President Thomas S. Monson observed his 82nd birthday on Friday, Aug.
21, which was the first day for dedicating the Oquirrh Mountain Utah
Temple.
Last year, the LDS Church News asked him to describe the ideal birthday
gift. He said, "Do something for someone else on that day to make his or
her life better. Find someone who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely
and do something for them. That's all I would ask."
In response to that request, the LDS Church News asked readers to give
President Monson the gift of service to another and then report it to us.
In the issue of Aug. 15, we published some of the service church members
have given during the past year. Following are highlights of more service
members have performed, many on President Monson's birthday.
One man asked his children to think of ways to
serve their neighbors for President Monson's birthday. After some
consideration, one of his daughters thought it would be fun to bake cookies
for some families in the neighborhood. "The week leading to the day we were
planning on making the delivery of the cookies had been particularly busy
at my work," he wrote. "I was getting home late and was unable to take care
of some of the basic home needs including mowing my lawn that was getting
quite tall. As I arrived home on the day we were planning on delivering the
cookies, the kitchen was busy with all four of my children and my wife
baking. Upon completion, we delivered the goodies to all 10 families, which
took two hours as we had short visits with each neighbor. We had a great
time.
"The next day was Saturday and I had to work. When I got home that
evening, my neglected lawn had been mowed and cared for. I knew that my
wife, who was pregnant, was gone that day and would not have been able to
do it. I then realized that I was the recipient of the service that was
rendered on behalf of President Monson. I had never thought that I would be
on the other end of the giving that was done for his birthday. It is a day
I will never forget.
"Thank you President Monson, your gift did more than I had planned
for."
Jaimee and Scott Sims and their children, Alex,
8, Analeigh, 5, (they also have a 10-month-old baby, Abigail) of the
Rivanna Ward, Waynesboro Virginia Stake, made Amish Friendship Bread and
delivered it to their elderly neighbors. "They seemed truly grateful," said
Sister Sims. "My kids delivered the loaves all by themselves and the widow
next door kept them for quite a while, chatting with them and showing them
things. We loved this idea."
The Primary children in the Coquille Ward, Coos
Bay Oregon Stake, sang for the seniors at the Community Building in
Coquille, Ore. "The Valiant girls made rose buds out of candy kisses for
the children to give each senior after they sang," wrote Primary President
Linda Davis. "The seniors were very pleased and one of them said: 'Those
sweet children give us hope.' This was a great experience for the primary
children. Thank you President Monson."See the full story on LDSChurchNews.com.
This story is provided by the LDS Church News, an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is produced weekly by the Deseret News.