As President Russell M. Nelson approaches his 100th birthday (September 9, 2024), he is highlighting a place in scripture where Jesus Christ uses the number 100 to teach a lesson about service and love.
In the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18 and Luke 15), Jesus teaches that we should reach out to others in need the way a caring shepherd would do for his sheep—even for just one lost from a flock of 100. Pointing to this example, President Nelson suggested that a way that people can help commemorate his 100th birthday would be to reach out to “the one” in need.
In a message posted to social media channels 100 days before his September 9 birthday, President Nelson stated,
“One spiritual offering that would brighten my life is for each of us to reach out to ‘the one’ in our lives who may be feeling lost or alone. Over the coming months I invite you to consider prayerfully: who do you know who may be discouraged? Who might you need to reconcile with or ask for forgiveness? Has one name been on your mind lately, though you haven’t quite known why? As you bring these questions to the Lord, He will inspire you to know how you can reach out and lift one who needs help.”
By following the Savior’s example, President Nelson continued, we can “spread the love of Jesus Christ throughout the world.”
Read his full message below:
I am soon approaching my 100th birthday. One of the places where the Savior used the number 100 in the scriptures was the parable of the lost sheep. Though 99 of his flock were safely by his side, the shepherd went in search of the 1 who was lost.
At age 99, I have no need of physical gifts. But one spiritual offering that would brighten my life is for each of us to reach out to “the one” in our lives who may be feeling lost or alone.
Over the coming months I invite you to consider prayerfully: who do you know who may be discouraged? Who might you need to reconcile with or ask for forgiveness? Has one name been on your mind lately, though you haven’t quite known why? As you bring these questions to the Lord, He will inspire you to know how you can reach out and lift one who needs help.
What a beautiful example the Savior has shown us – that through each of us ministering to just one within our reach, we can spread the love of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
This is an official press release re-published by LDSDaily.com from Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
