Thomas Monson

Greets us with love in heart for gospel and for us. Grateful for priveledge to stand before us.

Story about article. Poor family, hard childhood, "what did you do for someone today?" Children determined to do a good turn everyday. Expectation that siblings would help others. Inner desire to help others. Grew up to be a succesful and benevolent doctor. Giver gets more than the recipient.

Needs of others are ever present. Each of us can do something to help someone. By love, serve one another. Serve others=serve god. Who saves his life shall lose it, who loses his life for my sake shall save it. We must lose ourself in service to others. Without that, we have no purpose. Otherwise we shrivel. Those who serve others grow and flourish.

McKay: man's greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others. Those who cry out out "is there no balm in gilead?" It is intention of each member to help those in need: it is a baptismal covenant. How often have you intended to help, but day to day has interfered. We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. We have immersed ourselves in the thick of thin things. In the grand scheme of things, some things don't matter.

I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight... etc poem. Lift his children. We may lament at our own situation: what can I possibly do? What is the ideal gift that members worldwide could give to prophet: find someone to serve. He received cards and letters telling Monson how they had served. Warm fuzzies=act of service. He received many gifts. It isn't easy for those who are young to understand the loneliness of old people. (wait, is he talking about himself and the other GAs?)

Help can always be found in RS. Priesthood groups served too. He was grateful when he spent hours reading these gifts; lives have been blessed. Matt 25: "come ye blessed, here is the kingdom prepared for you. I was hungry and you gave me meet, stranger and ye took me in, sick and ye visited me. When did we do these things? Inasmuch as ye have done this unto the least of these my brethern, ye have done it unto me."

May we ask ourselves: what have I done for someone today? Hymn. Come unto JC and he will give you rest.