About three years ago I was sitting in a Sacrament Meeting in the Heyburn 1st Ward, when two sisters spoke on the Church's Humanitarian Program. Our ward had never been involved in this program, but my life changed from that time forward. I immediately after the meeting, went to our bishop and volunteered to be the Humanitarian representative from out ward. I hurried, because I was afraid somebody else would get to him first! Since then, our ward has been privileged to assist in a small way this wonderful effort.

One of those sisters related the experience of some acquaintances of her family who had been called on a humanitarian mission for the Church. He was a doctor, and she a nurse, and they were called to serve in an orphanage in Romania. Nothing could have prepared them for the appalling conditions which met them when they arrived at the orphanage. Windows were broken. The cold was coming into the rooms. The babies and small children were lying or sitting in cribs jammed into rooms. They had no blankets; they were just lying on the bare cribs. Their diapers were literally rags that were washed by hand and dried by being draped over bushes. The walls were bare and bleak. The babies, even newborns were fed a mixture of flour and water. There were no bottles; even the youngest were fed from tin cups, though they were hardly able to swallow. The staff at the hospital were distrustful and disapproved of these foreigners who had come to boss them around. The babies were often tied in the cribs and unable to move. They had nothing to look at or play with. They were not handled except to be fed and changed.

The first priority was to get nutritional food for the children and to handle the staff carefully so that they could get their cooperation. They had to order powdered milk, oil and vitamins from Italy, because they could not find the things they needed in Romania. Calls for help went out to the ward and stake in the U.S. for blankets, clothing, toys and diapers to be sent. Wall hangings were put up to stimulate vision, so that little eyes would develop correctly. Things slowly improved. A couple of years ago, there was a popular song called, "Angels Among Us" These first missionaries and many like them became angels to these children.

Just a year or two ago, the horrible war in Kosovo resulted in the Serbs driving out the Croats. You have just heard on the news in the last week or two how Malokavich has been taken for war crimes. The Croats were cruelly driven from their homes by the thousands. The Relief Society asked sisters to make 30,000 quilts to send to these people who had nothing but the clothes on their backs. 30,000 were provided, and then 40,000, 50,000 and finally 100,000 quilts were made by Sisters all over the world, maybe some by you, your mothers and neighbors. The count goes on!

Here is another story from Bucharest, Romania that was related by Pres. Monson at General Conference. A doctor from the US was volunteering at an orphanage there. He is an orthopedic surgeon and had donated his time to help the crippled children. He had operated on a little boy named Raymond, who had been born with club feet. Raymond was also completely blind. His little feet were straightened, but he could just not learn to walk. Dr. Oborn knew that a small walker would help Raymond, but there were none to be found anywhere in Romania.

At that same time, around the world, in Provo, Utah, the Richard Headlee family had learned about the suffering of Romania, and with the help of others, filled a 40 foot shipping container with 40,000 pounds of food, clothing, medicine, blankets and toys. At the last moment before the container was closed, a family brought a child sized walker and added it to the donations. Many of the family members went along to Romania.

Dr. Oborn was there when the container arrived and was open. He knew everything that was brought would be put to use immediately in the orphanage. He said, "Oh, I hope you have brought a walker for Raymond." Someone remembered a walker, but not the size. A search was made until it was found. Someone shouted, "It's a little one!" and everyone cheered and then wept as they realized a miracle had happened.

The family stayed for several days, painting walls, hanging pictures, playing, singing to and holding the children, who were starved for physical attention. Now, little Raymond is walking! Who was the angel who donated the walker? Her name is Kristen Bestor from Utah. She and her younger sister have spina bifida. Pres. Monson met her and said, "Thank you for listening to the spirit of the Lord. You have been an instrument in the Lord's hands to answer a doctor's prayer and a little child's wish."

What can you do? I understand that you young people have already done some projects to help others. Each of you, while you are still young, can become an angel to someone in desperate need. There are those who have nothing...nothing. The next time you want to buy an article of clothing that you don't really need, or a computer game, or pizza or attend a movie, think that there are people who could really be helped if you denied yourself some of these things, and instead bought a blanker, a pair of shoes, a toy or a bar of soap.

Moroni 7:46, we are told that without charity, we are nothing. Also in Alma 34:28, these strong words..."And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith."

Joseph smith said, "A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race." (History of the Church, Vol.4, pg. 227)