Do Something

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Every six months, in April and October, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in all corners of the world gather for sessions of what is called General Conference. It's ten hours worth of teaching over two days. The October session is going down this weekend and that's how the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML have spent today and will spend it tomorrow - in learning. And watching the Twitter blow up over the hashtag #ldsconf. Apparently, we Mormons love us some Twitter action during Conference.

These sessions of conference are amazing opportunities to be taught and 'fed' by those I believe to have been called of God at this time to provide revelation, guidance, and teaching. Sometimes, I walk away from these sessions feeling awash in guilt for all the things that I'm not doing, but I mostly come away from them feeling strengthened or challenged to do more. As the first two sessions wound up today, I am feeling challenged to do more.

In a powerful address by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, we as members of the Church were challenged to do more, much more, for the poor of the world. He reminded us in no uncertain terms how Christ taught that the poor shall not suffer. We must do more to help alleviate or end that suffering. He challenged us to stop withholding from the poor because we feel that they've brought their circumstances upon themselves. We are all guilty of bringing something upon ourselves and none of us, Christian or not, can stand in judgement of another like that. We must, whether we be rich or poor, do what we can to help those who cannot help themselves.

Elder Holland spoke of the work of Mother Teresa, her work, and the work of the Missionaries of Charity. He told the story of how Mother Teresa responded to someone who asked her how she could carry on her work in the face of insurmountable odds. She said that her work was about love, not statistics.
BAM!

In the end, we may not be our brother's keeper, but no matter your belief system, we are our brother's brother. We can take care of one another. It's time to step it up and to help stop the suffering of those who have nothing or suffer. We can make a difference. It doesn't have to be huge. But one act of kindness makes a difference. Let's each do something about it. Let's make a difference.