The Prophet Joseph Smith in the beginning of the Church laid down the principles and foundation of helping others. The Prophet Joseph taught us that “A true Latter-day Saint is to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this Church, or in any other, or in no Church at all, wherever he finds them”. This principle has guided the Church over the years in helping others in time of need.

Two days after the tsunami, the Church approved funding to begin the emergency relief efforts to provide food and hygiene kits for the tsunami victims. A few days later, a large amount of funds were approved to continue the emergency relief efforts for about two months. Members of the Church in Indonesia, from primary to adult, were eagerly participating in the relief program. At the end of the emergency relief efforts, we calculated that members of the Church donated over 5000 hours. One example was the “doll” project headed by Sister Kleinman, who is serving as an office couple with her husband in the Jakarta Indonesia Mission. Sister Kleinman trained a few young people and fellow senior missionaries to make the doll from socks. Over 500 dolls were made and sent to Banda Aceh and the surrounding area for the children who lost all of their toys. The children were so happy receiving the dolls. We saw that both the giver and the receiver rejoiced together.

Serving others has been one of the central teachings of the Savior. Matthew recorded his teaching in the New Testament: “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; Naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee and hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and give thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when we saw thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt 25:35-40)

The tsunami relief efforts opened opportunities for many nations to work and serve together in the spirit of love and brotherhood. Truly, brotherhood brings peace and comfort to people. I learned service for others as a full time missionary. A passage of scripture inspired me to make the decision to serve a full time mission. The Savior taught us; “and every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matt. 19:29) These words of the Savior contain both an invitation and a blessing. One of the learning experiences I had in the mission I received from my new companion. I was transferred to a new city which was an 8-hour drive by night bus. I arrived at my new mission quarters at 4:00 a.m. As I knocked on the door, my new companion was there to greet me and help me with my bags. What a wonderful service and example he was to me that early morning. He then helped me prepare my room and soon I was settled and ready to work in this new city. My companion, who is now married and has children, is strong in the Church. I found out recently that he is an orthopedic surgeon.

When I returned home from my mission, I joined our young single adult group. One day a few of us decided to do a service project for our fellow young adults, by cleaning their rented house without notice. We began cleaning up the house, washed the clothes, and completed our work about 4:00 p.m. Before we left the house, one of the sisters, who had brought a homemade cake, left it on the table with a note to thank them for the opportunity to serve. We went home happy. Reflecting on that experience, I now see that all of those who participated in the service project are still strong in the Church. Several of us have served full time missions and continue to serve wherever we are. Service produces strength, and strength produces endurance.

President Boyd K. Packer taught us; “The willingness of Latter-Day Saints to respond to calls to serve is a representation of their desire to do the will of the Lord. That desire to serve arises from the individual witness that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and contained in the Book of Mormon, is true…But the response to calls, to positions, is only a small part of the service given by members of the Church. I see two kinds of service; one, the service we render when we are called to serve in the Church; the other, the service we willingly give to those around us because we are taught to care.”