Sacrifice and Self-Sufficiency
 

         This has been a wonderful conference, brothers and sisters. I pray
that my few remarks will not detract from the spirit we have enjoyed.

         During this past year, the Area Presidencies in South America
became concerned with the dependency of the Church there upon
financial resources from Church headquarters. Wisely, these Brethren
could see that future needs would require more funds than Church
headquarters could provide.

         The Area Presidencies met with their regional representatives
and stake presidents to counsel together on steps that would help the
Church in South America become more self-sufficient. They studied ways
to decrease costs and, at the same time, increase the participation of
their people.

         They agreed that greatly simplified buildings would fully meet the
needs of the Church. They found ways for their members to donate more
labor, decreasing the amount of cash required for construction. In seeking
to become more self-sufficient, the people have incorporated the principle
of sacrifice into their lives and have increased their faith.

       The Prophet Joseph Smith said:

      "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things
       never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto
       life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith
       necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could
       be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things" (Lectures
       on Faith, 6:7).

       As the Saints work to become completely self-sufficient, something
very special happens that goes far beyond decreasing costs. For example,
when the Church leaders in South America turned their attention to
decreasing the cost of missionary service, the Lord blessed them with a
simple but marvelous idea: the members could provide the noon meal
each day for the full-time missionaries. This was a task the Saints in South
America could do, and one that would strengthen both the members and
missionaries.  It proved to be the means for the members in this part of
the world to perfect the Saints and to proclaim the gospel--two parts of
the mission of the Church.

         Reporting on the results of putting this idea into action, one stake
president said:

        "I had a meeting with the mission president, and we discussed the
idea that our members could provide the noon meal for the missionaries.
I asked my bishops for time in their sacrament meetings to explain the
basic idea. I explained the blessings that they, their children, their
neighborhood, and the stake would receive.

        "In my own ward, we saw an unexpected result of our members'
sacrifice.  Attendance at sacrament meetings climbed from 80 to 90
people a week to nearly 150 now. The number of baptisms has increased
from 1 or 2 a month to nearly 12 a month. General activity has increased
in our stake, and we feel a sweeter spirit in every ward.

        "My bishop told of an experience two young children had who are
members of the Church but whose parents are not. These children raised
their hands in support of the program, and then went home to tell their
parents that they had incurred an obligation to feed the missionaries. As
a result, the parents are now hearing the missionary discussions and
attending Church meetings. We expect them to be baptized very soon."

          One bishop reported to his stake president that he did not have
enough active members to provide lunch for the missionaries every day.
The wise stake president suggested that the bishop invite less-active
members of the ward to participate. Much to the surprise of the bishop,
many of the less-active members were pleased to have the missionaries
come to their homes for a noon meal.  In fact, many of these less-active
members were anxious to share with the missionaries the stories of their
conversions. More often than not, they would get out photographs of the
missionaries who baptized them. This simple idea is bringing many
unexpected blessings to the Church.

          As the members share their food with the missionaries, the
missionaries bring into homes the special spirit that only they carry,
blessing both the members and the missionaries. Many less-active
members are returning to full fellowship, and many more members are
becoming involved in missionary work because of this simple expression
of love and service. How often, brothers and sisters, we can solve seemingly
large problems through relatively simple means!

         Let me share a few experiences that have resulted from members
and missionaries working together. An elder wrote:

         "Because we were able to have lunch with an inactive family, they
are now back into full activity in the Church. When we ate with them,
they recognized the importance of prayer before each meal. A wonderful
spirit prevails in their home now. They are not only active again, but we
baptized a member of the family and later baptized their neighbors as well
--all because they invited us to share their food."

