“And Who Is My Neighbour?”

Came across a copy of Elder San Diego's farewell talk and thought I'd post it for those who were not able to attend.  ENJOY!!

It may very well have been a beautiful day like this.  The Savior was sitting, teaching some of His disciples, when a man identified only as “a certain lawyer” stood and asked Him, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus knew the man’s heart and understood the question was a thinly veiled attempt to get Him to say something contrary to the Law of Moses.

The Savior responded to the question with two questions of His own: “What is written in the law?  How readest thou?”

As you might expect, the lawyer was able to recite the law: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

“Thou hast answered right,” the Savior said. “This do, and thou shalt live.”

But the lawyer wasn’t satisfied with that.  Knowing that there were strict rules and beliefs among the Jews regarding association with those not of the faith, he pressed the Lord for more information, hoping to trap Him in controversy: “And who is my neighbour?” he asked.

It was time, once again, to teach.  Jesus drew upon one of His favorite and most effective teaching techniques: a parable.

You know the parable, how a man from Jerusalem was on his way to Jericho and fell among thieves and was left half dead.  A certain priest passed by on the other side; neither did a Levite stop to help.  Then Jesus taught: “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, “And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”

Then Jesus asked the lawyer one more question: “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves?”  And the lawyer replied: “He that shewed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus delivered His final instruction to the lawyer—and to all who have read the parable of the Good Samaritan: “Go, and do thou likewise.”

In his October 2001 address, Elder Ballard expounds on this story saying:

"Every time I read this parable I am impressed with its power and its simplicity.  But have you ever wondered why the Savior chose to make the hero of this story a Samaritan?  There was considerable antipathy between the Jews and the Samaritans at the time of Christ.  Under normal circumstances, these two groups avoided association with each other.  It would still be a good, instructive parable if the man who fell among thieves had been rescued by a brother Jew.

His deliberate use of Jews and Samaritans clearly teaches that we are all neighbors and that we should love, esteem, respect, and serve one another despite our deepest differences—including religious, political, and cultural differences."

I like that.  We have about 6.7 billion people who are our neighbors, all whom we can and ought to help.  I feel, however, that for you to love those far from you or even someone you will never meet, that you should start with those who are closest to you.

I can think of no closer neighbor than those crazy people I share a roof with and who I call family.

So, what should we do to be a good neighbor?

We can:

·         LOVE

·         SERVE

·         SHARE

As Mother Teresa once said: "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

To fully love someone, you must look past all that is different about them and accept them for who they are.
Does loving a person solely mean you give them hugs and kisses every time you see them?  No.
Do you always need to buy them things to express your love and gratitude?  Of course not.
One of the greatest ways to show you love someone is by listening.  If you listen, they feel appreciated.  They feel secure.  They know you are there for them.  They trust you.  They feel loved.

One question that always permeates our culture, though, is if we ought to love our enemies.

"Should I love that person who just cut me off?"

"Should I love that guy who just cursed at me?"

"Should I love the drunk driver who killed my whole family in an accident?"

The answer:  YES!

The Lord Jesus Christ, during his Sermon on the Mount, taught:

"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN..."

D&C 64:10 states: "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men."

As we are commanded to forgive, we are also commanded to love.

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

The next thing we can do for others is serve them.  King Benjamin of the Book of Mormon taught us that when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are only in the service of our God.  Whatever we can do for those around us that will lighten their burden, it will be greatly appreciated and well with us.  Just as we ought to love and serve God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, so should we love and serve our earthly neighbors with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.  When we lose ourselves in the service of others, not only are they helped, but you truly find yourself in the service and grow in your testimony and capacity to love.

*STORY OF ELDERLY LADY AND THE SACRAMENT

         

            Back in my previous ward, I had a unique and very special opportunity to serve and the love and lessons I learned from it still touch me today.  We had a very small youth group in which I was 1 of maybe 3 teachers in the Young Men.  One Sunday we received word of an elderly lady in our ward boundaries who was in a care home and wanted for us to bring her the sacrament.  I volunteered to go to prepare the sacrament for her while our one priest in the ward came to bless, while we had the supervision of our leaders.

We took the sacrament to her for a few weeks and always talked with her for a little while afterwards.  We all thought she was a little off her rocker because she would always tell us how she hated it there and how she wanted to escape.  Sometimes, she would even ask us to take her out of there so she could go back home!  She was wheelchair bound, so there was no plausible way for her to leave, and we always told her that we could not take her home or we all would get in trouble.

One Sunday, after administering the sacrament to her, she told us that she was going home.  We took no thought of it, thinking it was just another one of her dreams of escape.  We continued to talk and then it was finally time for us to leave.  The next Sunday, we found out that the elderly lady had passed through to the other side of the veil.  It touched me so much when I realized what we had done for her and what service we offered.

This old lady felt her time coming and desired the cleansing power of the atonement through the renewing of her covenants by partaking of the sacrament.  It was such a blessing to see the desire and necessity for the sacrament in each of our lives and what a true blessing it is to have it.

The service you can do for others is incomprehensible.  It is such an amazing opportunity to serve someone.  I love it so much and there is no better feeling than when you serve so selflessly.  As I said, when you serve others, not only are they helped, you also grow in your testimony and capacity to love others.

Finally, we can share with our neighbors.  As is commonly said, "Sharing is caring."  Sharing is the outcome of trust and love.  As we come to serve, trust, and love those around us, we are able to open up and are glad to share with them what is ours.  You could share a family meal, a tender moment, a smile, a talent, a testimony, and yes, even a cup of sugar. Sharing, also defined as charity, is the pure love of Christ.  What a joy to be able to share with anyone, and hopefully everyone, the pure love of Christ!  Just as we are asked by our earthly parents to share with one another, we are also asked by our Father in Heaven to share what we have.

WORDS TO "HAVE I DONE ANY GOOD?"

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.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

*TESTIMONY

I love this work and gospel.  And know of the truthfulness and divinity of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith, through the power and grace of God, translated the ancient record of the American people.  The stories and testimonies in this book not only are real, but are of such great worth and benefit to us.  The appearance of Jesus Christ to the inhabitants of the American lands happened!  I know this to be the truest thing ever!  Jesus Christ lives!  He suffered for our sins and paid the ultimate price for us.  His love and mercy is stretched out to us through the power of the atonement if we but have faith in him, repent and become as little children, are baptized in his name, receive the Holy Spirit, and endure to the end.  After our best efforts, we will receive the ultimate reward of resurrection and eternal life and be able to stand before God in the last day and declare that our works have been good.  I love my God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.  I love the joy this gospel brings me in my life. I am so excited to love and serve our neighbors to the south in Mexico City and teach them of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to share with them the knowledge and joy I have, that I may leave their lives a little better.

May we all draw near unto God by drawing near unto each other and may we love each other as the brothers and sisters that we are is my prayer in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.