Service

POSITION STATEMENT

When Jesus Christ was on the earth he showed us how to love and serve one another. He went about caring for the sick, the lame and the whole. He had a concern and love for all mankind and taught us that we should do the same. President Monson is not only my beloved prophet, but he is my favorite example of service-next to Christ. His example of serving those in need of tender love and care inspires me. His words of wisdom speak to me, “Spiritual strength frequently comes through selfless service” and “No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Service to others is akin to duty, the fulfillment of which brings true joy.”

I am grateful to know that we have the opportunity to receive inspiration to meet the needs of others. The opportunity to lift the weak and carry the burden of others will teach us great spiritual lessons. Service is the Lord’s work and I believe that if we are in tune, He will give us the opportunity and ability to perform His work.

QUOTES

1.

"Too often we notice the needs around us, hoping that someone from far away will magically appear to meet those needs. Perhaps we wait for experts with specialized knowledge to solve specific problems. When we do this, we deprive our neighbor of the service we could render, and we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to serve. While there is nothing wrong with experts, let’s face it: there will never be enough of them to solve all the problems. Instead, the Lord has placed His priesthood and its organization at our doorsteps in every nation where the Church is established. And, right by its side, He has placed the Relief Society. As we priesthood holders know, no welfare effort is successful if it fails to make use of the remarkable gifts and talents of our sisters."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Providing In the Lords Way, General Conference 2011

2.

"Let us have ready hands, clean hands, and willing hands, that we may participate in providing what our Heavenly Father would have others receive from Him. If we are not worthy, it is possible to lose the power of the priesthood; and if we lose it, we have lost the essence of exaltation. Let us be worthy to serve."

President Thomas S. Monson,  “Willing and Worthy to Stand”, General Conference, April 2012

3.

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Happiness, Your Heritage, General Women’s Broadcast, September 2008

4.

"While serving others, we are most likely to plead for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Success in the Lord’s service always produces miracles beyond our own powers. The parent facing a child in serious rebellion knows that is true, as does the visiting teacher approached by a woman seeking comfort when her husband told her he was leaving her. Both servants are grateful they prayed that morning for the Lord to send the Holy Ghost as a companion."

President Henry B. Eyring, “To My Grandchildren, General Conference, October 2013

5.

"That simple practice is: In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen. If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible."

Elder Boyd K Packer, “Be Anxiously Engaged”, General Conference, October 2012

6.

“You can have the utmost assurance that your power will be multiplied many times by the Lord. All He asks is that you give your best effort and your whole heart. Do it cheerfully and with the prayer of faith. The Father and His Beloved Son will send the Holy Ghost as your companion to guide you. Your efforts will be magnified in the lives of the people you serve. And when you look back on what may now seem trying times of service and sacrifice, the sacrifice will have become a blessing, and you will know that you have seen the arm of God lifting those you served for Him, and lifting you.”

President Henry B. Eyring, “Rise to Your Call”, General Conference, October 2002

7.

"It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service, the way that the Savior would love and serve all of us if He were among us today. When this pure love of Christ, or charity, envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like unto that of the Savior.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard, Finding Joy through Loving Service, General Conference, April 2011

8.

“Great things are wrought through simple and small things. Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard, Finding Joy through Loving Service, General Conference, April 2011

9.

“In addition to enjoying all of these magnificent blessings, we have each other—sisters in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been blessed with tender and charitable natures which enable us to render Christlike love and service to those around us. As we look beyond our differences in age, culture, and circumstance to nurture and serve one another, we will be filled with the pure love of Christ and the inspiration which leads us to know when and whom to serve.”

Bonnie L. Oscarson, “Sisterhood” Oh How We Need Each Other”, General Women’s Meeting, April 2014 

10.

“He concluded His mortal ministry with the single most compassionate and significant service in the history of the world: the Atonement.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Restored Truth”, General Conference, October 1994

11.

“Our Savior gave Himself in unselfish service He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Unselfish Service, General Conference, April 2009

12.

“Our Savior teaches us to follow Him by making the sacrifices necessary to lose ourselves in unselfish service to others.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Unselfish Service, General Conference, April 2009