FHE: Humanitarian Aid
by Shauna Gibby

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Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “And Who Is My Neighbor?,” by H. David Burton, Ensign, May 2008, 51–52.

Thought:

May we press forward to lighten the load of neighbors, encourage and assist the downtrodden, open our purses to assist the poor, and extend our helping hands. (H. David Burton, “And Who Is My Neighbor?,” Ensign, May 2008, 51–52.)

Song:

“Go the Second Mile,” Children’s Songbook, p. 167

Scripture:

And 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.

(Doctrine and Covenants 52:40)

Lesson:

Have family members read 2 Nephi 20:1–2 and find one of the evil practices the Lord condemns. (Unfair treatment of the poor.) Now read D&C 104:15–18 to see the modern teachings of the Lord concerning this doctrine. Ask how the Church helps us fulfill this responsibility. (Fast offerings, welfare projects, home teaching, humanitarian aid, perpetual education fund, and so on.)

Ask family members what they could do personally to help the needy. Then ask what you could do as a family.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, _Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon_, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 72.)

Story:

Vicki Vehar, a member of Naperville Second Ward in Chicago, . . . has always taken time for community service, even though she is very busy as a financial planner, wife, mother, and now worker in the Chicago Temple.

When she read about a program in which excess food [was] collected from places such as restaurants and grocery stores and distributed to food banks and shelters for the homeless, she believed it was an idea that could work in her area. She began investigating the availability of surplus food and the need for it in the Chicago area. One of the places she called to offer help in arranging for food was the Salvation Army.

The night following her call, a freak tornado struck the Plainsfield-Joliet area, about thirty-five miles southwest of Chicago. The twister plowed down a three-mile swath several blocks wide, destroying everything in its path and killing twelve people. The next morning, Vicki received a call from the same Salvation Army worker she had spoken to the previous day: Could she possibly help provide some volunteers to assist the tornado victims?

Although this wasn’t the kind of help she had originally offered, it was still an opportunity to serve. Vicki called the mission president, and within an hour, eight missionaries—one couple, four elders, and two sisters—were on the scene. The women distributed hamburgers and other foodstuffs, donated by a national fast-food chain, to people whose homes had been destroyed; the men began helping with the salvage process.

The next morning, Vicki got an elated phone call from the woman at the Salvation Army. “I don’t know how you did it, but your church is absolutely wonderful!” the woman exclaimed.

(Derin Head Rodriguez, “Reaching Out,” Ensign, Jan. 1992, p. 70)

Activity:

Play “Win All You Can.”

1. Give all the players pencils and pieces of paper, and have them number their papers from one to ten. Tell them that the object of the game is to win all you can.

2. Instruct the players to mark X’s or O’s beside the number of the round they are in. After each round, they will see what everyone else has marked.

3. Explain the scoring system.

• a. If everyone has the same mark (X or O), everyone scores ten points.
• b. If everyone but one person has the same mark, that one person scores thirty points, and the others, five apiece.
• c. If everyone but two people has the same mark, those two score twenty apiece, and the others, five apiece.
• d. If the group has a mixture of X’s and O’s, everyone scores one point.

4. Let the group discuss before each round how to mark the round. Make it clear that no one is bound to follow the group’s decision.

5. At the end of round six, tell the group that the scoring will change so that all points earned for the next round will be doubled. At the end of round seven, tell the group that the points earned in round nine will be multiplied by ten. At the end of the last round, points will be multiplied by one hundred.

6. Compare scores. Explain that the “you” in “win all you can” may be interpreted as referring to the group as a whole or to the individual.

(George and Jeane Chipman, Games! Games! Games!, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 1983], p. 156.)

Refreshment

Apple Crisp

Topping

• 1 cup butter, cold
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Filling

• 6 cups canned apples or 6 to 8 fresh apples, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

In a large bowl mix together butter, brown sugar, flour, oatmeal, and baking powder just until the butter is broken up and ingredients are mixed. Mixture should be crumbly. Set aside.

Place apples in a 9x13-inch pan. Sprinkle with sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Then crumble crisp topping on top. Bake at 350° F for 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. (If fresh apples are used, bake for 45 minutes.) Serve warm or cold, with whipped cream or ice cream. Makes 12 to 15 servings.

(Lion House Desserts, [Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2000] p. 52.)

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