To Stand Up For Others

Do you know what it means to minister?
Think about this question while I tell you about a girl named Chy Johnson.

When Chy started high school last year, she became the victim of cruel and thoughtless bullying.
She was mistreated, shoved, and taunted as she walked to class--some students even threw garbage at her.
You have probably seen people mistreated like this in your school too.

For too many people, the teenage years are a time of loneliness and fear.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Fortunately for Chy, there were young men at her school who understood what it means to minister.

Chy's mother had asked teachers at the school to help stop the bullying, but it continued.
She then contacted Carson Jones, an Aaronic Priesthood holder and the starting quarterback of the football team.
She asked him to help her find out who was doing the bullying.

Carson agreed to help, but in his heart he felt that he could do much more than just identify the bullies.
The Spirit whispered to him that he needed to help Chy feel loved.

Carson asked some of his teammates to join him in ministering to Chy.
They invited her to sit with them during lunch.
They walked her to class to make sure she was safe.
Not surprisingly, with football players as her close friends, no one bullied Chy anymore.

This was an exciting season for the football team.
but even with the thrill of an undefeated season, these  young men did not forget about Chy.
They invited her to join the team on the field after games.
Chy felt loved and appreciated.
She felt safe.
She was happy.

The football team went on to win the state title.
But something more important than a football championship happened at their school.
The example of these young men has motivated other students to be more accepting, more friendly.
They now treat each other with more kindness and respect.

Chy's mother calls these young men "angels in disguise."
Carson and his friends are quick to say that Chy has blessed their livesm uch more than they blessed hers.
That's what happens when you lose yourself in serving others--you find yourself.
You change and grow in ways that would not be possible otherwise.
These young men have experienced the joy of ministering and continue to seek opportunities to bless others. They are anxious to extend their ministering in the coming months when they serve as full-time missionaries.

Years ago as a stake presidency, we felt impressed to call a good man as stake clerk.
At the time he was temporarily struggling with regular Church attendance.
We knew, however, that if he accepted the calling, he would do a marvelous job.

We extended the call, but he replied, "No, I don't think I can do it."

Then an impression came.
I said, "Well, I guess the Glendale stake won't have a stake clerk then."

Shocked, he responded, "What are you talking about?
You have to have a stake clerk."

I replied, "Do you want us now to call someone else to serve as a stake clerk when the Lord impressed us to call you?"

"OK," he said, "I'll do it."

And do it he did.
There are not only many men but also many boys who will respond to a call when they know the Lord is calling them and that the Lord needs them.

-David L. Beck -Your Sacred Duty to Minister -April 2013 General Conference

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

-Sarnic Dirchi