"The Epistle of James has long been a favorite book of the Holy Bible," said Elder Thomas S. Monson, then of the Quorum of the Twelve and now first counselor in the First Presidency, in his April 1981 general conference address.

"I find his brief message heartwarming and filled with life. Each of us can quote that well-known passage, `If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.' (James 1:5.) How many of us, however, remember his definition of religion? `Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.' (James 1:27.)Elder Monson said the word widow appears to have had a most significant meaning to the Lord. "He cautioned His disciples to beware the example of the scribes, who feigned righteousness by their long apparel and their lengthy prayers, but who devoured the houses of the widows. (See Mark 12:38, 40.)

"To the Nephites came the direct warning, `I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against . . . those that oppress the . . . widow.' " (3 Ne. 24:5.)

Elder Monson said such teachings were not new then, and they are not new now. "Consistently the Master has taught, by example, His concern for the widow. To the grieving widow at Nain, bereft of her only son, He came personally and to the dead son restored the breath of life - and to the astonished widow her son. To the widow at Zarephath, who with her son faced imminent starvation, He sent the prophet Elijah with the power to teach faith as well as provide food.

"We may say to ourselves, `But that was long ago and ever so far away.' I respond: `Is there a city called Zarephath near your home? Is there a town known as Nain?' We may know our cities as Columbus or Coalville, or Detroit or Denver. Whatever the name, there lives within each city the widow deprived of her companion and often her child. The need is the same. The affliction is real."

Elder Monson said the ranks of those in special need grow larger day by day. "After the funeral flowers fade, the well wishes of friends become memories, the prayers offered and words spoken dim in the corridors of the mind," he said as he encouraged members to reach our individually and with their families the lonely.

"The leadership of this Church is mindful of the widow, the widower, the lonely," he said. "Can we be less concerned? . . .

"We remember that during the meridian of time a bright, particular star shone in the heavens. Wise men followed it and found the Christ child. Today wise men still look heavenward and again see a bright, particular star. It will guide you and me to our opportunities. The burden of the downtrodden will be lifted, the cry of the hungry stilled, the lonely heart comforted. And souls will be saved - yours, theirs and mine."