"HELPING HANDS!"

One of the songs that we enjoy singing in our family is "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel." 

One of the reasons has to do with a brother that was in our ward, Brother Burns, who loved to share stories about his children when they were growing up.  One such story was about one of his sons who also loved the song.  Brother Burns recalls that one day he and his wife heard their son singing "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel".  Brother Burns stated that he looked for his son and discovered that his son was in the bathroom (using the facilities).  At that moment, his son was singing the chorus "do your duty (dooty) with a heart full of song."

Each time we sing this song in Sacrament Meeting Victor and I always turn to each other and smile.

The second reason is because of the powerful words in the song.  The second verse reads:  "The world has need of helping hands and hearts that know and feel." 

During Ward Conference yesterday we sang this song after young Brother Brandon Carlisle shared this as his favorite song.  Brandon talked about the first verse and his feelings about it.

When President Blickenstaf stood to speak he asked Brandon to come back to the podium and asked him what his thoughts were about the second verse.  His thoughts mirrored my own and that of President Blickenstaf.  As sisters in Zion, we have the amazing gift of compassion.  This pure love is what drives the Relief Society organization to do amazing things.  Our hearts are knit together as we use our hands to help those who are in need.  We have the capacity to be providers of the Tender Mercies of the Lord.