“Friend to Friend,” Friend, Apr. 1992, 6
Friend to Friend
A certain Samaritan … had compassion (Luke 10:33).
One of my favorite scripture stories is found in the tenth chapter of Luke, where Jesus tells us of a man who, while on his way to the city of Jericho, is attacked, robbed, and wounded by a group of thieves. A priest and a Levite come upon the man, but each thinks, “I can’t be bothered.” Like many people today who are preoccupied by selfishness, the priest and the Levite cross the street and turn their heads to avoid seeing another person’s needs that might inconvenience them. As the story goes on, however, one person, a Samaritan, did stop to help the injured man. The Good Samaritan showed great compassion as he went out of his way to care for the man in need.
Looking back, I can think of many Good Samaritans who have influenced my life and the lives of others by going out of their ways to serve and teach. One of these Samaritans was a great-great-uncle of mine, who was in one of the first groups of pioneers to settle in Utah.
One severe winter he was dispatched to Carbon County to help other pioneers who were moving to that area but had been stranded by terrible snowstorms. Without hesitation my uncle responded to the call for help. He put the needs of others above his own and risked his life to bring many to safety. That story has been a source of inspiration to me. It has helped me to be more appreciative of my pioneer heritage and the people who willingly made sacrifices, facing troubles head-on.
My parents, particularly my mother, are among the other Good Samaritans who have touched my life. My mother was very involved in the Church, but my father was never active. Even so, they both encouraged us to attend church and participate in the activities.
My mother taught Primary and served in the Relief Society her whole life. She always did more than was asked of her and often spent many hours away from home. In so doing, however, she became a great example to me of how we should be willing to reach out to others and help and serve them whenever we can.
Besides my mother, I remember a Primary teacher I had when I was a young boy living in Provo, Utah. This teacher was over the Primary class that was called, at that time, the Guide Patrol. For the class we had a shoulder bandolier, and, similar to the Boy Scout program, we had to set goals and do certain things to earn emblems to put on the bandolier.
My Primary teacher made the most of her opportunity to serve. She was sincerely interested in helping us to grow and to choose the right. In true Good Samaritan fashion, she went the extra mile and frequently had us over to her home outside of Primary time. She worked individually with each member of the class to help us reach our goals, and she showed great compassion for those who needed special help and attention.
In addition to my parents and teachers, I can think of many Church leaders who are or have been Good Samaritans. A former bishop of mine, Les Goates, and a stake mission president I served with, Franklin D. Richards, are two such leaders who exemplified the traits of the Good Samaritan. Bishop Goates impressed me with his outstanding leadership ability. His example was one of unconditional love for the people he worked with and served. He knew that unselfish giving was the way to reach people and touch their hearts.
A number of years ago I was called to be a counselor to Elder Richards in a stake mission presidency in the Salt Lake East Mill Creek Stake. During that time Elder Richards was particularly instrumental in helping me to better learn the gospel and to see the importance of scripture study. He also helped me to realize what a great opportunity it is to serve.
Service doesn’t come without hard work and sacrifice, but work itself really is a blessing. Many people don’t understand that. I have learned to be grateful for work. I have seen people around me who are lazy and inclined to approach tasks with a “What’s in it for me?” attitude instead of the “What can I do for others?” attitude that the Good Samaritan had. Let us not view work and service as drudgery. Rather, let us see every day as a new opportunity and challenge to help those in need.
Engraving by Gustave Doré
1 At Camp Roberts, California, in 1945
2 W. Mack Lawrence (right) at 20 with his brother Ray
3 On a fishing trip with a friend
4 W. Mack (right) with his brother Ray (5)
5 Ray and Mack Lawrence
6 Wedding day
7 Ray L. and W. Mack Lawrence, 1931
8 Robert G. Woffinden, W. Mack Lawrence, and Van F. Dunn, members of the Holladay Sixteenth Ward bishopric, at a Primary activity, 1973