         Another missionary wrote:

        "The mother of a poor family came to me and my companion and
asked us when we were going to eat at her home. Knowing of the family's
humble circumstances, I talked to the branch president. He said, `Elders,
this family has taught us a lot by their example of humility. It is a great
privilege to have them in our branch. They are poor, but they really want
to participate. We want you to go.  If their food isn't enough, come by my
house afterwards and eat with us.' "

         In Bolivia, a young mother with four small children expressed her
testimony, saying:

        "I am so grateful for the privilege of having the missionaries come
into our home. It is a pleasure to feed them, even though I fear that
sometimes we do not have enough for them.  (I need to add here that
members everywhere in the world have the same fear.) She continues:
"However, I am so thankful for this opportunity, for, you see, my four
little ones wait anxiously for the day to come when the missionaries eat
with us. When it is our turn, two handsome young men dressed in white
shirts, wearing ties, their hair cut neatly, come into our home. They are
full of the gospel light. They play with the children. They tell us about their
wonderful missionary experiences. They are gentlemen, courteous and
kind. After about an hour with us, they leave to do the work of the Lord."

         What parents would not rejoice to have sons like the two missionaries
for whom an older widow volunteered to provide lunch. After a few visits,
they stopped on the way to her home and bought a bouquet of flowers
to give to her as a token of thanks for the lunches. When they gave the
flowers to her, the sister looked shocked and then began to cry. The
elders thought they had done something wrong and began to apologize.
The widow stopped them and said that no one had ever given her flowers
during her entire life, not even her husband when he was alive. She
beamed with delight during the lunch and then asked the elders to wait
one more minute. She presented them with the name and address of one
of her best friends and asked them to please teach the friend's family.
The family accepted the gospel wholeheartedly and proved to be the
best family baptism those two missionaries had.

         Perhaps these words of one of our faithful mission presidents sum it
all up:

         "The self-sufficiency effort has been a blessing to our mission, not
only because we have decreased the average missionary cost by forty-
eight dollars per month, but because of the relationships our elders and
sisters have been able to develop with the members and nonmembers.
Many experiences have lead to member reactivations and to nonmember
baptisms. The members are fed spiritually and have greater love for the
missionaries. Up to this point, not one single problem has developed."

         The president continues, "I have wondered if Alma's experience is
any different from what we see happening between the Peruvian Saints
and the missionaries."

        From Alma, we read:

        "And as [Alma] entered the city he was an hungered, and he said to
a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat?

        "And the man said unto him:  I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art
a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom an angel said in a vision:
Thou shalt receive. Therefore, go with me into my house and I will impart
unto thee of my food; and I know that thou wilt be a blessing unto me and
my house.

        "And it came to pass that the man received him into his house; and
the man was called Amulek; and he brought forth bread and meat and set
before Alma" (Alma 8:1921).

         Something special happens to an individual or to a Church unit when
the people become more independent and self-reliant. They feel more
confident, positive, and assured, and they reflect these feelings in their
actions.

         Last March, as you remember, devastating rock and mud slides
engulfed six small towns in the mountains east of Lima, Peru. All of
these towns were within the Lima Peru San Luis Stake. The slide left
25,000 people homeless. Eighteen LDS families lost their homes
completely, and 198 other families were left in dire need of food,
clothing, and medical supplies.

         The day after the slides, one member of the stake presidency and
two other Church members waded through waist-high mud and debris
for five kilometers to assess the damage. They found that more than
three hundred people, members and nonmembers, had taken  refuge
in the Chosica chapel.

         The following day, the stake presidency called a meeting of their
eleven bishops and branch presidents. They made many assignments
to furnish needed supplies. They asked each ward and branch to furnish
work teams to go to the homes of members and help them clean up.

         The stake presidency resolved to handle the problem without
seeking help from outside stakes. They soon found that they could not
handle it all alone. They went to their regional representative and asked
him to coordinate economic help from other stakes in the region. The
Saints of Peru rallied together.

         As an example, the Iquitos stake sent thirteen crates of clothing,
each weighing thirty kilos (about sixty-six pounds). Other stakes and
wards donated food, bedding, and mattresses.

         Selling quilts and refreshments, young women raised more than
three hundred dollars. One young priest, a senior at his high school in
Lima, led a group of twenty-eight of his classmates, all nonmembers,
to Chosica to help with the cleanup.

