Contributed by: Ann Scriptures
Mosiah 2:11
11 But I am like as yourselves, subject to all
manner of infirmities in body and mind; yet I have been chosen by this people, and
consecrated by my father, and was suffered by the hand of the Lord that I should be a
ruler and a king over this people; and have been kept and preserved by his matchless
power, to serve you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath granted unto
me.
Mosiah 2:12
12 I say unto you that as I have been suffered
to spend my days in your service, even up to this time, and have not sought gold nor
silver nor any manner of riches of you;
Mosiah 2:14
14 And even I, myself, have labored with mine
own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that
there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne-- and of all these
things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.
Mosiah 2:16
16 Behold, I say unto you that because I said
unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have
only been in the service of God.
Mosiah 2:17
17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye
may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings
ye are only in the service of your God.
Mosiah 2:18
18 Behold, ye have called me your king; and if
I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one
another?
Mosiah 2:19-21
19 And behold also, if I, whom ye call your
king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do
merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!
20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise
which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept
and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should
live in peace one with another--
21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning,
and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move
and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another-- I
say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable
servants.
D&C 81:5
5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office
which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and
strengthen the feeble knees.
Quotations
Quote 1
"It is by serving that we learn how to
serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist
them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. When we concern ourselves more
with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves! In the midst of the
miracle of serving, there is the promise of Jesus, that by losing ourselves, we find
ourselves!
"Not only do we ‘find’ ourselves in terms of acknowledging guidance in
our lives but, the more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance
there is to our soul. We become more significant individuals as we serve others. We become
more substantive as we serve others—indeed, it is easier to find ourselves because
there is more of us to find.
"George McDonald observed that ‘it is by loving and not by being loved that
one can come nearest to the soul of another.’ Of course, we all need to be loved, but
we must be giving and not always receiving if we want to have wholeness in our lives and a
reinforced sense of purpose.
"Sometimes the solution is not to change our circumstance but to change our
attitude about that circumstance; difficulties are often opportunities for service. …
"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another
person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the
kingdom. The people of the Church need each other’s strength, support, and leadership
in a community of believers as an enclave of disciples. In the Doctrine and Covenants we
read about how important it is to ‘succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang
down, and strengthen the feeble knees.’ (D&C 81:5.) So often our acts of service
consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks—but what
glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds.
"As the contrasts between the ways of the world and the ways of God become
sharpened by circumstance, the faith of the members of the Church will be tried even more
severely. One of the most vital things we can do is to express our testimonies through
service, which will, in turn, produce spiritual growth, greater commitment, and a greater
capacity to keep the commandments" ("There Is Purpose in Life," New Era,
Sept. 1974, pp. 4-5).
Quote 2
"I am certain that the Lord is pleased with
the youth of the Church today. You have been saved to come forth to the earth at this
important time. He is counting on you to build his kingdom here. He has educated you,
trained you, and equipped you better than any other generation. Now surely, he expects you
to perform. …
"May the Lord continue to strengthen you and to bless you with faith and the
desire to serve him as he would command you. Do it with all the enthusiasm your souls can
muster, and I promise you great joy which comes only as a result of service in our Father
in heaven’s kingdom" (in Conference Report, Buenos Aires Area Conference 1975,
p. 39).
Quote 3
"If you were to select just two or three
individuals in your life who have been most influential, what specifically did they do
that was most helpful to you at critical or important times in your life? On reflecting
for a few moments, you are apt to conclude that such a person really cared for you, that
he or she took time for you, that he or she taught you something you needed to know.
Reflect now upon your performance, as I do on my own, as to whether or not we now embody
in our own ministry those same basic attributes. It is less likely in stirring through
one’s memories that someone will be remembered because that individual was
particularly influential because of a technique. Most often someone has served and helped
us by giving us love and understanding, by taking time to assist us, and by showing us the
way through the light of his own example. I cannot stress enough, therefore, the
importance of our doing these same things for those who now depend upon us, just as we
have depended upon others to serve us in the past" ("There Is Purpose in
Life," p. 5).
