Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

By Jim Greer

LW contributor

In a recent posting, News Editor Sarah Jane Weaver of Church News recounted the horror Dutch Latter-day Saints experienced in World War II. In 1940, German troops overran the Netherlands in five days, leaving 40,000 civilians dead and destroying 400,000 homes.

Seven years later, Dutch Church members who farmed potatoes, despite the horrific toll the German army took in Holland, committed to giving their entire 70-ton crop to German Latter-day Saints who were destitute after the end of the war.

In 2015, Sister Sharon Eubank, director of Latter-day Saint Charities, shared President David O. McKay’s reaction to discovering what the Dutch Saints had done for their German brothers and sisters. McKay described this action as “one of the greatest acts of true Christian conduct ever brought to my attention.”

Eubank lauded this Christlike sacrifice by stating, “It is one thing to talk about brotherhood. It is a different thing entirely to act in brotherhood.” She went on to say that serving others is about the awakening “of what is finest down deep inside each person and giving it an opportunity to grow and flower. Every person can give something of value, and every person can receive something of value.”

Recently, President Russell M. Nelson issued two invitations for Latter-day Saints. The first was to flood social media via the #GiveThanks campaign. Most recently, he challenged members, “as we enter the Christmas season and celebrate the living Christ. Let us follow his example to ‘Light the World’ by loving and serving others, one by one.”

Along with the First Presidency 2020 Christmas message, the Church News features President Nelson’s invitation encouraging people to end 2020 on a positive note by joining the service and gratitude activities of the Light the World initiative.

The newsletter also has the primary general presidency reminder that children are not too young to serve and offer daily service. President Joy D. Jones, Sister Lisa L. Harkness and Sister Cristina B. Franco coordinated with the general #LightTheWorld campaign to include church members of all ages.

Like those living in Holland in 1940, many are suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our actions may not be as heroic as the Dutch Latter-day Saints who shared their crop, but we can follow their example and express gratitude for our blessings and work to #LightTheWorld this season.