Talk Help

I wanna come listen

For me that’s one of those ’embrace the contradictions’ passages.

It’s a good thing that king doesn’t have a king… ’cause it would be hard to do service for the least of these if they’re currently twirling on a spit roast. But your citation stops at verse 40, so :thumbup:

You’ll do a better job than I ever could with the subject matter, you’ve lived it in your calling. All I can say is “mention Jesus.” We’re experiencing a Jesus drought in my corner of the vineyard.

All I can say is “mention Jesus.” We’re experiencing a Jesus drought in my corner of the vineyard.

You mean Good Ol What’s His Name? We are having a dry season, too. This past Sunday Samuel the Lamanite beat out Jesus. What a win.

Heber that is a great story. I was debating using the Bishop who dressed up as a homeless person idea. This might be better. A direct hit.

DJ – I would love the quotes.

I plan to focus on it after Dec. 27.

I will post it and let you know the outcome. At least it’s a topic I like and my SP listened to my “I am a New Testament Mormon” line when I spoke to him. I appreciate his respect on that.

Monson quotes:

Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another: a question concerning a person’s family, quick words of encouragement, a sincere compliment, a small note of thanks, a brief telephone call. If we are observant and aware, and if we act on the promptings which come to us, we can accomplish much good.

(Oct. 2007)

“Love is expressed in many recognizable ways: a smile, a wave, a kind comment, a compliment. Other expressions may be more subtle, such as showing interest in another’s activities, teaching a principle with kindness and patience, visiting one who is ill or homebound. These words and actions and many others can communicate love.”

(April 2014)

I also really like this quote and have used parts of it many times.

We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all. The Apostle John tells us, “This commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”3 We are all spirit children of our Heavenly Father and, as such, are brothers and sisters. As we keep this truth in mind, loving all of God’s children will become easier.

Actually, love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar. His life was a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved. At the end the angry mob took His life. And yet there rings from Golgotha’s hill the words: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”4—a crowning expression in mortality of compassion and love.

There are many attributes which are manifestations of love, such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding, and forgiveness. In all our associations, these and other such attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts.

Usually our love will be shown in our day-to-day interactions one with another. All important will be our ability to recognize someone’s need and then to respond.

(Also April 2014)

I have used the analogy of the three degrees of service: 1) telestial (serving only those we love or who are “our own” in some way); 2) terrestrial (serving those whom we see as good people [or who are suffering from a natural disaster that we see as not their fault] and, therefore, are easy to serve); 3) celestial (serving those we see as bad people or people doing bad things – people whom we naturally avoid). I occasionally point out that we, as a collective people, are fabulous at telestial service, pretty good at terrestrial service, and quite bad at celestial service – but you don’t have to go that far as bluntly as I sometimes do.

The end of Matthew 5 is perfect as a lead-in, as is the quote DJ shared.

I’m still on Monson…. As you are aware the last time we will probably hear from Pres. Monson was in April. You’d think he only spoke once and that talk was about the BoM. But he spoke twice, and the other time was about kindness, charity, and love. I think it’s sad we overlook this talk because of BoM hype, and I actually (very nicely, of course) pointed this out in stake council once. Here’s the other talk:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/kindness-charity-and-love?lang=eng” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/kindness-charity-and-love?lang=eng

Returning and Reporting –

It was an amazing evening. I am hoping since it’s up here and not on the main board that I won’t out myself too much. I kind of like what I do and want to keep it that way.

Our Stake honored the Lutheran Pastor who runs the homeless shelter in our area. They did a tasteful job. (This has been a couple months in planning – and I was connected to some key pieces which was nice). He got to speak. That was cool. I was sitting on the stand. I could see people’s reactions. They were very moved.

The evening was dominated by women speaking. Besides the Pastor only 2 other men spoke. The guy on Self – Reliance (it was a dud). I think he missed the memo on how Self-Reliance connects with Community Service. Ooops.

The SP wrapped up. As I have mentioned before he is pretty chill. His talk did not disappoint.

I was second to last. I felt pretty good about it.

In an amazing way, the passing of President Monson could not have been more perfect. So much of his Charity work was referenced. Including the 4th Mission of the Church – by name and date no less. Then his work with widows. The holidays dinners he continued to bring them as the years moved on. And DJ his last GC talk (not the BoM one). I never even touched on him, but he was everywhere. As were more biblical references.

It had been ages since I spoke. I hope it will be again. This is an evening I want to float on for a long time and not have be tarnished by some other talk.

I stand here tonight, wearing two different hats, one as our Stake Service Director. The other as a Task Force Leader for a shelter. The two departments entered my life separately, both of my own choosing.

Their timing in my life was only weeks apart. For me they both occupy the space of my heart entitled service. Tonight, my goal is to bring them together under the umbrella of Christ.

In church we roll a phrase off our tongue, as if it were mere poetry. “For 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: Naked and ye clothed me. I was sick and ye visited me. I was in prison and ye came unto me.”

These words, recorded by Matthew, are spoken by Jesus to his closest disciples. In the moments before these words, he had been them teaching through a string of final parables. His goal was to give them tools to become like him. Because in a few short hours he would no longer be with them.

He used the parable of the 10 virgins to discuss preparation. The parable of the talents to encourage development of the personal gifts God had given each of them. The final parable, of the sheep and goats, was His closing admonishment.

