In the book of Luke, it speaks of a lawyer trying to mock the Savior, asking him, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responded with a question back, “What is in the scriptures?” The lawyer then quoted the commandments, “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself,” then following that up with “who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ answer was one of the most well-known parables in the New Testament, the good Samaritan. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I think a parable is like many pictures, teaching us layers and intricacies that words can not fully capture. The story tells of a man who was mugged and beaten nearly to death. A levite and a priest, both men who had dedicated their lives to God, passed by, dismissing the tragedy. But a Samaritan, one who was regarded by Jewish society as “unclean”, “unworthy,” stopped. He stopped and took care of the man’s wounds, carried him to an inn on his own beast, and made sure he was taken care of. Then Jesus returned the question, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?” I’m sure in a more humble tone, the lawyer replied, “He that shewed mercy on him.” Then came Jesus’ command, “go and do likewise.”

As I thought on this parable, I thought of all the times our Savior has shown us, by example, the way to go. In the Old Testament, while the land was plagued with drought and famine, the Lord sent Elijah to the home of a widow and her son, not in Israel but in a neighboring kingdom. What a Jesus thing to do. At a time when all of Israel was facing great trial and hardship, the Lord sent his prophet to save the life of a poor widow and her son by sharing a miracle with her, a miracle that would bring them the food they needed until the need was done. “The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain,” he promised. And so their lives were preserved.

There are so many examples in the New Testament that I can’t retell them all, but I’d like to recount a few. The frightened plea of Jairus to heal his sick daughter. Jesus, so focused on compassion, so full of empathy, followed him. And then, as they are traveling to his house, a woman, with an issue of blood, so the scriptures say, touches his garment. He stops, never too busy to minister. He stops and questions who had touched Him. Upon finding out who she was, He comforts her, letting her know that her faith in Him was the righteousness and to go in peace. Finally, he continues on to this poor father’s home, where Jairus is notified of his daughter’s death. Once again, the Savior reaches out to calm them, saying, “fear not: believe only and she shall be made whole.” The image of him scooting the mourners out, in order to fill the house with reverence and calm for this sweet miracle – So thoughtful, so empathetic and compassionate, attentive to every detail. Our great example.

There are so many other examples; the time when He saw the funeral procession, carrying out the only son of a poor widow. The scriptures say He had compassion on her, so He brought her son back to life. That adjective is used many times in reference to the Savior. He had compassion.

One thing that touches me about Savior’s example is that his actions were not done just out of duty. He spoke many times about how He was doing what his Father had commanded Him, but it was more than that. He loved the people He served. He saw into their hearts all their potential for good, and He loved them.

Another really wonder example is President Monson. President Boyd K. Packer said of him, “He is more Christlike than the rest of us. He’s known for emphasizing and elevating things that are most important, the ordinary things. He is the one for whom the widow and the orphan are not just statements in a book.” He is one who would travel over 5000 miles through the iron curtain to East Germany to visit a sister in the hospital and give her a blessing. He would leave the East Germans the clothes off of his back because he loved them; not just because it was the duty of a Christian, but because he really loved and appreciated each one. My daughter calls people like him human sunshine. He was known to say, “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”

I love this story about President Kimball; a very Samaritan example. At the Chicago Airport, a young woman, threatening miscarriage, traveling with her young toddler was waiting in line to get a ticket to get back home. She was scooting her daughter on the floor with her foot because the doctor had warned her not to pick her daughter up. The child was tired, cranky, and teary. Those around her looked over their shoulders in judgment. Then, a smiling face appeared. President Kimball asked if he could help. He then picked the child up, comforting her. He convinced the people around to have compassion and help, too. Then he went and got her ticket for her so she could get home.

The commandment Jesus was pointing to in the story of the good Samaritan was: love thy neighbor as thyself. He didn’t say serve thy neighbor, although serving is loving, but it is more. Because people can tell the difference.

When my son, Sam, was young, he was in a special ed. therapy group. Within the group, there was a wide range of disabilities from high-functioning autism to children who could not speak. One thing I found amazing about this group, and my daughter who is a speech pathologist tells me it is not uncommon, was that all the children treated each other, spoke to each other, no matter the disability, as if they were equals- as a friend.

You all are righteous, good people, filled with service. The principle I’m trying to point out with these examples is a little step up. It is the difference between Christian duty, which is important and helpful, and jesus’ way of loving and appreciating those he served.

In literature, I think of Polyanna. In the movie, she follows her aunt’s servant around to the houses of poor or shut-in individuals to bring them food. One woman they visit is very difficult. She complains and criticizes, and so visiting her is often an extra difficult task. But when Polyanna enters the house, she looks for the good, not just being optimistic, but even as a young girl, she tries to connect with this woman; to enjoy her company. She ends up accomplishing the impossible by loving the unlovable. She softens hearts and really makes a difference.

There is a book I have really enjoyed called, Find the Good. It is written by an obituary writer in a little town in Alaska. She tells how it is her job to find the good in people. When she is writing an obituary, she isn’t content until she has searched through their photo albums and interviewed their family to find out what makes them special – to find the good. She says,”Finding the good can be practiced. If I concentrate and am patient, it will reveal itself.

I will conclude with a scripture from 1st Corinthians 13.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Moroni added, but charity is the pure love of Christ. He counseled that we should pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love. For it is a gift from God.