feeling, knowing and doing

She was from Argentina with long brown hair dyed a golden blonde.  Half her life she had lived not a member of the LDS faith and the other half she had, she said she would never give up what she had been given by being a part of the LDS faith.  Like Nephi, she did not know all things, but knew that Heavenly Father loved his children.  She had just gone to Brazil to visit her father (not a member of the LDS faith) and while there her father introduced her to a man(also not a member of the LDS faith) who does a great work for the orphans in the street.  This man owns a restaurant or bar on the beach where people from all over the world come to ride the ocean waves. Half of the bar is for business.  The other half of the bar is dedicated to feeding and educating the children, or orphans, on the street.  Some of them have become successful surfers. She was so impressed with this man and the work he was doing that she decided to share The Book of Mormon with him... in fact, she made him read aloud a particular scripture from it   Mosiah 2: 17   And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

She told him that whenever she reads that scripture she would think of him and the work he is doing.   (I distinguish between those who are of the LDS faith and for purposes of the story and to show that I understand that goodness is everywhere... we are all God's children).

Our Stake President (like a Bishop for a large area, stake), talked about the difference between testimony and conversion... or knowing and feeling something compared to actually doing what you know and feel to be true.  One young man was out of money and out of food during Christmas.  He was starving and didn't know what to do.  So, he prayed and as he was praying he was told to look under his bed.  He quickly ended his prayer and looked under his bed and found a handful of quarters... five dollars worth of quarters (we've done this before... found quarters scattered around the house).  It was enough to go and buy a pizza from Ceaser's.  He was so excited to finally have food he didn't even notice the cold as he walked to the restaurant   On his way home he came across a homeless man that he was familiar with and he knew... he knew that the pizza was for this man.  He gave it all away.  He didn't share a few pieces or keep one piece for himself... he gave it all away.  When he got him he knelt down to pray and prayed that he would be able to sleep and that the discomfort of hunger would not keep him awake.  As soon as he finished his prayers he heard a knock at his door.  His Bishop (leader of a smaller area, ward) had driven five hours because he had received an impression that this young man was alone and hungry on Christmas Day.

There were other stories of faith and prayer and people asking and people serving... we need enough faith to ask in prayer... and we need to be in tune so that we can hear the voice of the Lord when he asks us to serve those who are praying in faith.