LDS Place

I was alone and away from home in San Francisco many years ago when I decided to read the Book of Mormon over the weekend. Once immersed in that epic, I lost all desire to eat and sleep, reading until I finished. Then I fell upon the hotel bed and into a deep sleep. Shortly, I awakened and was again alert to the panorama I had experienced by reading the book in a short time. It was as if I were there, looking in one view over the entire period from the beginning of Lehi’s courageous journey to Moroni’s lonely vigil and departing promise. I wrote down my thoughts to capture my impressions about God’s love, his plan for us, charity and service, and discipleship, savoring the wholeness of my understanding. Then I rested. I have never been the same since that day. I have continued to learn from that experience, having new understanding open to my mind.

As I approached this opportunity to share some thoughts about service, my mind went back to that remarkable experience in San Francisco. One of the things the Book of Mormon has taught me is that the principle of service is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ and is best grasped by understanding how God is trying to prepare us for eternal life.

(continue reading…)

“Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save.”

Thomas S. Monson, “How Firm a Foundation,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 68

My beloved brothers and sisters, I greet you this morning with love in my heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for each of you. I am grateful for the privilege to stand before you, and I pray that I might effectively communicate to you that which I have felt prompted to say.

A few years ago I read an article written by Jack McConnell, MD. He grew up in the hills of southwest Virginia in the United States as one of seven children of a Methodist minister and a stay-at-home mother. Their circumstances were very humble. He recounted that during his childhood, every day as the family sat around the dinner table, his father would ask each one in turn, “And what did you do for someone today?” The children were determined to do a good turn every day so they could report to their father that they had helped someone. Dr. McConnell calls this exercise his father’s most valuable legacy, for that expectation and those words inspired him and his siblings to help others throughout their lives. As they grew and matured, their motivation for providing service changed to an inner desire to help others.

(continue reading…)

“President Thomas S. Monson remembered the promised words of the Savior as he blessed me six months ago to stand fearlessly in my calling when it seemed hard. These words of the Savior, which He gave to His tiny band of priesthood holders in this dispensation, came to the prophet’s mind as he laid his hands on my head: ‘And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up’ (D&C 84:88).

“The promise which President Monson remembered and quoted was fulfilled for me. Confidence replaced doubt, the Spirit came, medical helpers were inspired, my life was preserved, and I was borne up. Because of that blessing by President Monson, it will always be easy for me to remember the Savior and trust His promise that He goes before and beside us in His service.

“I know that the promise of angels to bear us up is real. You might want to bring to memory the assurance of Elisha to his frightened servant. That assurance is ours when we feel close to being overwhelmed in our service.”

Henry B. Eyring

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

7 For thou shalt devote all thy service in Zion; and in this thou shalt have strength.

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.

“In 1840 the Prophet Joseph sent an epistle to the Twelve wherein he taught that ‘love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race’ (History of the Church, 5: 227).

“As we reach out in love to those around us, we fulfill the other half of the great commandment to ‘love thy neighbour as thyself’ (Galatians 5:14).”

Joseph B. Wirthlin

” ‘No one can assist in this work [unless] he shall be humble and full of love’ (D&C 12:8). ‘By love serve one another’ (Gal. 5:13). Just as service is a natural consequence of love, so is love a natural consequence of service. Husbands, serve your wives. Wives, serve your husbands. Husbands and wives, serve your children. And to all we say, serve God and neighbor. As we do so, we will come to love the object of our devotion and thus be obedient to the first and great commandment of love.”

Robert F. Orton