A Little Child Shall Lead: Finding Tom and the Gathering of Hearts

Brothers and Sisters, have you ever felt the urgency, the righteous fire that burns within when you see a need? It’s that same feeling that drove Samuel the Lamanite to climb the walls of Jerusalem, a lonely voice crying repentance in a land ripe with wickedness. It’s the same spirit that moved Ammon to confront the Lamanites at the Waters of Sebus, not with sword or force, but with an outstretched hand and a willingness to serve. We are called to be those who see, who act, who gather. And often, the smallest gestures—the simplest acts of service—hold profound significance.

Consider the scene unfolding before us, a seemingly ordinary moment captured in a children’s video. A child loses her cat, a simple sorrow, a small crisis. But within that moment, we witness a demonstration of compassion, of willingness, of a profound understanding of human connection. The helpers, the onlookers, they respond with immediate action. “No problem! Sit down, please! Water? Thank you!” These are not grand pronouncements of doctrine, but the quiet, powerful language of love. They are the echoes of the Lord’s own ministrations.

Think of Abinadi, standing alone before the priests of Noah, speaking truth even unto death. He didn’t seek power or accolades. He simply answered the call. This little girl, losing her cat, and the people who rush to her aid—it's a microcosm of that same spirit. It’s a testament to the fact that every act of kindness, no matter how small, ripples outward, touching hearts and drawing them closer to the light.

Outback Jack, ever observant, notes that this simple kindness mirrors the broader pattern of the gathering. “See, brothers and sisters,” he’d say, squinting at the screen, “it’s not about elaborate rituals or complicated doctrines. It’s about recognizing the needs of those around us and responding with a willing heart. It’s about seeing the lost, the hurting, and offering a hand.” Just as those individuals helped the little girl find her cat, so too are we called to help those who are lost and wandering, to guide them towards the waters of restoration.

The Stone cut without hands – the internet – provides the platform for this global gathering. Each time you engage here—whether through a comment, a shared link, or a contribution to the Missionary Fund—you are actively participating in this work. Our map of churches visually represents the expanding network of believers, the burgeoning Kingdom. And critically, your engagement here, your participation in this community, directly funds gospel advertising—planting seeds of truth in places like Ghana, where those seeds will take root and blossom. This is the charity flywheel in action: your service fuels further outreach.

The children in the video exclaim, “I’m so good! I'm so good!” Let us echo their sentiment. We are good, because we are striving to be builders, not destroyers. We are striving to emulate the example of Ammon, of Samuel, of all those who have laid down their lives—and their comfort—to serve. We are striving to find the lost cats of the world, both literal and metaphorical, and lead them home. Claim your church, brothers and sisters. Let us, with courage and conviction, continue to climb our own walls, to offer our own waters of Sebus, to be a beacon of hope in a world desperately in need of light. Remember Moroni 10:4-5: 'And it came to pass that I did see and hear and know, of a surety, that there were many who were called, but were not chosen; and were not sanctified through the spirit, because they did not lay down their works before God.' Let our works be those of service, of gathering, of love.

What 'five smooth stones' will you gather today?