Help for wife's talk

[SoCalCoug]

My wife's giving a talk next week based on Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk from last conference, "Concern for the One." It's about seeking after the "lost sheep".

She asked me to help her write it, and I thought I'd ask for some ideas. It's a pretty broad topic.

[ute4ever]

That is very broad. What direction would she like to go with it?

[bluegoose]

For starters, there was another talk in the same conference with a similar theme.

"One Among the Crowd" by Dennis Neuenschwander

I like this statement:

In reality these stories are not about crowds but individuals among those crowds. They are really about you and me. All of us are among the crowds of this world. Almost all of us are like the woman who, despite the crowd, comes to the Savior. We all have faith that just a touch will bring healing to our aching souls and relief to our innermost needs.8 New members of the Church in many lands are often like Alma. They hear the words of life when no one else in their family or circle of friends does. Yet they still have the courage to accept the gospel and chart a course through the crowds. I think each one of us understands what it means to partake of the fulfilling fruit of the tree of life within sight and sound of those who mock and what it means to exert every courageous effort to pay them no heed.

Struggling through the crowds of the world can be lonely and hard. Their pull and tug on the individual who wishes to step away to something better can be very strong and very difficult to overcome.

[Tex]

I would suggest using some examples from Jesus' life that illustrate his attention to the one. Some of my personal favorites:

- Mark 5. The woman with the issue of blood. He noticed she touched him though surrounded by many people.
- John 4. The Samaritan woman at the well. He knew the intimate details of her life ("come see a man that told me all things I ever did")
- Luke 19. Zacchaeus in Jericho. Though having never met, Jesus knew who he was and called out his name.

Some of the parables also have that message, such as the Lost Coin and Lost Sheep, or even the Good Samaritan or Prodigal Son.

Also, cross-reference Elder Maxwell's talks/books. This was a frequent topic for him, and he has some excellent thoughts on the topic.

[Hazzard]

Originally Posted by Tex

Also, cross-reference Elder Maxwell's talks/books. This was a frequent topic for him, and he has some excellent thoughts on the topic.

Good advice. Elder Maxwell's intense concern for the one seemed to flow from his own social awkardness and poor self-image (particularly as a young man), including his struggle with acne and other issues. (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595079013,00.html) (his biography by Hafen goes into all of this in greater detail)

SoCal, I have always liked the idea that we're given certain challenges in life that cause us to feel lonely and/or rejected so that we may be given a greater sensitivity to the needs of others and not only seek for and reach out to the one, but also empathize with and relate to the one in ways that would not have been possible but for the challenges. Maybe that's an avenue your wife could explore -- using the challenges that come into our own lives to bless the lives of others.