Primary Talk - Prophets and Apostles Show Me How to Serve

Prophets and apostles teach us a lot about service. Not only do they TELL us about service but they SHOW us by how they live their lives.

Here’s a story about President Kimball who was the prophet when my parents were younger.  This story is from when he was an apostle.

It was a stormy winter night.  At the airport in Chicago, many people were stranded due to delayed or canceled flights.

A young pregnant woman was in a long check-in line and was nudging her 2 year old daughter forward with her foot.  Many people made rude comments but no one offered to help.

One man said, “Why doesn’t she pick up that screaming child?”

A woman said, “What a terrible mother!”

With a kind smile, Elder Kimball walked up to the woman and said, "Can I help you?" 

The mother said, “Thank you!  I’ve had four previous miscarriages and my doctor told me that I can’t lift anything, not even my own child.”

Elder Kimball picked up the crying child, rubbed her back and gave her a piece of candy.  When the toddler was comforted, he told the other passengers and the airport workers about the woman's medical condition.

The airport worker told her that they’d get her on the next available flight.  Another person invited the mother and child to sit and rest until their departure. The woman felt a lot calmer and happier. 

Later, she saw a picture of Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  She said, “That’s him!  That’s the man who helped me!”

A few months after that, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Twenty one years later, President Kimball received a letter.  It was from the son of that young mother from the airport.

The young man wrote: “I served a faithful mission and am now a student at BYU. Thank you for helping my mother that terrible night.”

President Kimball was so happy that his small act of service had resulted in so much good.

I am grateful for prophets and apostles that teach us about service.  I know President Monson is a true prophet and that he is a great example of service.

(based off this article in the Children's Friend magazine)