Merle Rumsey didn't know much about Salt Lake City when she volunteered for the Olympics, but as a recent convert to the Church in Houston, she was eager to participate.

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Colorful banners draped around Church sites proclaim the Church members as "Friends to All Nations," a theme that has directed the Church's approach to the Olympics.

"I want to do anything I can to help," she said, bubbling with enthusiasm.

For Sister Rumsey and thousands of others, the Olympics offer an opportunity to break from their normal routine and extend themselves in befriending visitors from all nations. The fact that the Church will receive more media coverage throughout the world than on any previous occasion, and that more people will tour Church sites with questions of doctrine and history than have ever toured in a two-week period before is not lost on most members.

"Many calls came from people willing to volunteer," said Janette Hales Beckham, who, with her husband, Ray, serves on the Church's Olympic Coordinating Committee. "There has been a great interest in volunteering."

After the Salt Lake Organizing Committee selected 60,000 volunteers for its needs more than a year ago, the Church Olympic Organizing Committee considered what impact visitors and the media would have on the Church and then enlisted 5,400 volunteers.

A common thread among the volunteers is an eagerness to serve and be involved.

"The first characteristic of a volunteer is a willingness to do whatever must be done," said Sister Beckham. "Labels and titles and positions come off. We have a highly educated physician stuffing envelopes. Some are former mission presidents serving as hosts to foreign media. Others serve in the family history library, while still others opened their homes to house families of foreign athletes."

Across Temple Square and the Church complex are colorful flags draped from light poles proclaiming the Church's role as "Friends to All Nations," a theme that has directed the Church's attitude and approach to the Olympics.

To assist volunteers in understanding their role, a two-hour workshop was prepared based the various aspects of friendship. Instruction was organized around each letter in the word "friend," namely being: flexible, respectful, informed, enthusiastic, nonjudgmental, dedicated and spiritually prepared.

" 'Why do you need instruction?' " Sister Beckham said, repeating a jovial comment from a Los Angeles Times journalist. " 'Aren't you people nice already?' "

Course material was based on President Gordon B. Hinckley's book, Standing for Something.

"Imagine how our own families, let alone the world, would change if we vowed to keep faith with one another, strengthen one another, look for and accentuate the virtues in one another, and speak graciously concerning one another. Imagine the cumulative effect if we treated each other with respect and acceptance, if we willingly provided support. Such interactions practiced on a small scale would surely have a rippling effect throughout our homes and communities and, eventually, society at large," President Hinckley wrote.

Being friendly, said Sister Beckham, begins with a smile, but goes beyond that to being genuinely interested. "We're hoping that the good feelings of the Olympics will continue on to become a legacy of goodwill in the community.

"In this community, where there is a tradition of serving others, volunteers are showing up," said Sister Beckham.

E-mail: shaun@desnews.com