CHILDREN OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER Many people in my life when I have mentioned to them about my concern in life about certain people. Not of my family, "They have said why?" I have thought deep down in my heart about how this all began as far as I can recall it began when I was living in Ribgy. There was a elderly gentleman who used to walk the streets. I would see him nearly every time I went to town. He would walk in a stopped manner with his head down his shoulders stooped forward. He walked at a very slow pace. His clothing were well worn and very unkept. Following behind him also at a slow pace was an old black dog. He also walked with a drooped sad looking face as they walked along people would bump into them or completely ignore them. I felt a deep compassion for this man. So one day I spoke to him. The words I said I don't remember. Each time I spoke to him. He would raise his hand and just nod, but I always tried. I asked several people, about what caused him to be in such a sad state. One said, at one time he was a wealthy man, and lost everything in the stock market crash in 1929. Others said, we really don't know why you worry about it, besides why do you care. In high school, I wondered about some of the kids I knew why they dropped out of school, why they didn't care, why they were mean to others. I remember one boy was really mean. He had other boys with him and the other boys would say, "Go get him" and he would bunch them in the back and laugh because we were in school and couldn't do any thing. I would ask why is he that way and I still got the same "Why should you care?" Then I went in the Nave there was the real test. In boot camp at Farragut and even when I got assigned to the "Nevada." Young boys would enlist barely seventeen some of them would quit school just to be in the service. I would ask them, Why didn't you finish high school at least. They would have excuses they were one year too young for the draft and they had to have their parent's consent to enlist. I would tell them try not to get some of their bad habits in here. So you won't do things you may be sorry for later. Very few of them would listen to me. Some older sailor would get their friendship, teach them bad habits of which the Navy has a lot and then this older boy would laugh about it. I would say, "Why did you do that to him?" Then that same answer would come. Why should you care? When I left the Navy and was called to different positions in the church. Serving with the youth, as a missionary, Seventy, and Ward Executive Secretary and with different High Priest Group Leadership. I always tried to help all I came in contact with. One time or one portion I would like to put special emphasis on when I was an Elder's Quorum President in Montana in the early 1960's. When the Stake President called us, myself and two counselors Dan Brumwell and Gaylord Maughun after we were all set aprt. His name was Grant Patten. He called us into a meeting. He looked us right in the eye and said, "Every Elder in your Quorum is important and once a year I want you to visit and have prayer and council with each one." We did, there were four wards and branches in our Quorum. One branch Thompson Falls was 160 miles round trip from our home ward in Churlo. We went there on Sunday each month even in the wintertime. Sometimes we were invited to speak, because they were really short of priesthood holders who were active. It taught me that a lesson of caring about other people. Even today as I ask about those who aren't members of our family. How are you doing? Is there anyway I can help? Those same words come to me or are said to me, just like the elderly man in Rigby, many years ago. "Why should you care?" That has been my thought for a while for the past few months. "Why should I car?" After much prayer reading, meditating, and just plain thought. This us my answer in simple words. "We are all Heavenly Father's Children." When we meet someone we can help and strengthen their testimony that is one more who can be saved in the Lord's Kimgdom. Whether they are family or not. That should be our main purpose in life to strengthen our Heavenly Father's kingdom. Jim Perry November 25, 2001 I would like to close with these final words. I have tried to be faithful in service to the Lord, my country, my family and my fellow men. May the Lord bless you.