One of the great women in history was Florence Nightingale. She came from a very well to do family and could have enjoyed a life of leisure. She could have had her choice of a husband from the many who would have wanted to marry her. She actually was a great disappointment to her family because she was more service oriented that serve me. She cared nothing for social status.

Florence had the desire to serve others. She also chose a profession that was looked down upon during her lifetime. Hospitals at that time were dirty, nurses were not well thought of and usually of ill repute. Her family was not supportive of her decision but because of her determination they allowed her to enter nursing school in Germany. Even when she became very ill and an invalid she still continued to serve by working of health reform.

Emma Smith is also a woman who not only served her husband and family but she served the those in the community as well. Harold I. Hansen the director of the Hill Cumorah Pageant said, "I've seen her in vision at the bottom of this hill waiting for Joseph as he came down with the plates. She was always waiting for Joseph. And we owe her, for when Joseph had no one else to turn to, he had Emma.

One of her great acts of love and service occurred when John Murdock's wife passed away and left him with twins. Emma herself had just lost her twins. Brother Murdock came to Emma and asked if she would nurse his twins. Later the Smiths adopted these two children.

Emma was the first R.S. President, the first woman to receive her endowment and the first temple matron and Emma always had time for her husband. Who did Lucy Mack Smith go to in her illness and death - Emma.

When Emma is 59 years old, her second husband has an affair with a l9 year old woman named Nancy. Nancy has a difficult time supporting herself and her son and when he is 4 years old, Nancy takes her son to the mansion house and asks Emma to take him and raise him as her own. Emma tells her no.  Instead she tells her that if she will come and live with them, and work with them, she could raise your own son.

Emma's life was a life of service and sacrifice - not only for her family but she gave of herself to others within her community.

Alma Chapter 17:4 - Ammon served a mission - a "l4 year" mission! Not only was he serving a mission but he was serving the very people who "had been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all the people of God....." (Alma 19:l4)

Our missions here upon earth are life-long missions°Ü° - We have been called to serve a "full-time" mission everyday of our lives. The mission we have been called to serve is a "Service" Mission. To serve our brothers and sisters, to bring the light of the gospel into their lives, to bring them unto Christ. °Ü°

I was just thinking about our community and how we as Latter-day Saints could serve the community. There is a Methodist church that is being remodeled right now. Wouldn't it be great if we went to help them!!!!! One year for our service project at youth conference, we painted city fences around the town. There were many people who commented about this.

When we see a neighbor who is working outside in their yard, what a great time to offer a hand or a rake with a hand attached! I think we often are "very" willing to serve within our church - but do we look outside of our own walls and see the needs of others? Is there a neighbor who is moving - "many hands make light work".

We had a wonderful family who lived next door for two years and we loved that family!!!! They were not members of the church but to us it didn't matter. When they moved it was so heartbreaking-I was physically ill from the emotional pain of "losing" people we loved so much. Just recently they returned for a visit. The interesting thing to me is that all the people who they returned to visit are LDS °Ü° Why???? I can only guess because they felt loved by all of us - we served each other and served in the community together (coaching, carpooling, school service) we played together, we laughed and cried together. This family was not ready to accept the gospel when they lived here but they are continually being "prepared". It is so exciting!

We can have an influence in the community every time we serve in any capacity and represent Jesus Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions.