Come unto me and I will give you rest

Ive never been homeless before this is my first time. A young woman let me know over a
chili. She expressed gratitude repeatedly to the kindness of the Lake Forest Park ward for
providing dinner to the gathering at the Prince of Peace Lutheran church. She went on to
demonstrate kindness and compassion to an elderly gentleman also at our table, a man who
had travelled the world, and whose appearance suggested a hard life. He then surprised us all
with a penchant for laughter; he went on to share his tales in a thick Serbian accent. We were
part of a group of several volunteers who participated in the tent city that night, from food
preparation, material gathering, and food distribution. Our Lake Forest Park ward has recently
started providing meals at this church, where about 20-30 people in need are hosted, and
meals are served by a rotation of local congregations.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [Matthew
11:28]. These words reverberated in my mind as I was with the group that evening. Truly, rest
was being provided to this heavily laden group of Gods children. Many paths led these
individuals to homelessness; one can imagine the struggles they have had in their lives. Time
and circumstances did not permit a full recounting of each persons journey; however, one
could read some of their stories in brief encounters. Many today feel a need to judge the
homeless and needy. However, as disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to
support and heal rather than condemn. [President Dieter F. Uchtdorf]. These words come
from one of the Apostles of our church who spent some of his life as a refugee. The Savior
[also] knows how it feels to be a refugeehe was one. As a child, Jesus and his family fled to
Egypt to escape the murderous swords of Herod and at various points in his ministry, he found
himself threatened and his life in danger, ultimately submitting to the designs of evil men who
had plotted his death. Perhaps then, it is all the more remarkable to us that he repeatedly
taught us to love one another Truly, pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is
this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to look to the poor and the needy
and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer. Let us remember these words during
this time of national debate on the refugee crisis.

Disciples of Christ in many ways feel as outsiders in the American culture at large. They strive to
flee from the ways of the world, and stand as witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ. They often
feel separated from mainstream culture, in search of a greater good. Sometimes, they even
leave friends and family to permit changes in their lives, such as with Word of Wisdom
struggles. They often seek spiritual aid. When one reflects on the plight of the refugee, one
tends to focus on their physical needs; but can we also recognize their need for love and
welcome? Are they that different from us? Christ taught the need to care for all, no matter
what walk of life they come from. Regarding the parable of the Good Samaritan, he asked,
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou
likewise. [Luke 10:36-37]. If we do not care for them, who will? A story is told that during the
bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When
the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a
beloved symbol of their faith and of Gods presence in their lives. Experts were able to repair
most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be
restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to
leave it as it wasa permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue
remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of
Jesus Christ a sign with these words: You are my hands. Though the refugees in our
community may dress, look speak and do some things differently, we should welcome and
embrace them. Let us treat them with humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at
long last, they have finally found home. [Dieter F Uchtdorf]. We are all Gods children. Come
unto me all ye ends of the earth, ... [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and
none are forbidden. [2 Nephi 2:24, 25, 28] Worldwide, There are an estimated 60 million
refugees in the world today Which means that 1 in every 122 humans has been forced to flee
their homes and half of these are children. [Elder Patrick Kearon]. Since 2010, there have been
approximately 5,665 men, women and children who moved into our King County community.
Assuming equal distribution, this makes for approximately 36 people in our Lake Forest Park
community who are classified as refugees.

The church has released an official statement: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is
concerned about the temporal and spiritual welfare of all of God's children across the earth,
with special concern for those who are fleeing physical violence, war and religious persecution.
The Church urges all people and governments to cooperate fully in seeking the best solutions to
meet human needs and relieve suffering. So how can we help? Live the way Christ taught. Be
kind and love all of Gods children. Be a good neighbor. Forgive. Welcome new faces at church;
invite friends and acquaintances to meetings and activities. Lend a welcoming hand. Have an
open mind to those who may dress, speak or act differently. Offer generous fast offerings. Be
sensitive to those in need, and help their unseen wounds be healed [Hymn 277]. More
specific help to refugees can be via charitable organizations. Explore the churchs Refugee Relief
program I Was a Stranger at www.lds.org/refugees. One of the fundamental principles of the
restored gospel of Jesus Christ is to impart of your substance to the poor, every man according
to that which he hath administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according
to their wants May the Lord bless you as you render service to those in need. [Mosiah 4:26,
First Presidency]

Tom Foutz, Elders Quorum President