Someone Was Kind to Me

My brethren, we have had two glorious sessions. Kindness seems to be the theme. I thought as Bishop Ashton was pleading for more kindness, how fitting; and that I would like to tell something that happened to me just three weeks ago today. I was in Los Angeles without an appointment, and consequently wended my way over to the Hollywood Ward. As I came up to the door, a kind, affable man extended his hand in greeting, and said: ¶

A Warm Welcome ¶

"You are welcome here. Come in." It was not a hard thing to go into that chapel. After the opening exercises, I went with one of the classes, and the teacher had sort of a "free for all" discussion. It seemed that he was drawing out the class members as to their attitude and feelings. He asked them of their difficulties, the trials they were having, and how they overcame them. ¶

Experiences of a Convert ¶

Many class members told of sweet things that had happened to them, difficulties that they had overcome. Finally one man stood up and said: "Years ago I joined the Church in Denmark. I never felt such love, such sympathy, and such kindness in my life as I felt amongst those people that were in that branch. I was thrilled to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I did my duty in the Church. I worked up to be an assistant to the superintendent of the Sunday School, thrilled in the knowledge that I was actually growing in the gospel. Then about twenty years ago the way opened up for me to come to Zion. I came, bringing my certificate of identification with me. As Sunday rolled around, I went over to the ward in which I was living, thinking that the bishop would be delighted to know he was getting a new member, and I had him pointed out to me. I couldn't say very much in English; I walked up to him and handed him my certificate of identification, and he said: 'O.K.' And that was the end of the conversation. ¶

"I had a difficult time because the warmth that I had known with the missionaries in Denmark was not here. I sat through the meeting. I went for several Sundays; no one paid any attention to me whatsoever, and finally I gave up. For twenty years now I have wandered all over America, unhappy and miserable, trying to find some peace, and knowing all the time that the gospel was true, but it was not lived the way that the missionaries had taught us it was to be lived, and as it should be lived. I happened along this street four weeks ago. I came to the door of this beautiful chapel and a man held out his hand, and spoke to me, and said: 'Welcome.' "The next Sunday I was here, and last Sunday I was here, and today I am here. I am beginning to feel that thrill come back that I had in Denmark. Someone was kind to me." ¶

As he sat down, thrilled to think he had come back into the Church, he promised before that Sunday School that he would continue to be a Latter-day Saint. I was touched. I stood up and said: "I wonder if anyone else is here today for the first time? It happens to be my first day here, and as I came up to the door, someone shook hands with me. Has anyone else had an experience who has come today for the first time that makes him feel he would not want to come again for twenty years?" ¶

One sister held up her hand and said: "I came today for the first time, and someone shook hands with me at the door, and I am coming back next Sunday." ¶

Story of a Bishop's Kindness ¶

Brethren, you men who are responsible for taking care of the sheep, you who are in constant touch with them, be kind. I had a fine young missionary come out to me in the California Mission. He was telling me that he had been a little bit careless as a boy, but he said on one occasion, about six years previous, when he was about sixteen years of age, he walked into the office of the bishop, just a little bit ashamed. For his mother had forced him to pay tithing on a dollar he had earned, but the payment was so small he was almost afraid to do it. Finally he laid the ten cent piece down on the table and said: "This is my tithing." ¶

He said the bishop, who was writing out receipts, dropped his pencil on the receipt book, stood up and put his arms around him and gave him a hug and said: "My lad, if you will always do this, the Lord will bless you and you will be happy." He said: "From that day on I was blessed, because every week my earnings increased until I had enough to come into the mission field. I will always be grateful to that bishop because he was kind." ¶

Plea for Kindness ¶

Brethren, we all have our responsibilities and our difficulties to face, but bishops, presidents of branches, you who come in such close contact with the members, never fail to put your arms around them and encourage them. Kindness above all else will keep them close to you and the Church. ¶

God bless us and help us that our love and our kindness may have such an effect upon our membership that all will want to turn to the Lord and keep His commandments, is my prayer, in Jesus' name. Amen. ¶