Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on having Christlike compassion

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (born December 3, 1940) served as Church Commissioner of Education from 1976-1980, as the president of BYU from 1980-1989, as a Seventy from 1989-1994, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1994.

"When the sacred hour comes to present our sacrificial gift to the Lord, we do have our own sins and shortcomings to resolve; that’s why we’re there. But we might be more successful in such contrition if we are mindful of the other broken hearts and sorrowing spirits that surround us. Seated not far away are some who may have wept—outwardly or inwardly—through the entire sacramental hymn and the prayers of those priests. Might we silently take note of that and offer our little crust of comfort and our tiny cup of compassion—might we dedicate it to them? or to the weeping, struggling member who is not in the service and, except for some redemptive ministering on our part, won’t be there next week either? or to our brothers and sisters who are not members of the Church at all but are our brothers and sisters? There is no shortage of suffering in this world, inside the Church and out, so look in any direction and you will find someone whose pain seems too heavy to bear and whose heartache seems never to end. One way to 'always remember him' (Moroni 4:3, 5:2) would be to join the Great Physician in His never-ending task of lifting the load from those who are burdened and relieving the pain of those who are distraught."

- Jeffrey R. Holland, "Behold the Lamb of God," General Conference April 2019
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We do attend Church meetings to be strengthened and edified. Elder Holland suggests that might occur more readily when our focus is less on ourselves and our personal needs, and more on the challenges of those around us.

True Christian discipleship involves turning our focus outward, and loving others as He loves us. That is a powerful reminder about the nature of worship. We worship best by emulating; and the unselfish service of Christlike charity is the highest form of both emulation.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)