Having the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City provided not only numerous opportunities to view superb athletic skills but also to follow in the footsteps of the Savior.

Serving others is something the Lord did throughout His life. His was pure love.

What the Olympics demonstrated is that there are many "good Samaritans."

When it was discovered, for example, that women hockey team players from Kazakhstan had little money — one team member had just $50 for her 17-day stay — a number of Provo, Utah, residents took them under their collective wing.

The Utah Valley Regional Medical Center held a reception and presented gifts from around the valley to the Olympians.

Residents donated $3,000 to be shared equally among team members so that they could purchase souvenirs. Each Olympian was also presented with a bag from Brigham Young University that was filled with gifts, including caps knitted by a Provo ward.

A hastily assembled choir comprised of students from Timpanogos and Hillcrest elementary schools performed two songs to welcome them.

Kazakhstan is a developing, growing nation. Located just south of Russia, it became independent in 1991, after being part of the Soviet Union for about 70 years. It isn't a world power either athletically or politically.

By showing simple acts of kindness, Utah County residents provided much more to the Kazakhstan Olympians than money and other material goods. As IHC administrator May Ann Young aptly put it, "They may not go home with gold, but they will go home with the hearts of this community."

And that's what's important eternally, the friendships and feelings of goodwill engendered by acts of love.

The Savior's ministry was defined by service. His actions were always exemplary. He served people regardless of their station in life.

We can — and indeed are expected to — follow in His footsteps in serving others. The interaction of Utahns with the Kazakhstan Olympians demonstrates the kind of service exemplified by the Lord — helping others without thought of reward.

Or, as Mormon succinctly put it:

"Wherefore my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail —

"But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him" (Moroni 7:46-47).

Much has been said about the Olympic spirit and "lighting the fire within." That is done not so much by athletic feats as by feats of the heart and soul.

We can all be Olympians when it comes to charity. By helping others we refine our character, we get closer to that ideal that was expressed by the Savior:

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

"Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

"Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

"When saw we a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me'" (Matthew 25:35-40).