February 21, 2002 LDS Foundation director speaks on philanthropy REXBURG, Idaho -- The director of the LDS Foundation that encourages philanthropic contributions to the Church and its charitable organizations spoke on the importance of giving during the BYU-Idaho weekly devotional Tuesday in Rexburg. McClain Bybee shared an experience he had while getting to know Herb Cummings, former owner and CEO of Sara Lee foods. "Mr. Cummings was born in Canada to a Russian immigrant Jewish family," said Bybee. "When asked how he learned to become a great philanthropist, he told us that he first learned and practiced the principle of philanthropy in the home of his grandmother." Cummings explained that his grandmother would invite her married children to her home for a weekly dinner and ask one of the families for an extra pair of shoes, a shirt, pants, money or knowledge of where there might be a job. "Herb said that he never remembered a Friday night . . . that his grandmother had not found a homeless immigrant Jewish man or woman on the streets of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada," Bybee said. "She would feed, clothe, house and then find gainful employment for these immigrants. She sometimes cared for them up to eight weeks as their self-esteem was built and made strong." Bybee adds, "Now Herb Cummings was very wealthy. What about the rest of us? Can we be philanthropists?" Quoting Joseph Smith, Bybee explained that all people, regardless of their wealth, can consecrate their time, talents and property to the Lord. "For a man to consecrate his property, his wife and children to the Lord is nothing more nor less than to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the widow and the fatherless, the sick and the afflicted, and do all he can to administer in their afflictions, and for him and his house to serve the Lord." Devotionals are broadcast live on KBYI 100.5 FM Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and are rebroadcast Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Next week’s devotional speaker is K. Fred Skousen, advancement vice president of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. # # # |
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