Brotherly Love and Brotherly Kindness is God's Love

Shay and the Baseball Game

A father tells this story about his son, Shay.

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?

I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they will let me play?" I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field. grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again, Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

NOW... do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came, and Shay swing clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow grounder right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of teammates.

Everyone in the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first!"

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

Be scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second struggling to make it to the base.

By the time shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team, who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team, could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases home. People were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay."

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!"

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!"

Shay ran to home. stepped on the plate and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world"

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He passed away that winter, having never forgotten about being the hero and making me happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day."

Matthew 22:36-40

36   Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37   Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38   This is the first and great commandment.

39   And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

40   On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Needy Family

A young family moved into the Ward from Germany. The father was in the Army but hadn't ranked up enough to provide much more than just the bare necessities for the family. The mother was German and spoke English with a very heavy accent and was not yet employable.

They had very little and Christmas was approaching. These young parents were stressing because they could not afford to do Christmas for their children. 4 local families decided to help this young family to enjoy a wonderful Christmas. None of these 4 families knew the other 3 were involved. Each family wanted to keep their participation secret from the target family and from anyone else. The things brought to this family were brought secretly.

For example: beginning the 11^th day before Christmas, one family brought them an artificial Christmas tree and left it at the door. One child stayed at the door until the rest of the family had left and was out of sight. Then that child rang the doorbell and ran,

The next night they brought lights for the tree. There were many more lights than the tree needed, the thought being that perhaps they would use some of them to decorate their porch.

The next night they brought decorations for the tree.

The next night they brought decorations for the front room.

The next night they brought candy canes to put on the tree.

Each night something was left on the porch. Fragrant candles, large socks for Santa to fill, and much more.

And so, it went until Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve they brought wrapped gifts for each member of the family. The tags were signed by Santa Clause. Santa Clause also brought candy. oranges, and little gifts to put into the family's socks.

Early on Christmas Day, the family brought the makings for Christmas Dinner. There was a ham, potatoes, vegetables, pie, and a note expressing love for their target family. The Young Men and Young Women also brought a food basket.

The target family never knew who their benefactors were,

The other three families did much the same thing, but they didn't start as early. They also brought gifts and food and love, and again did not let them know who was involved in this effort.

The target family contacted the Bishop to find out who had done this, The Bishop had not been involved and could not tell them.

Those family members who participated in this "Ding-Dong Ditch Santa Clause" effort remember this special Christmas as the best Christmas ever, even after more than 25 years. Some of them were very young at the time.

It was a special time in 5 families' lives. 5 families were blessed because of this event. 5 families were strengthened both emotionally and spiritually.

None of the men in these 4 loving families were assigned as Home Teachers or ministers to the target family.

The reason I tell this story is because it is a perfect example of pure love and of wonderful ministering to a family in need. One does not need to be "assigned" to minister to others in need.

Jan and Jeremy

I am reluctant to use this next story because Sister Black and I don't hold ourselves up as any wonderful example to anyone. However. this story will help complete my message to you.

The year is 1992. I was 1^st Counselor to the Bishop, and I was at work when my princess bride called me. 

She said, "We have some visitors". 

"Oh," I said. "Who is there?" 

Well there was a story. A young lady named Jan was traveling with her 2year-old son and her fiancé coming out of Mexico and returning to Oregon. Her fiancé was Mexican, and he had a visa to permit him to come into the US. However, he attempted to smuggle some exotic birds when he came through customs and was detained. His visa was immediately revoked.

Jan's automobile was unreliable, and she and her small son were stranded.

Jan is a member of the church. She knew she needed help and she called several numbers trying to locate the transient Bishop. Our Bishop was the transient Bishop, but he was gone often as an agent for the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. I took care of most of the transient duties when he was gone.     Jan got our phone number and called our house.

Sister Black answered the phone and listened to her story. The spirit whispered to her that she needed to go and pick up Jan and her son, Jeremy, from a flea bag motel near Ft. Bliss in El Paso, and then figure out how to deal with the situation.

When she called me, she had already picked up Jan and Jeremy and was back home again. She needed me to her what to do. I told her to feed them and sit tight and we would figure it out when I got home.

The spirit whispered to me that we should shelter Jan and Jeremy as long as they needed it. We set up our family room as their living space. Jan had no resources, so we just treated them as if they were part of our family.

Our home was very full.  We had 7 children and a dog.  And then we added these two vagabonds.

Jan immediately got a job as a waitress in one of the ritziest restaurants in El Paso, so that her tips would sustain them, she saved her money, got her car repaired and then worked to get her fiancé out of detention, she asked me to come with her to his hearings and I did so. Our attendance and our participation were insufficient to get him released due to the severity of the penalty of attempting to smuggle exotic birds into the United States. He was in detention for some time before he was deported to Mexico.

Jan and Jeremy only stayed in our home for 6 weeks. but those 6 weeks had a great effect on our family and on Jan and Jeremy. Jeremy still talks about that time. He was only 2 years old, but he remembers. Our children still remember the time we had a "family" living in our family room.

Jan thanks me every time we talk. She told me last night,

"Those were some of best and happiest times of my life, and also sad, I felt like Heavenly Father, as He always has, was watching out for me. Sometimes in life we don't have to ask why or double think decisions. I knew what to do and so did your family. To me that is what our church is all about.

“I talk about those experiences every single day, pretty much.

"Because of you guys I was able to work with El Paso Community College pioneering a program with Tech de Monterrey."

The prophet Mormon taught:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son. Jesus Christ"

(Mormon 7:48)

Elder Massimo De Feo:

"Pure love is the true sign of every true disciple of Jesus Christ."

These stories that I have told you are about love. They represent love expressed through action. This is what true ministering is. It is just love expressed through action. It is caring for those to whom we have been asked to minister.

I suspect that the boys on the two baseball teams didn't think they were expressing love for Shay, but that is exactly what they did.

I suspect that the families helping a new family to enjoy Christmas didn't think they were expressing love. They were just wanting to share their bounty with a family in need.

Likewise, when we go to the temple, and do work for those who have already passed through this life, we express true love, whether we think so or not. Those spirits cannot do their own work, so temple patrons do it in their behalf. This is true love.

I know that Sister Black and I did not consider the idea that we were expressing love when we invited Jan and Jeremy into our home. We were just taking care of somebody in need. We don't hold ourselves out to be anybody special. We just go about our lives in a manner we believe expresses our love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I know that God lives.  I know that His son, Jesus Christ also lives and is in control of our world.  I know that Joseph Smith really did see what he said he saw.  He saw the Father and the Son in a column of light descending from above.  He spoke to them, and they spoke to him.  I know that Joseph Smith was given instruction in the Sacred Grove. I know that through Joseph Smith the fullness of the Gospel and authorized priesthoods were restored to the earth.  I know that the work we do in the temples today is of eternal importance.  I know that Joseph Smith translated the writings found on golden plates, using the power of Almighty God, into English and published those writings as the Book of Mormon.

I bear this testimony to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.