Sunday Sermons: JOYful Living

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.

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 2:16-17

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we do not have a paid clergy. Members are asked to help with everything from building clean-up to giving sermons {or we call them talks} on Sunday. A few Sundays ago, a member of my ward {LDS-speak for congregation} shared this meme in her talk.

When you live your life for your Self first, and think of Others and then the Savior, you will always be asking for help—S.O.S.

But when you make Jesus the center of your life and put Others before Yourself, you will find JOY.

Elder M. Russell Ballard gave this counsel recently to members of our Church and I think that applies to people everywhere. He said: 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.

President Thomas S. Monson has taught that in many instances Heavenly Father answers another person’s prayers through us—through you and me—through our kind words and deeds, through our simple acts of service and love.

And President Spencer W. Kimball said: “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.”

When I think of service I often think of big things. I was listening to this song recently and one of the lines really stood out to me: it may not be at the battle's front my Lord will have need of me. It kind of drove home the point that every act of service, even a small, unnoticed kindness is accepted by the Lord.