They are on the streets in most cities. They inhabit villages in poor countries as well as rich ones. When we encounter them, we often look past them or see through them. If we stop or listen to their pleas for help, we can only judge their sincerity by our feelings at the time.

The homeless or poor people often must rely on the goodness of others for their survival. Some are coping with mental illness and have problems - both emotional and physical - that go far beyond what an occasional handout can provide. Others have had an unfortunate turn of events and find themselves without places to live or food to eat or clothes to wear. They are the truly desperate.Even during the Savior's time, beggars and other unfortunates abounded. In many instances the Savior and His disciples aided these individuals, gave them blessings that exceeded the alms passed along by well-meaning people in those days. The blessings given to the lepers or the homeless or the lame and the infirm helped not only their physical needs, but also taught great spiritual lessons to both recipient and those who witnessed the miracles. In the case of Peter and John, the healing of the lame man at the temple gate furthered the gospel cause to a doubting group of Jewish leaders and gave both apostles the chance to powerfully testify of Christ's mission among His own people. (See Acts 3 and 4.)

Fortunately, today, we too can testify of the Savior's mission in our lives. The Lord's way to assist the less-fortunate is through the donation of fast offerings. Through the fast offerings and humanitarian donations that are collected by bishops and distributed for the benefit of individuals, Church members can assist in testifying of God's plan and purpose. Just as in the Savior's time, these donations carry great spiritual messages as well as needed relief from sufferings. They help shore up broken spirits; they provide commodities and monies to individuals and families in need; they help us all live closer to the Lord by allowing us to provide for our brothers and sisters in the gospel as well as strangers who need our help and are unable to provide for themselves.

Obviously some individuals with motives that may be sinister rather than sincere can abuse the system. They can request help when none is required; they can misrepresent themselves to loving bishops and to others who want to help or have the means to help. They may even prey on the goodness of others with a touching story or plea. Fortunately those instances are rare.

More often than not, the help provided through the use of these sacred funds is greatly appreciated - and truly needed. Those who may obtain help under false pretenses are quickly discovered; the Spirit dictates that the help being offered is right and giver and receiver are edified, dignity is preserved, feelings are soothed and lives are touched for the better.

Those who have received help are usually quick to assist others themselves once they are able. They respond to calls from priesthood leaders and others to donate their means or their time to worthy projects to assist the needy. This work could be at a bishops' storehouse or stake farm or assisting a widow or widower with her or his yard or some other project.

In the welfare meeting of the April 1974 general conference, President Spencer W. Kimball asked Latter-day Saints to give generously of their means, through contributions to fast offerings. He repeated the plea in the welfare meeting of the April 1978 general conference. "We wish to remind all the Saints of the blessings that come from observing the regular fast and contributing as generous a fast offering as we can, and we are in a position to give. Wherever we can, we should give many times the value of the meals from which we abstained.

". . . Upon practicing the law of the fast, one finds a personal well-spring of power to overcome self-indulgence and selfishness."

President Kimball's successors have not rescinded that counsel - indeed the generosity of the Latter-day Saints is well documented.

Church members have responded to calls for special humanitarian fasts and projects - and they continue to respond in both times of trouble and emergency, as well as to everyday needs of the poor. The practice of helping others continues, but the focus remains not just on the temporal needs but with an eye toward eternal principles of charity and brotherly kindness.

"And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will." (D&C 88:67-68.)