Submitted by Kris and Diana Jones
- Opening Song: Lord, I Would Follow Thee, Hymn #220- Download MP3 With words or Music only
- Scripture: "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God" Mosiah 2:17
What is Service?
In the book, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet shares his ideas on the given topic. He says,
"Let love be the Polar Star of our lives in reaching out to those who need our strength. There are many among us who lie alone in pain. Medicine helps, but kind words can bring to pass miracles. Many there are who walk in frightening circumstances, fearful and unable to cope. There are good Bishops and Relief Society Officers who are available to help, but these cannot do it all. Each of us can and must be anxiously engaged." (P. 596 paragraph 1)
"What a therapeutic and wonderful thing it is for a man or a woman to set aside all consideration of personal gain and reach out with strength and energy and purpose to help the unfortunate, to improve the community, to clean up the environment, and to beautify our surroundings." (P. 596 paragraph 5)
"Brothers and sisters, you will never be happy if you go through life thinking only of yourself. Get lost in the best cause in the world-the cause of the Lord." (P. 597 paragraph 2)The Lord declared: "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt. 10:39)
What are different ways that we can give service to others?
- Have family members give examples:
- Clean the house for your mother.
- Work on the car with dad, or sweep out his garage.
- Bake something nice for someone.
- Smile
- Visit the elderly in nursing homes
- Rake someone's yard or shovel their driveway
- Do temple work and baptisms for the dead
Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer.
What are some examples in the scriptures of service?
- Jesus healing (Mathew 8:2-4)
- Captain Moroni (Alma 46:13)
- Alma the younger (Alma 30:33)
- Ten thousand stripling warriors (Alma 57:17-27)
Personal Testimony
As many of you know, Kris and I have been called to be Sunday school teachers for the Spanish prisoners out in the Airway Heights correction center near Cheney. Every other Sunday, we go out to the prison to teach a small number of Latin Americans the gospel in their native language of Spanish. I will have to admit, when we first started going to teach these men, I felt a little apprehensive. We are teaching prisoners, and there are many precautions that we have to take for our safety and also theirs, (mostly ours though).
Last week we attended the English speaking class. We were discussing with the prisoners about the three degrees of glory, and what it takes to attain the highest degree in the celestial kingdom. We were talking about all the steps and ordinances that you have to complete before you even qualify for that kingdom, and all of a sudden one of the prisoners shot his hand in the air with a question and as he was called on, he said, "I want to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What do I have to do to do that?"
I felt the spirit in that little classroom as we next talked about repentance and the steps of repentance that bring us to baptism. I felt the spirit bare testimony to myself and all those in the room that what we were talking about gospel truths. I could also see that the spirit bore witness to this prisoner that he too would have the chance to complete his repentance and then one day be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ.
I know that fulfilling our callings is service in the church. I know that when we serve others, that brings us closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that God loves all his children, wherever they are or whoever they are. What a wonderful gospel plan! What a loving Heavenly Father that is ours, who allows us to repent of our sins and come unto him. I love that scripture found in Mosiah: When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. (Mosiah 2:17).
Invite a family member to share a personal experience of an act of service they rendered for another.
- Closing song: Called to Serve, Hymn #249- Download MP3 With words or Music only
- Activity:
- Bake cookies as a family and bring them to a neighbor or a loved one.
- Write your testimonies in a book of Mormon. Pray as a family to be able to find someone within the next month to give the Book of Mormon to.
- Write Uncle Randy letters expressing your love for him and ask him to write you back about some act of service that he has given on his mission.
- Put family member’s names in a Hat. Have each member secretly draw a name. Each day over the next week do secret acts of kindness for the person whose name you drew. Shhhh, it’s a secret!