reminds us we are all beggars before God,

Perhaps some have created their own difficulties, but don’t the rest of us do exactly the same thing? Isn’t that why this compassionate ruler asks, “Are we not all beggars?”¹¹ Don’t we all cry out for help and hope and answers to prayers? Don’t we all beg for forgiveness for mistakes we have made and troubles we have caused? Don’t we all implore that grace will compensate for our weaknesses, that mercy will triumph over justice at least in our case? Little wonder that King Benjamin says we obtain a remission of our sins by pleading to God, who compassionately responds, but we retain a remission of our sins by compassionately responding to the poor who plead to us.

King Benjamin:

 26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may ^awalk guiltless before God—I would that ye should ^bimpart of your substance to the ^cpoor, every man according to that which he hath, such as ^dfeeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

 27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and ^aorder; for it is not requisite that a man should run ^bfaster than he has strength.

To serve others, we must be aware of the need of others.  It is possible to hide our heads and miss opportunities to serve.

Eliza’s father, Alfred P. Doolittle form My Fair Lady, had an interesting philosophy

The Lord above made man to help his neighbor; but with a little bit of luck when he comes around you won’t be home.

President Monson recited this poem in April conference:

I have wept in the night

For the shortness of sight

That to somebody’s need made me blind;

But I never have yet

Felt a tinge of regret

For being a little too kind.⁵   Author unknown, in Richard L. Evans, “The Quality of Kindness,” Improvement Era, May 1960, 340.

Moroni saw our day, and talked to us as if we were present: 

Mormon 8

36 And I know that ye do ^awalk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not ^blift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of ^cvery fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities;

 37 For behold, ye do love ^amoney, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

Isiah who also saw our day said, 

Isaiah 3: 14 The Lord will enter into ^ajudgment with the ^bancients of his people, and the ^cprinces thereof: for ye have ^deaten up the vineyard; the ^espoil of the ^fpoor is in your houses.

 15 What mean ye that ye ^abeat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.

2.     2. Pray for those in need

Jeffrey R. Holland related the story of the Zoramites and those that were turned away because of their poverty

Alma and Amulek reminded them they can always pray—in their fields and in their houses, in their families and in their hearts.¹⁴

But then, to this very group who had themselves been turned away, Amulek says, “After [you] have [prayed], if [you] turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if [you] have [it], to those who stand in need—I say unto you, … your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and [you] are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.”¹⁵ What a stunning reminder that rich or poor, we are to “do what we can” when others are in need.

M. Russell Ballard October 2012: In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help.

He continues, President Thomas S. Monson has taught that in many instances Heavenly Father answers another person’s prayers through us—through you and me—through our kind words and deeds, through our simple acts of service and love.

3.     3. Live the law of the fast

Brother Dean M. Davies of the presiding bishopric:

Caring for the poor and needy is a fundamental gospel doctrine and an essential element in the eternal plan of salvation.

In our day, caring for the poor and needy is one of four divinely appointed Church responsibilities that help individuals and families qualify for exaltation.

Central to the Lord’s plan for caring for the poor and needy is the law of the fast. “The Lord has established the law of the fast and fast offerings to bless His people and to provide a way for them to serve those in need.”

Isaiah 58: after chastising those who fast incorrectly, who fast to be seen of men, he describes the correct fast.

 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the ^abands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go ^bfree, and that ye break every yoke?

 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the ^ahungry, and that thou bring the ^bpoor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from ^cthine own flesh?

He then describes the blessings that come from this type of fast.

8 ¶Then shall thy ^alight break forth as the morning, and thine ^bhealth shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy ^crearward.

 9 Then shalt thou ^acall, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am….

 10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the ^ahungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light ^brise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

 11 And the Lord shall ^aguide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in ^bdrought, and ^cmake fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a ^dspring of water, whose waters fail not.

Let me conclude with one last parable of Jesus. Jesus described the final judgement, the dividing of the goats and the sheep, the sheep on the right hand.  Matthew 25

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

May we be counted with those who have fed, given to drink, clothed, visited and taken in the Lord, by doing what we can, praying for those in need, and living the law of the fast.