We all have witnessed through the news the tragedy that unfolded in Japan a few weeks ago (the terrible earthquake, tsunami, and the nuclear plant emissions.) It breaks my heart to think of those who lost loved ones, homes, and the normality of their everyday life. When a sister in our ward who is originally from Japan, had sent out a email note for a service opportunity, I jumped at it! They were going to have some sort of a bake sale or auction at the Dallas Japanese school graduation to raise funds that would be donated 100% to the victims in Japan. I come home early one day and baked three little loaves of banana bread which I then took them to her home. A few days later I heard that they raised no less than $2,000. Just another testimony that every bit counts. I'm so grateful for service opportunities and I hope to seek and see more of them in the future.
I was reminded of this experience this past weekend when in General Conference, the Presiding Bishop, H. David Burton spoke so eloquently about the sanctifying work of welfare: giving service and being kind to the poor. There were a couple of other great talks on the topic which I'll add quotes from once they become available. I'm adding a few excerpts from Bishop Burton's talk from the LDS Church News website.
When talking about the Chuch Welfare Program, he said: "This sacred work is not only to benefit and bless those who suffer or are in need. As sons and daughters of God, we cannot inherit the full measure of eternal life without being fully invested in caring for each other while we are here on earth."
"No matter how many temples we build, no matter how large our membership grows, no matter how positively we are perceived in the eyes of the world — should we fail in this great core commandment to 'succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees,' or turn our hearts from those who suffer and mourn, we are under condemnation and cannot please the Lord, and the jubilant hope of our hearts will ever be distant. ...
"The work of caring for one another and being 'kind to the poor' is a sanctifying work, commanded of the Father and divinely designed to bless, refine and exalt His children."
A beautiful picture of a print they showed during his talk:
And I know he was not talking about that to necessarily praise the Church Welfare Program although it is indeed such a monumental and praiseworthy undertaking, but to help us see and yearn (more) to the needs of others, reach out, love, and BE KIND TO THE POOR.
From another conference talk I loved, by Elder Ballard:
"Great things are wrought through small and simple things," he said. "Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another."
I was reminded of this experience this past weekend when in General Conference, the Presiding Bishop, H. David Burton spoke so eloquently about the sanctifying work of welfare: giving service and being kind to the poor. There were a couple of other great talks on the topic which I'll add quotes from once they become available. I'm adding a few excerpts from Bishop Burton's talk from the LDS Church News website.
When talking about the Chuch Welfare Program, he said: "This sacred work is not only to benefit and bless those who suffer or are in need. As sons and daughters of God, we cannot inherit the full measure of eternal life without being fully invested in caring for each other while we are here on earth."
"No matter how many temples we build, no matter how large our membership grows, no matter how positively we are perceived in the eyes of the world — should we fail in this great core commandment to 'succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees,' or turn our hearts from those who suffer and mourn, we are under condemnation and cannot please the Lord, and the jubilant hope of our hearts will ever be distant. ...
"The work of caring for one another and being 'kind to the poor' is a sanctifying work, commanded of the Father and divinely designed to bless, refine and exalt His children."
A beautiful picture of a print they showed during his talk:
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Intellectual Reserve, Inc.http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/60743/ |
From another conference talk I loved, by Elder Ballard:
"Great things are wrought through small and simple things," he said. "Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another."
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