Saints cheerfully share what they have to bless the poor and needy.

‘In 2 Corinthians 8:1–8 the Apostle Paul told the Corinthian Saints that Church members in Macedonia had given generously to help the poor with their temporal needs. He explained that the Macedonian members did so because they wanted to do the will of God. Paul encouraged the Saints of Corinth to follow this example of providing for the needs of others out of sincere love. “In the Lord’s plan, our commitment to welfare principles should be at the very root of our faith and devotion to Him.’ (Seminary New Testament manual).

“Since the beginning of time, our Heavenly Father has spoken with great clarity on this subject: from the gentle plea, ‘If thou lovest me … thou wilt remember the poor, and consecrate of thy properties for their support’ [D&C 42:29–30]; to the direct command, ‘Remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple’ [D&C 52:40]; to the forceful warning, ‘If any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment’ [D&C 104:18]. …

“… While it is important to have our thoughts inclined toward heaven, we miss the essence of our religion if our hands are not also inclined toward our fellowman. …

“… Our spiritual progress is inseparably bound together with the temporal service we give to others. …

“This very hour there are many members of the Church who are suffering. They are hungry, stretched financially, and struggling with all manner of physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. They pray with all the energy of their souls for succor, for relief.

“… Please do not think that this is someone else’s responsibility. It is mine, and it is yours. We are all enlisted. … In the Lord’s plan, there is something everyone can contribute” (Dieter F Uchtdorf, “Providing in the Lord’s Way,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 53–54).

God’s nature is giving. God gave up his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The Saviour loved us with compassion and empathy. He willingly gave up his life. He loved the world so much that He died for us. Is there any better way to learn how to be a voluntary and cheerful giver than to observe the way Jesus gave? Jesus never once complained about the sacrifices he made.

Our Heavenly Father loves to bless his children with good gifts. Likewise, He desires to see his own nature duplicated in his children.

False prophets seek to deceive.

“In the general sense, a true apostle is an especial witness of the Lord’s name, one who knows by revelation that Jesus is the Lord. A false apostle is one who pretends to be a teacher and witness of true doctrine without having the requisite personal revelation. In the specific sense, a true apostle is one who has been ordained to that office in the Melchizedek Priesthood and who normally serves as a member of the Council of the Twelve, and who therefore has power and authority to govern the Church. A false apostle is one who professes to have power to govern the affairs of the Church on earth, but does not in fact have the requisite endowment of divine authority” (Bruce R McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 2:440).

“We can accept nothing as authoritative but that which comes directly through the appointed channel, the constituted organizations of the Priesthood, which is the channel that God has appointed through which to make known His mind and will to the world. … And the moment that individuals look to any other source, that moment they throw themselves open to the seductive influences of Satan, and render themselves liable to become servants of the devil; they lose sight of the true order through which the blessings of the Priesthood are to be enjoyed; they step outside of the pale of the kingdom of God, and are on dangerous ground. Whenever you see a man rise up claiming to have received direct revelation from the Lord to the Church, independent of the order and channel of the Priesthood, you may set him down as an imposter” (Joseph F Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 41–42).

We should “examine” our faithfulness in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus issued the challenge ‘What think ye of Christ?’ (Matthew 22:42). The Apostle Paul challenged the Corinthians to ‘examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith’ (2 Corinthians 13:5). All of us should answer these challenges for ourselves. Where is our ultimate loyalty? Are we like the Christians in Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s memorable description who have moved their residence to Zion but still try to keep a second residence in Babylon? [see A Wonderful Flood of Light (1990), 47].

“There is no middle ground. We are followers of Jesus Christ. Our citizenship is in His Church and His gospel, and we should not use a visa to visit Babylon or act like one of its citizens. We should honor His name, keep His commandments, and ‘seek not the things of this world but seek … first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness’ (Matthew 6:33, footnote a; from Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 6:38)” (Dallin H Oaks, “Teachings of Jesus,”Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 93).

See Careful versus Casual by Sister Becky Craven

The Savior’s grace is sufficient to help us find strength in our weakness.

“In the past two years, I have waited upon the Lord for mortal lessons to be taught me through periods of physical pain, mental anguish, and pondering. I learned that constant, intense pain is a great consecrating purifier that humbles us and draws us closer to God’s Spirit. If we listen and obey, we will be guided by His Spirit and do His will in our daily endeavors.

“There were times when I have asked a few direct questions in my prayers, such as, ‘What lessons dost Thou want me to learn from these experiences?’

“As I studied the scriptures during this critical period of my life, the veil was thin and answers were given to me as they were recorded in lives of others who had gone through even more severe trials.

“‘My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

“‘And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high’ (D&C 121:7–8).

“Dark moments of depression were quickly dispelled by the light of the gospel as the Spirit brought peace and comfort with assurances that all would be well.

“On a few occasions, I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn’t be necessary for me to endure any more suffering. Such entreaties seemed to be of no avail, for it was made clear to me that this purifying process of testing was to be endured in the Lord’s time and in the Lord’s own way. It is one thing to teach, ‘Thy will be done’ (Matt. 26:42). It is another to live it. I also learned that I would not be left alone to meet these trials and tribulations but that guardian angels would attend me. …

“The experiences of the last two years have made me stronger in spirit and have given me courage to testify more boldly to the world the deep feelings of my heart” (Robert D Hales, “The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom,”Ensign, Nov. 2000, 6).

“The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them like the Apostle Paul—is available for every affliction in mortality” (Dallin H Oaks, “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” 8).