         The stake Relief Society presidency visited the area frequently and
instructed the sisters in classes on hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, and
"how to organize family living in a tent."

         The stakes did not intend to seek assistance from the general
welfare funds of the Church. Stake leaders called in all fast-offering
reserves from their wards and branches. They asked stake members
to participate in a special fast on 29 March 1987 to raise funds that
would help cover the expenses.

         Some bore tender testimonies. Let me share just two. Sister
Guadalupe, a nonmember, lost everything. Then in the shelter of a
little room in our chapel, she gave birth to a baby boy. She stated that
the Lord had helped her escape. She learned that everything of the
world is temporary and can be lost. She thanked the branch and the
Church for opening its doors to her and for the assistance she received.

         Sister Leonora de Contreras, a Relief Society president, said she
knew the gospel was true. She expressed thanks for her husband, who
holds the priesthood and is a pillar of strength. The catastrophe
destroyed the fruits of their lifetime of labor in less than thirty minutes.
She recalled the words of their son who is serving in the Peru Trujillo
Mission. As he left home, he said to her, "Mami, whatever happens,
if you need help, ask the Lord, and stay close to the Brethren." She
expressed appreciation to stake leaders for their assistance.

         Brothers and sisters, I realize that similar reports could come
from other parts of the world. The principles of sacrifice, self-reliance,
and pure love in action apply the same everywhere. I refer to South
America only because my present assignment takes me there and gives
me firsthand experience in that land. We have a long way to go in South
America to become fully self-sufficient, but we are on the way, and the
Lord is blessing our efforts.

         I am so grateful to the Lord for the leaders and other members in
the Church, both men and women, who are filled with a faith that makes
them willing to sacrifice for the building up of the kingdom of God. Such
Saints truly feel and live the principle that King Benjamin taught to the
Nephites: "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only
in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17).

         Brothers and Sisters, how can every member enjoy the thrill and
the blessing that comes from making a sacrifice to help the work? The
answer is very simple, as are most answers in the Church.  Every
member of the Church can pay a full, honest tithing and can attend
tithing settlement. The Lord said, "Verily [now] is a day of sacrifice,
and a day for the tithing
of my people" (D&C 64:23).

         Let me remind you of President Spencer W. Kimball's statement
on fast offerings:

        "Sometimes," he said, "we have been a bit penurious and figured
that we had for breakfast one egg and that cost so many cents and then
we give that to the Lord. I think that when we are affluent, as many of
us are, that we ought to be very, very generous. . . .

         "I think we should . . . give, instead of the amount we saved by
our two meals of fasting, perhaps much, much more--ten times more
where we are in a position to do it" (in Conference Report, April 1974,
p. 184).

         Every member can give a generous fast offering.

         Brothers and sisters, the Church needs your contributions to the
general missionary fund. This fund makes possible the service of
thousands of missionaries. Those who can should feel free to contribute
generously. The Lord provides an equal opportunity for every member
everywhere in the world to receive the blessings that come from paying
tithes and offerings.

         Every member can give his time and talents freely to the building
up of the kingdom of God upon the earth. No member of the Church
should miss this opportunity to exercise his faith and feel the spirit
that comes from humble sacrifice. Seeing the great good that the Saints
in South America do with their meager means helps me realize how
much more many of us in other parts of the world could do. We should
never forget the Savior's teaching: "Unto whomsoever much is given,
of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48). He has blessed us abundantly.
I think of the teaching words of one of our hymns:

        Because I have been given much, I too must give; Because of
        thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live I shall divide my gifts
        from thee With ev'ry brother that I see Who has the need of help
        from me   (Hymns, 1985, no. 219).

        I pray that as we leave this conference, each one of us will take from
the messages of the Brethren those principles that will help us to become
more self-sufficient as Saints.

        I testify that we have been taught the truth during this conference,
that God lives, that Jesus Christ is his Son, and that the gospel has been
restored in these latter days. All of which I do in his sacred name, even
the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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