Helping Others

Helping those in need was what Jesus Christ was best at.  He spent his life serving other people.  From Mormon.org we read:

He fed the hungry. He healed the sick. He blessed those in need. He served by teaching. Even as a twelve-year-old boy, he was "about [His] father's business" (Luke 2:49). It may be overwhelming to try to live up to Christ's perfect example of service, but we can remember that even our smallest actions show our determination to be like Him. When we visit the sick or the lonely, we are being like Jesus. When we help our neighbors fix their roof, when we serve a meal to someone who needs it, when we donate to disaster relief, when we forgive those who offend us, we are serving as He would serve. Serving like Jesus Christ has a cleansing effect on us. It helps us understand the idea that our time, talents and possessions are not just our own. (Read more here.)

 As previously noted, there are many ways in which we could help other people.  I will give one example from my life.  As Valentine's Day approaches, my family is preparing for our annual Widow's Dinner.  This tradition started ten years ago when our neighbor's husband passed away.  She was a kind lady that was always showing her kindness to us through loving words and baked goods.  Wanting to show our kindness in return, we planned a dinner for her and some of her friends who were also widows on Valentine's Day, so they would not be alone on this special day.  Over the years the dinner has grown to include a great number of elderly women from the neighborhood.  We play games, eat dinner and share stories.

There are countless ways to serve others:  we can share our time with someone who is lonely, or tutor someone that needs help with schoolwork, or even play games with someone that needs a friend.  It may be difficult to get out and do things for other people who we may not know, but as we do so we will be filled with a joy that we could not otherwise find.

"When we love somebody, we show it by doing something nice. So learn to serve: find a need and fulfill a need. Surprise people with a good deed they hadn't planned on. We have that opportunity at home, at school, and at church."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Focus on Values")

Help from the Book of Mormon

"The Book of Mormon teaches us truth [and] bears testimony of Christ. ... But there is something more.  There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.  You will find greater power to resist temptation.  You will find the power to avoid deception.  You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.  The scriptures are called 'the words of life,' and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon" (Conference Report, Oct. 1986).

The above words were shared by President Ezra Taft Benson, previous President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He spoke those words long before I was even born, but it wasn't until just a few years ago that I understood the power of its application.

I have grown up with a bad case of manic-depression, to which I thought there was no cure.  Of course I have medications that help, but the eventual depression was always bound to come back at some point, and I felt trapped.  Not knowing how to feel better I met with a friend who told me I needed to read the Book of Mormon.  I'd read the book before and knew it wasn't about mental illnesses, or depression, or anything of that sort, but out of respect and love for my friend I followed her counsel and got the book out again.

For the first few days nothing changed about my situation, but over time I did notice something strange.  I found that when I read my Book of Mormon in the morning I was able to focus more during the day, free of the distractions of depression.  Additionally, I noticed that when I read at night I was able to get to sleep much faster and sleep better than I did beforehand.  Although it is not specifically mentioned in President Benson's address above, I would add to all who need help with depression (or other mental illnesses) can find help and comfort through reading the Book of Mormon.



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