King Benjamin pleaded with his people, “Succor those that stand in need of your succor” (Mosiah 4:16). Isaiah urged us to “strengthen…the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees” (Isaiah 35:3). And the author of Hebrews echoed that imagery: “Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Hebrews 12:12).
The Lord repeated all of these admonitions when Frederick G. Williams was called to serve as a counselor to Joseph Smith:
Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.
Doctrine and Covenants 81:5
This guidance begins with awareness. God wants us to notice when someone is weak, when someone’s hands are hanging down in exhaustion or discouragement, or when their knees are about to buckle and give way. We can then provide the assistance they need:
- Succor — emergency relief and empathy. Jesus is particularly capable of succoring because of what He has suffered. (See Hebrews 2:18; Alma 7:12.)
- Lift up — encouraging, inspiring, and helping them complete their tasks and achieve their goals.
- Strengthen — helping them become self-sufficient; coaching them as they develop talents and skills which will enable them to bless other people.
Today, I will look for opportunities to serve. I will strive to be observant and aware of needs, and provide appropriate assistance, including emergency relief, encouragement, or training and coaching.
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