Last week, we began a new series where readers can share experiences they’ve had where a fellow Latter-day Saint from a different area than their own reached out in love and kindness. These are the experiences that makes it feels like we really do have brothers and sisters across the world. Here are some of the stories you submitted (To submit your story, email me at pr***********@ho*****.com):

Driving to Fairbanks Alaska from BYU to work for the summer, our car broke down at 9 at night in a driving rainstorm.  We called the local bishop who gave us direction (the car was still drivable) to his house.  As we got to his corner, there he was in a yellow raincoat to make sure we turned into his street.  He and his wife fed us, bedded us down, fixed our car and sent us off with a wonderful lunch.  So grateful!!

–Gaye Breillatt

We raised our kids in Bountiful, UT, and even when they grew up, got married and began their families, we got together every Sunday. Then our oldest son, his wife, their 2-year-old son, and 6-month old baby girl bought their first home…in Tooele. It might as well have been in another state. We didn’t see them weekly anymore and we missed them. Our son worked long hours in Salt Lake City and I had the feeling our sweet daughter-in-law was exhausted, overwhelmed and lonely. She was constantly in my prayers.

One day, I mentioned my worries to a dear friend in my ward, Alicia. Just two days later, my daughter-in-law told me a little old lady showed up on their doorstep with a smile, a kind welcome, and a loaf of homemade bread.

I learned it was Alicia’s aunt. I didn’t even know Alicia had an aunt living in Tooele. I definitely had no idea Alicia would reach out to her aunt to show my son’s family some love. What Alicia and her aunt did helped my daughter-in-law know that God loved her. She knew He knew exactly where she was and exactly how she was feeling. I never met that cute lady nor found out her name. But I will be forever grateful for Alicia and her aunt.

–Pania Heimuli

My husband and I have met a number of wonderful people in our travels, mostly combining business with leisure.  Once we were traveling by car back to California from a family reunion in Utah.  My husband began feeling ill, so we pulled off the road, I believe in Fillmore, and found a small hospital.  While tests were being run on my husband, local ward members brought us the sacrament and offered us shelter for the night if needed.  Everyone was so kind and caring.  Fortunately, his condition turned out not to be serious, and we were able to get home safely.

On another occasion, we were thousands of miles from home working for a client.  We wrapped up work on Friday afternoon and were scheduled to finish the project first thing on Monday.  That left us two days to visit some of the historical sites in the area.  On Sunday, we chose a museum that we felt was more conducive to education and keeping the Sabbath, but we found a local congregation first.  I was impressed to bear my testimony.  Afterward, a family ran up to us as we were leaving and introduced themselves.  Their son was serving his mission in our ward.

Another story is more humorous.  It isn’t necessarily church-related, but we’re sure the people involved were members.  We had just boarded a cruise ship for a week-long vacation.  Before the ship departed, we were getting our sea legs and becoming familiar with the ship.  We met a man in the elevator who was wearing a large cowboy hat.  It turned out that he and his brother were traveling with a large group, and they were from my husband’s hometown in Idaho.  We learned his and his brother’s names and they invited us to some of the events they would be hosting.  A little while later we were out on deck when we spotted someone who, surely, must be the brother.  My husband approached him, “Andy?  Andy from Oakley?”  Andy must have been thinking this was some long-lost friend he had forgotten.  My husband kept him engaged for several minutes before revealing that we had just met his brother.  The three actually did have quite a few friends in common, though they had never met.

Through the great example of wonderful friends and the teachings of missionaries, I was baptized when I was a teenager.  I am still in touch with “my missionary.”  I wouldn’t meet my (second) husband for over twenty years, but it turns out he and the elder are third cousins.  They have never met, but they descend from a common family line dating back to the early days of the Church.  Though I am the first “pioneer” in my birth family, I have a wonderful heritage through my husband and his relatives.

–Shelly Hale