Assuming you're lazy like me, here are the two pertinent stories:
John 5:2-9
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
3 Nephi 17:5-10
5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.8 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.
We had a lot to discuss about the Pool of Bethesda. We talked about how there were a lot of people there, yet Jesus still recognized this man and that he had been there a long time. And with so many people, there was no one to help this man? After years? (I personally don't think he actually lived at the pool for 38 years, but he might have.) But Jesus could help him; Jesus was paying attention. What opportunity for service can we find if we're only just paying attention?
Our purpose is to bring others to Christ. In Bountiful, those infirm souls were brought to Jesus by the multitude there. And we can find great joy in it -- "they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him"
Sometimes we are the ones who need to be healed. Often, we need to be the ones on the lookout for those who need healing. (And in doing so, we may feel better ourselves -- isn't that the message of service?)
There's a lot we could say about both of these stories, but I'm going to leave it at that today.
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