Excerpt from a talk by Elder Hugh B. Brown, 1958 —

A man was asked one day, “Who is your next door neighbor?” He said, “I don’t know his name, but his children run across my lawn and his dogs keep me awake at night.”

Another man, in a different mood, entered in his journal one day, “I thought the house across the way was empty until yesterday. Crape on the door made me aware that someone had been living there.”

When Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” He evaded a direct answer, but told an illuminating story, which flashed forth the truth as no direct answer could have done. In His life and parables, Jesus illuminated the meaning of human relationships.

All men were His neighbors. And it mattered not whether they were Jews, or Samaritans; whether they were Philistines, Publicans, Pharisees — they were His neighbors.

When He went to the well and asked the woman for a drink, she demurred and reminded Him of the custom that forbade a Jew to speak to a Samaritan.

Jesus, looking over the wall of prejudice, saw a neighbor and gave her living water.

The woman in sin needed help and understanding, and He, the perfect man standing before a confessed sinner, extended a hand. She was the traveler who had fallen amongst the worst of thieves, and He was the Good Samaritan.

His apostles were His neighbors, and He washed their feet. He went to the wedding feast; they needed wine and He provided it. The multitude had only a few loaves and fishes, and He fed them. He didn’t expect nor did He receive their thanks.

Even the wicked people, who had come to arrest Him, were His neighbors. And when Peter drew his sword and smote one of them, Jesus performed a miracle and restored the ear.

The last one to ask a favor of Jesus was ironically a very near neighbor at the moment, hanging on a cross next to Him. Jesus could not extend His hands to him, because they were nailed to the cross. But He extended hope of life beyond the grave.

Even the men who had been responsible for His suffering and subsequent death, He looked upon as neighbors and prayed God to forgive them.

And after His resurrection, He came back to His disciples who were confused and doubting, and He forgave their unbelief and ministered unto them.

Yes, all men were His neighbors.

Who, then, are our neighbors? All men everywhere who need our help. Whether they be across the street, across the continent or over the ocean; whether they be friend or foe — they are our neighbors, if we can help them. And we will not ask whether they belong to our family, or our church, or our country, or our party, any more than we would if someone were crying for help from a burning building. If they need our help, they are our neighbors.