There are an estimated 60 million refugees
in the world today, and half of these are children.
We see many of them coming with only the clothes
they're wearing and what they can carry in one small bag.
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As members of the Church, we don't
have to look back far in our history
to reflect on times when we were refugees, violently
driven from homes and farms over and over again.
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The Savior knows how it feels to be a refugee--He was one.
As a child, Jesus and His family fled to Egypt
to escape the murderous swords of Herod.
And at various points in His ministry,
He found Himself threatened and His life in danger,
ultimately submitting to the designs of evil men
who had plotted His death.
It is all the more remarkable to us
that He repeatedly taught us to love one another,
to love as He loves, to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Truly, "pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father is this,
To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction"
and to "look to the poor and the needy,
and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer."
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The reality of these situations must be seen to be believed.
It's been inspiring to witness what Church members from around
the world have generously donated
to help these individuals and families who have lost so much.
The Church has provided shelter and medical care.
Stakes and missions have assembled
many thousands of hygiene kits.
Other stakes have provided food, water, clothing,
waterproof coats, bicycles, books, backpacks,
reading glasses, and much more.
The possibilities for us to lend a hand and be a friend
are endless.
Begin on your knees in prayer.
Then think in terms of doing something close to home,
in your own community, where you will
find people who need help in adapting
to their new circumstances.
Like countless thousands before them,
this will be a period--we hope a short period--in their lives.
Some of them will go on to be Nobel laureates,
public servants, physicians, scientists, musicians, artists,
religious leaders, and contributors in other fields.
Indeed, many of them were these things
before they lost everything.
This moment does not define them,
but our response will help define us.
Millions of refugees worldwide, whose stories
no longer make the news, are still
in desperate need of help.
You might help resettled refugees
learn their host country language,
update their work skills, or practice job interviewing.
You could offer to mentor a family or a single mother
as they transition to an unfamiliar culture, even
with something as simple as accompanying them
to the grocery store or to school.
Some wards and stakes have existing trusted organizations
to partner with.
And, according to your circumstances,
you can give to the Church's extraordinary humanitarian
effort.
"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me."