Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 28: Service
Comments and Resources

'"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...   So often, our acts of service consist simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and small but deliberate deeds!" (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Dec. 1974, pp. 4-5)

During your study of this topic, we will learn the necessity for and the blessings of loving service.

Resources
Gospel Principles, chapter 28.
Jesus the Christ, chapter 26.

Scriptures:
Mosiah 2:12-22;  4:12-21
  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; 
  13 Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you 
  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. 
  15 Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day. 
  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. 
  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. 
  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? 
  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. 
  22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you. 

Mosiah 4:12-21
  12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. 
  13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due. 
  14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness. 
  15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. 
  16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. 
  17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just 
  18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. 
  19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? 
  20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. 
  21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another. 


D&C 4; 72:3-4; 81:3-6 
D&C 4 
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to his father, Joseph Smith, Sen., at Harmony, Pennsylvania, February 1829. HC 1: 28. 
1-4, Valiant service saves the Lord's ministers; 5-6, Godly attributes qualify them for the ministry; 7, Things of God must be sought after. 
  1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. 
  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. 
  3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; 
  4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; 
  5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. 
  6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. 
  7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen. 

D&C 72:3-4
  3 And verily in this thing ye have done wisely, for it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity. 
  4 For he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father. 

D&C 81:3-6
  3 Therefore, verily I acknowledge him and will bless him, and also thee, inasmuch as thou art faithful in counsel, in the office which I have appointed unto you, in prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private, also in thy ministry in proclaiming the gospel in the land of the living, and among thy brethren. 
  4 And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord. 
  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. 
  6 And if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortality, and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father. 


Luke 16:13  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

John 13:1-10
  1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 
  2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon s son, to betray him; 
  3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 
  4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 
  5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 
  6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 
  7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 
  8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 
  9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 
  10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 


Romans 12:10-21
  10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 
  11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 
  12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 
  13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 
  14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 
  15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 
  16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 
  17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 
  18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 
  19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 
  20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 
  21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 


1 Corinthians 12:13-31 
  13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 
  14 For the body is not one member, but many. 
  15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 
  16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 
  17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 
  18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 
  19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 
  20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 
  21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 
  22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 
  23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 
  24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 
  25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 
  26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 
  27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 
  28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 
  29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 
  30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 
  31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 


Articles of Faith 1:13
  13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. 

Topical Guide: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/contents> 
                          Care
                          Church
                          Duty
                          Flock
                          Help
                          Minister
                          Needy
                          Serve
                          Service
                          Succor
			   
Bible Dictionary:  <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/contents>
                               Church
                               Mamon                 			   
 




Concept 1: Introduction

'Jesus said, "I am among you as he that serveth" (Luke 22:27).  As true followers of Jesus, we also must serve others.

Service is helping others who need assistance.  Christlike service grows out of genuine love for the Savior and of love and concern for those whom he gives us opportunities and direction to help.  Love is more than a feeling; when we love others, we want to help them.

All of us must be willing to serve, no matter what our income, age, condition of health, or social position.  Some people believe that only poor and lowly should serve.  Other people think that service should only be given by the rich.  But Jesus taught otherwise.  When the mother of two of his disciples asked him to honor her sons in his kingdom, Jesus replied, "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant"  (Matthew 20:26-27").'



Concept 2: How We Can Serve

'There are many ways to serve.  We can help others economically, socially, physically, and spiritually.  For example, we can give money, food, or other articles to those who need them.  We can be a friend to a newcomer.  We can plant a garden for an elderly person or care for someone who is sick.  We can teach the gospel to someone who needs the truth or comfort someone who grieves.

We can do small and large acts of service.  We should never fail to help someone because we are unable to do great things.  A widow tells of two children who came to her door shortly after she had moved to a new town.  The children brought her a lunch basket and a note that read, "If you want anyone to do errands, call us."  The widow was gladdened by the small kindness and never forgot it.

Sometimes, however we must sacrifice greatly to serve someone.  The Savior gave up his life in serving us.

Discussion

How have you benefited at some time from kind acts of service?
Think of as many ways to serve as you can.'



Concept 3: Why the Savior Wants Us to Serve Others

'Through the service of men and women and boys and girls God's work is done.  President Spencer W. Kimball explained: "God does notice us, and he watches over us.  But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs"  ("Small Acts of Service", Ensign, Dec. 1974, p. 5).

Throughout our lives all of us depend on others for help.  When we were infants, our parents fed, clothed, and cared for us.  Without this care we would have died.  When we grew up, other people taught us skills and attitudes.  Many of us have needed nursing care during illness or money in a financial crisis.  Some of us ask God to bless suffering people and then do nothing for them.  We must remember that God works through us.