In the parable, A King returns to his flock and divides the flock in two sections. On the one hand are the sheep. On the other the goats.

The sheep are those who fed the hungry, took in the stranger, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and came to the prisoners. These are they, the King states, “Who have done it unto the least of these.” And in so doing, have done it unto the King.

As I was studying the theology behind the goats and sheep, a unique observation occurred to me. The difference in the goats and sheep isn’t the difference in believers or non-believers. Nor the difference between active or less active. Religious or non-religious. The difference that sets the camps apart is in the doing and the serving. Those who remained with the King did so by taking action. By serving “the least of these”

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Christ chose the phrase, “the least of these”. To describe those who could not easily meet their own needs. As Stake Service Team Director, I have worked to keep those 4 words in the front of my mind as we have selected the various projects we are choosing to pursue.

We are the first full-time service team in this Stake’s history. We are honored to be a part of the maiden voyage of this fantastic idea of larger community service. Our objective is help you find places where you can give meaningful service outside the structure of the church. Over the past months we have discussed and arranged many wonderful projects. Always keeping “the least of these” in the forefront of our minds. These choices though have a deeper meaning to us a team than merely checking off a list of good deeds. We wish to touch lives for good. It is my belief that the cure for cancer is likely sitting in a classroom right now. If we can give a lower income student a fighting chance, he may be the future genius that cures a disease. As a team we are seeking to leave no one out. 6th Ward is bringing our Senior Citizens to the forefront with their efforts at a local retirement home.

As a Stake we are taking bold steps to serve in multiple capacities with Clark Counties Homeless families.

A week from tomorrow we will take our first week of service at the shelter. It’s a place very near and dear to my heart. I was excited when Sister C. asked why we weren’t serving there. Once the full discussion was held, we felt confident as ward reps that we could this.

I for one am little bit excited for next week.

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The shelter came into my life, when I was recovering from a major foot surgery. I knew very little about the homeless community before I joined the WHO team 2 ½ years ago.

Though my family (and my ward) had served at family housing centers. Painting rooms and fixing meals, I didn’t have a sense of the depth and levels of circumstance that bring a life to that state of homelessness.

At times mental illness, poor personal life choices, or stubbornness are the foundation of the homeless story. Other contributors can be unexpected health issues, rent hikes, or an unforeseen death of a companion.

In December 2014, a County developer purchased a set of low income apartments. He could see potential in the building structure. In a rapid-fire move, he began evicting the tenants, 20 or so at a time, to allow him room to make the improvements. Most of those families were low income. Low income homes, rarely have the means of a savings account or back up opportunities. It was a shocking and cold winter that year. Today some of those families still exist on our streets.

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At the Shelter leadership table, we use the words, “the most vulnerable.” These three words encapsulate the guests that nightly cross the threshold of the shelter. Walking through St. Andrew on a full shelter night instantly brings my mind back to Christ. As I look at various guests, the amputee’s, the woman inflicted with palsy, the adorable twin babies, and the preteen kids I wonder what actions He would take. Sometimes it hurts so bad to not be able to fix everything. To take away the grief and pain.

Other times I can’t help but smile.

This year, just before Christmas, I was standing near the WHO guest check in table. A little boy, maybe 7 years old, was running from his car in the parking lot, heading full trot toward the front glass doors of the church. A full blown, life is fantastic, smile was plastered on his face. Behind him he dragged a carryon suitcase. He looked as if he was going for an overnight stay to Grandma’s house. In his enthusiasm, he ran into the door. He assumed it opened both ways. A volunteer went to rescue him, opening the door outward. He waved thanks, then rushed past her to the check in table. His was excited to be sleeping on the gym floor of a church, with 48 other people.

My heart caught. Stuck in two places at once. On the one hand he had somewhere to go. And because we have many more kids at the shelter this year, he has friends to play with.

On the other hand, I wanted him to have a home with a bed and regular place to play with friends everyday of the year. Life isn’t fair.

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So what can we do? We can follow the admonition of Christ – we can reach out, assist, care, and pray for those who are most vulnerable.

We are a busy people. How we fit this in is a personal decision we each will make. We have been instructed “that to everything there is a season.” As you assess, remember that little things can go a long way.

Everyone, of us has experienced the miraculous joy when something good, kind, or helpful has been done to us. It may be a simple smile from a complete stranger. Getting your car jumped when the battery is dead. Other times its being heard when you need to talk. These things we can do on a daily basis.

Many of the darknesses in our lives can turn to light in simple moment when someone see’s us a human being with genuine needs. That is the best service we can give.

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I am not too worried about the goats or sheep in a general sense. I am more worried about humanity. When we give we gain.

The sheep didn’t realize their giving would get them a reward. They just saw a need and filled it. Only afterwards, when the King had returned, did they come to learn that the choice of connecting with another person in service, would turn them into sheep.

At the time of Martin Luther’s death, a small slip of paper was found in his pocket. The following six words were written on it, “We are beggars. This is true.” How often have we not heard, nearly identical words in our faith, “Are we not all beggars?”

As 2018 rolls forward, may we remember that all of us are beggars. May we fill each day with giving. Not for our “reward in heaven” “Nor our home on high” but because each of us in some way is the most vulnerable. Each of us needs hope.

My prayer is that we will lift one another. In Christlike action. We will bring light into the darkness, where ever we are. And maybe someday we can eliminate the phrases, “the least of these” and “most vulnerable”.