President Russell M. Nelson on giving and serving like the Savior

President Russell M. Nelson (born Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became president of that quorum on July 15, 2015. Following the death of President Monson, he was set apart as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"Latter-day Saint Charities has provided more than two billion dollars in aid to assist those in need throughout the world. This assistance is offered to recipients regardless of their church affiliation, nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, or political persuasion....

"Last year alone, the Church carried out more than 100 disaster-relief projects around the world, helping victims of hurricanes, fires, floods, earthquakes, and other calamities. Whenever possible, our Church members in yellow Helping Hands vests mobilize in great numbers to help those afflicted by the disaster. This kind of service, rendered by so many of you, is the very essence of ministering....

"Regardless of where we call home, members of the Church feel passionately about the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Thus, our greatest joy comes as we help our brothers and sisters, no matter where we live in this wonderful world.

"Giving help to others—making a conscientious effort to care about others as much as or more than we care about ourselves—is our joy. Especially, I might add, when it is not convenient and when it takes us out of our comfort zone. Living that second great commandment is the key to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ."

- Russell M. Nelson, "The Second Great Commandment," General Conference October 2019, Sunday afternoon

Click here to read or listen to the full talk

My wife and I had been set apart as humanitarian service missionaries just two weeks before this conference talk was given. We had completed our training in the MTC and would leave for Argentina right after general conference. What a thrill it was to hear President Nelson address the very work we would be doing, in collaboration with Latter-day Saint Charities and the humanitarian services organization of the Church! And particularly to hear him mention Argentina as an example of the efforts being done in the wheelchair program. We would later meet the directors of CILSA (an NGO who partners with the Church in the wheelchair program in Argentina) shown in the background of the photograph below as we helped carry the program forward.

It is so very inspiring to see "the second great commandment" blessing thousands of lives through the Church's marvelous worldwide efforts. Members of the Church can continue to contribute to that program by donating to the "Humanitarian Fund" in the normal contrubution process. But equally important, we should each seek ways we can personally love our neighbors in greater measure, through acts of love and service, following the example of the Savior.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2020)