Be Like Him

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.”