We're All Family Here

Remember a few years ago  when devastating fires burned out of control in Southern California?
As fierce winds blew, the public was restricted from the area by police.
A few families were allowed to remain and try to save their homes.

Soon a van arrived at one house, filled with brethren from the quorum, carrying their shovels.
They were asked: "How did you get past the police barricade?"
Response: "It was easy. We just told them our brother lives here."

The count was soon up to thirty-nine brethren who were helping dig a trench for fire protection.
A curious police officer appeared and said: "I just wanted to meet the man who has thirty-nine brothers!"

Elder Matthew Cowley once asked an elders quorum president how his elders were getting along as a quorum.
"Do you do anything to help one another?"
"Oh, yes," was the response.
"We've got a member of our quorum in the hospital in New Mexico.
He was a vigorous young man, buying a farm, a hard worker with a lovely family.
All of a sudden he was stricken."
That could have meant the end of his farm and family security.

The elders quorum president said, "That was our loss as much as for his wife and children.
So we took over, and we've operated that farm.
All he has to worry about is getting well."

Many times we magnify our callings individually, quietly, without fanfare.
I'm thinking of an elders quorum president, Kirk Barnett of Las Vegas.
Visiting a hospital early one morning, he was impressed to ask if any other LDS were there.
He was told an elderly grandmother awaiting her first surgery for a brain hemorrhage.
She had no family or friends present, no one to encourage her.
She was terrified!
President Barnett sat with her for two hours.
His hand was white from her strong grip.
She said she loved him at least twenty times.

J. Richard Clarke -"To Honor the Priesthood" -April 1991 General Conference.

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi