Two Pence
Two Pence
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
March 2nd, 2025
It was wonderful being with you in zone conferences last week. Thank you for your participation. Sister Quinn and I always enjoy seeing, visiting, and being with you. We hope the instruction that was provided will bless you in your missionary work and deepening discipleship.
I am grateful for the love and support that has been shown to Elder Hobi. He arrived home safely yesterday and is now with his family. I have been deeply touched by the expressions of love and support current and former CASRM missionaries have extended to Elder Hobi. It is heartwarming to Sister Quinn and me to see our missionaries standing together and supporting each other. We have seen many examples of high love over the last week. Thank you!
As I watched missionaries reach out in loving support for Elder Hobi, I have been reminded of the Savior’s parable of the Good Samaritan. One of many lessons taught in this parable is that our discipleship to Jesus Christ is not free – it comes with a price.
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
“And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
“And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” (Luke 10:33-35)
Not only did the Good Samaritan show compassion by binding up the wounds of the injured traveler – and caring for him in the Inn, he went even further by using his personal finances to provide whatever care would be needed for the recovering stranger.
Let’s be careful. The lesson of the “two pence” in the final verse of this parable is not about money. I believe the paying of “two pence” is meant to teach us that discipleship to the Savior comes at a cost. This cost is rarely financial. The cost of discipleship is most often personal – like our time, friends, hobbies, leisure, career, etc. The Savior taught:
“And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost…” (3 Nephi 9:20))
I see in your service as missionaries, a similitude of the Good Samaritan offering the Inn keeper two pence for the care of the stranger. This Samaritan’s sacrifice was a testament to his goodness and charity. He was willing to make a sacrifice for the care of another, just as you do each day by sharing the gospel with total strangers.
Sister Quinn and I are inspired by the discipleship to Jesus Christ we see in the sacrifices and efforts you make. I pray we will each continue paying the price of discipleship to the Savior – whatever the cost. The Savior has promised us an abundance of blessings beyond measure.
Love,
President Quinn
(630) 881-4030
