Burton - “I Was a Stranger” - April 2016

Sister Burton is the General Relief Society President for the Church.  She shares that the Lord expects us to support others in need but that doesn't necessarily require money.  The Lord needs out time and talents as well.

• As sisters we make up more than half of the Lord’s storehouse to help Heavenly Father’s children. His storehouse is not composed just of goods but also of time, talents, skills, and our divine nature.

She speaks of what matters to the Lord.

• Sisters, we know that reaching out to others with love matters to the Lord.

She shares some examples from the scriptures about how the Savior taught.  When we do what the Savior wants, we can expect His help.

• The Savior lovingly acknowledged the widow whose contribution was only two mites because she did what she could [see Luke 21:1–4]. He also told the parable of the good Samaritan, which He concluded saying, “Go, and do thou likewise” [Luke 10:37]. Sometimes reaching out is inconvenient. But when we work together in love and unity, we can expect heaven’s help.

Sister Burton concludes with advice for all of us.

• As we consider the “pressing calls” of those who need our help, let’s ask ourselves, “What if their story were my story?” May we then seek inspiration, act on impressions we receive, and reach out in unity to help those in need as we are able and inspired to do so. Perhaps then it might be said of us, as the Savior said of a loving sister who ministered to Him: “She hath wrought a good work. … She hath done what she could” [Mark 14:6, 8]. I call that extraordinary!

We all need to offer our lives to the service of the Savior.  We do this by serving others and lifting our fellow man.  We need to be partners with the Savior to make the world a better place.