Lesson 20 Love and Concern for All our Father’s Children
A 12 year old boy was attending General Conference for the first time. He came early to get as close to the front as possible. An usher asked the boy to give up his seat to a late coming United States Senator. The boy meekly complied. Disappointed and embarrassed, he stood in the aisle in tears. President Smith in seeing the lad, motioned to him to come up on the stand. The boy told him what happened and President Smith said “That usher had no right to do that to you. But here, you sit by me,” and shared his seat with him up on the stand. Another time he was interviewing missionaries who were leaving to go on their missions. He noticed a farm boy who was assigned to Eastern Canada. “Son, it’s cold up there. Do you have a coat?” “No sir, I don’t.” He took the boy to a department store and bought the warmest coat in stock.These acts of kindness were not isolated occurrences, but part of a lifelong pattern in President Smith’s life.
How do we develop this kind of behavior? We can start now. We can start by thinking of others....that will help us feel the Spirit so that we can know who needs our help and service. The more we request this help in prayer, the more the Spirit will aid us.
With the knowledge that God is the Father of all people, we desire to love and bless His children.
“I think if all men knew and understood who they are. And were aware of the divine source from whence they come, and of the infinite potential that is part of their inheritance, they would have feelings of kindness and kinship for each other that would change their whole way of living and bring peace on earth.”
With mankind being our brothers and sisters we know that they have a divine origin. We need to remember this when we are out and about on our daily tasks. All are struggling, and we can be kind and not be too quick to judge. A quote was shared which said “Be Kind, Everyone is Fighting a Hard Battle”....We need to remember to do random acts of kindness for each other. It is also good to learn to accept the kindness of others, so they may also have the blessings that come from service.
There is a new website which will allow us to find ways in which we can serve.....justserve.org It will provide a list of projects for which service is needed.
If we love each person even if each or she has faults, we will learn to be as the Savior. No matter what, He is there to love and serve us. We can do the same with the help of the Holy Ghost.
A good reminder is in the words of Hymn # 223
“Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad.
And made someone feel glad?
If not I have failed indeed.”
When we love the Lord with all our hearts, and truly love our neighbors as ourselves, we are in harmony with a sacred law.
Let us love the Lord for He provides the foundation of all things. It is the very first commandment, and the second is like unto it, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and when we have done that.....we have fulfilled the law, because there is nothing that will be left undone.
Love each other, do acts of kindness, don’t judge each other. Just worship God through serving each other. This will show him our love for him.
When we love the Lord with all our hearts, and truly love our neighbors as ourselves, we are in harmony with a sacred law.
Let us love the Lord for He provides the foundation of all things. It is the very first commandment, and the second is like unto it, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and when we have done that.....we have fulfilled the law, because there is nothing that will be left undone.
Love each other, do acts of kindness, don’t judge each other. Just worship God through serving each other. This will show him our love for him.