Stories
Story 1
"Some years ago near the close of day
something happened in the lives of a group of wonderful young … girls. Prior to that
afternoon, hours had been spent in cookie making, trying new recipes, program planning,
writing new songs, friendship building, and lots and lots of chatting—as I recall,
much more chatting than listening. Any observer would agree that was an active activity,
but one might also ask, what of the principle being taught?
"On the designated day all the plans for delivery of the cookies and presentations
of the program were carried out as scheduled amid bubbling laughter, gaiety, and the
enthusiasm of youth, everyone wanting to be a part of the action. The only flaw in the
plan was that several good-sized bags of cookies were left when all the appointments had
been filled. Now the question was, what to do with the extra cookies? And several
suggestions came at once, ‘We could eat them or take them to the Explorers or sell
them.’
"Then the voice of the class president, overriding the rest in a more thoughtful
tone, said, ‘I know what. Let’s see if there’s an old folks home where
grandpas live. They wouldn’t have any cookies.’ A call was made, an immediate
appointment arranged, and a group of young girls stood at the front door of a large rest
home a little less enthusiastic now about what had seemed like a great idea. The door was
opened, and each girl tried awkwardly to push behind the one in front so as not to be
first. There was a moment of strain with many thinking, ‘Why did we come?’ Three
of the girls quickly unloaded the sacks of cookies on the old table, which appeared to be
the only piece of furniture in the room other than the beds and wheelchairs occupied by
the patients.
"As the girls began singing one of the songs they had prepared in rather hushed
tones and with the sweetness of youth, one or two shoulders were raised from a slumped
position that had appeared to be permanent. A few patients in wheelchairs were being
pushed closer by other patients. The girls continued their songs, gaining a little more
courage as the warm response was evident.
"At that moment a miracle was taking place. The countenances were gradually but
surely changing on the faces of the aged. Expressions were changing and eyes filling with
tears as the youths began a different song. This time the others hummed a familiar tune
while a foreign exchange student sang the words in German. Only then did a tired bent body
slumped on the side of the bed visible through the doorway of an adjoining room raise his
head and, in tone soft but audible, join in the words of his native tongue.
"Heads were turned, eyes filled with tears, hearts were touched, and lives were
changed. A few quiet words of appreciation were expressed, and a different group of young
girls walked almost reverently down the steps of that old building. Oh, the thoughts that
were shared by each during the trip home! One in an inquiring tone asked, ‘What
happened? I’ve never felt like this before.’ And another said, almost in a
whisper, ‘When can we do it again?’ My girls and I experienced that day the
message spoken of by John, ‘If any man will do his will, he shall know of the
doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.’ (John 7:17.) For that moment we were
living a principle in a Christ-like way, and we all thirsted for more.
"When you are in the service of your fellowmen, you are in the service of your
God. We were in His service, and we felt His nearness" (Ardeth G. Kapp, "My
Girls Taught Me a Principle of the Gospel," Remarkable Stories from the Lives of
Latter-day Saint Women, comp. Leon Hartshorn, 2 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co.,
1973-75], 2:125-27).
Story 2
The building of the Jordan River Temple involved
the young women of the Utah Draper Stake in six months of loving and joyful service for
the temple. For several months before the opening of the temple, the young women and their
leaders were busily engaged in making toys and other items for the temple’s youth
center and nursery. They made a doll house complete with furniture and dolls; a little
table and four chairs; a painted cradle; many storybooks, quiet books, and puzzles;
several bags of finished building blocks; many stuffed animals and dolls; and many lovely
quilts, pillows, and receiving blankets.
The many hours of working together did much to strengthen friendships, to help the
young women make new friends, and to help the young women discover and develop talents
that sometimes they were not even aware they had.
"It was really fun," the young women all agreed. "We had so many
spiritual experiences, too," said one participant. "I’ll never forget the
night we presented our ‘gifts of love’ to the matron of the temple. … The
presidency of the temple were there, and the speakers shared their beautiful experiences
and testimony of temple ordinances. It was so inspirational."
Poem
Supposing today were your last
day on earth,
The last mile of the journey you’ve trod;
After all of your struggles, how much are you worth,
How much can you take home to God?
Don’t count as possessions your silver and gold,
Tomorrow you leave these behind,
And all that is yours to have and to hold
Is the service you’ve given mankind.
(Anonymous, as quoted by David O. McKay, Treasures of Life [Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book Co., 1962], pp. 395-96.)
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