President Thomas S. Monson: 'Have I done any good'

President Thomas S. Monson began his Sunday morning address by telling the experience of physician Jack McConnell whose father, a Methodist minister, would ask each child at the dinner table, "And what did you do for someone today?"

The children were determined to do a good turn so they could report each day to their father that they had helped someone. As they grew and matured, that motivation became an inner desire to help others. After Dr. McConnell retired from a distinguished medical career, he established Volunteers in Medicine, which retired health care providers serve the working uninsured. Dr. McConnell said that by providing the service, he has benefited more than his patients have.

"Of course, we can't all be Dr. McConnells, establishing medical clinics to help the poor; however, the needs of others are ever-present, and each of us can do something to help someone," President Monson commented.

Quoting Jesus' words that "whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it," President Monson remarked, "I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and, figuratively, lose their life, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish — and in effect save their life."

He noted, "Often we live side by side but do not communicate heart to heart. There are those within the sphere of our own influence who, with outstretched hands, cry out, 'Is there no balm in Gilead?'"

While he is confident, he said, that Church members intend to serve one another, "we become so caught up in the busy-ness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we're doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the 'thick of thin things.' In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting these more important causes."

Noting that some may lament they can barely make it through each day with all they have to do and wonder how they can provide service for others, President Monson recalled that just over a year ago, he was interviewed by the Church News prior to his birthday. The reporter on that occasion asked him what he would consider the ideal gift Church members worldwide could give him. He replied, "Find someone who is having a hard time, or is ill or lonely, and do something for him or her."

He said he was overwhelmed when this year for his birthday, he received hundreds of cards and letters from Church members around the world telling how they had fulfilled his birthday wish.