When we help one another, we serve God.  King Benjamin, a great king in Book of Mormon times, taught his people this principle by the way he lived.  He served them all his life, earning his own living instead of being supported by the people.  In an inspired sermon he explained why he loved service, saying: 

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God...
"And if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?"  (Mosiah 2:17-18).

Discussion

Matthew 25:40 "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Why does the Lord want and need us to serve others? Who benefits when we perform acts of service?'



Concept 4: We Receive Blessings through Service

'When we serve others we gain important blessings.  Through service we increase our ability to love.  We become less selfish.  As we think of the problems of others, our own problems seem less serious.  We must serve others to gain eternal life.  God has said that those who live with him must love and serve his children.

When we consider the lives of people who serve unselfishly, we can see that they gain more than they give.  One such person was a Latter-day Saint named Paul who lost the use of both legs in an accident.  Some men might have become bitter and useless, but Paul chose to think of others instead.  He learned a trade and earned enough money to buy a house.  There he and his wife made room for many homeless, unwanted children.  Some were badly handicapped.  Until his death twenty years later, he served these children and others.  In return he was greatly loved, and his thoughts turned away from his crippled legs.  He grew close to the Lord.

Discussion

What blessings do we receive through service to others?

How does serving others increase our ability to love them?'



Concept 5: Opportunities to Serve

'Some of use serve only those we enjoy being around and avoid all others.  However, Jesus commanded us to love and serve everyone.  There are many opportunities to serve (Mosiah 4:15-19   "15. But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.
 16. And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.
 17. Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just--
 18. But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.
 19. For behold, are we not all beggars?  Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?").

We can serve members of our families.  Husbands and wives should be aware of each other's needs.  Parents should serve their children not only by feeding and clothing them but also by teaching and by playing and working with them.  Children can serve by helping with household chores and by helping brothers and sisters.

A husband can care for a sick baby when his wife needs rest.  A wife can prepare a favorite dish for her husband.  A mother and father may sacrifice to send a child on a mission.  An older boy may comfort a little sister who is afraid of the dark or help her learn to read.  Our prophets have told us that a family is the most important unit in society.  We must serve our families well (Mosiah 4:14-15   "14. And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.  
15. But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.").

We have many opportunities to serve our neighbors, our friends, and even strangers.  If a neighbor is having difficulty harvesting crops before a storm, we can help.  If a mother is ill, we can watch her children or help with the housework.  If a young man is falling away from the Church, we can lead him back.  If a child is ridiculed, we can befriend him and persuade others to be kind.  We do not need to know the people we serve, nor do we need to be fond of them.  We should look for ways to serve as many of our Heavenly Father's children as we can.

If we have special talents, we should use them to serve others.  God blesses us with talents and abilities to help improve the lives of others.

We have opportunities to serve in the Church.  One purpose of the Church organization is to give us opportunities to help each other.  Members of the Church serve by doing missionary work, accepting leadership assignments, visiting other Church members, teaching classes, and doing other Church work.  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is no professional clergy, so the lay members must carry on all of the activities of the Church.

Discussion

Write on a sheet of paper one way they can serve someone in your family and one way you can serve someone outside your family during the next week.  Place the papers where you can see them often as a reminder.'



Concept 6: Christ Is the Perfect Example of Service

'The Savior provided the perfect example of service.  He explained that he didn't come to earth to be served but to serve and to give his live for us.  (Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.") 

Jesus loves all of us more than we can understand.  When he was on earth he served the poor, the ignorant, the sinner, the despised.  He taught the gospel to all who would listen, fed crowds of hungry people who came to hear him, healed the sick, and raised the dead.

He is our God and Savior and Lord of the universe, yet he did many humble acts of service.  Just before his crucifixion he met with his disciples.  After teaching them, he took a basin of water and a towel and washed their feet  (John 13:4-10 "4. He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 
 5. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded. 
 6. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 
 7. Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
 8. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
 9. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head. 
10. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.").  In those days washing a visitor's feet was a sign of honor and was usually done by a servant.  Jesus did it as an example of love and service.  When we willingly serve others in the spirit of love, we become more like Christ.

Discussion

Read these Scriptures  reference and think of the Savior's example of service:
John 13:4-10  (washing of feet) {see above}
  
Matthew 15:30-31 (healing)
  30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus feet; and he healed them: 
  31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. 

Matthew 15:32-38 (feeding the 4,000)
  32  Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 
  33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 
  34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 
  35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 
  36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 
  37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 
  38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 


Additional Scriptures 

Mosiah 2 (King Benjamin's discourse on service)
<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/2>

D&C 81:5 (succor, lift, strengthen)
  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. 

Colossians 3:23-24 (serve others as you would serve the Lord)
  23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 
  24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 

Galatians 5:13 (serve one another by love)
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.' 


-----------------
Moroni 10:4-5
"4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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