But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.
Mosiah 4:15
“At the heart of the message of the Savior of the World is a single, glorious, wonderful, still largely untried concept. In its simplest terms the message is that we should seek to overcome the selfishness we all seem to be born with, that we should overcome human nature and think of others before self. We should think of God and serve Him, and think of others and serve them.
“Years ago Jack Smith told a poignant story of two young boys at Christmastime.
I didn’t question Timmy, age nine or his seven year old brother, Billy, about the brown wrapping paper they passed back and forth between them as we visited each store.
Every year at Christmastime, our Service Club takes the children from poor families in our town on a personally conducted shopping tour. I was assigned Timmy and Billy, whose father was out of work. After giving them the allotted $4.00 each, we began our trip. At different stores I made suggestions, but always their answer was a solemn shake of the head, no. Finally I asked. “where would you suggest we look?”. Could we go to a shoe store, Sir? Answered Timmy. We’d like a pair of shoes for our Daddy so he can go to work.”
In the shoe store the clerk asked what the boys wanted. Out came the brown paper. We want a pair of work shoes to fit this foot, they said. Billy explained that it was a pattern of their Daddy’s foot. They had drawn it while he was asleep in a chair.
The clerk held the paper against a measuring stick, then walked away. Soon he came with an open box. Will these do? He asked. Timmy and Billy handled the shoes with great eagerness. How much do they cost? Asked Billy. Then Timmy saw the price on the box $16.95 he said in dismay. We only have $8.00.
I looked at the clerk and he cleared his throat. That’s the regular price he said; $3.98 today only. Then with shoes happily in hand the boys bought gifts for their mother and two little sisters. Not once did they think of themselves.
The day after Christmas the boy’s father stopped me on the street. The new shoes were on his feet, gratitude was in his eyes. I just thank Jesus for people who care he said. And I thank Jesus for your two sons, I replied. They really taught me more about Christmas in one evening than I had learned in a lifetime.”
I wish to express the hope that is within me that the teachings of the risen Christ can be extended beyond family and neighbors, communities, states and nations and to all people.”
President James E. Faust
A Pattern of Love – Ensign DEC 1999
This is CABL.com posting #235685. Tiny Link: cabl.co/m9tx
