Serve the Lord with Love
By President Thomas S. Monson
Prophet & President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Lord Jesus Christ taught, “Whosoever will save his life shall
lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same
shall save it” (Luke 9:24).
things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye
have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have
seen me do even that shall ye do’ [3 Nephi 27:21].
“I believe,” said President Thomas S. Monson, “the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is
little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while
those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives.”
“We bless others as we serve in the shadow of ‘Jesus of Nazareth … who went about doing good’ [Acts 10:38]. God bless us
to find joy in serving our Father in Heaven as we serve His children on earth.”
In the following excerpts from President Monson’s ministry, he
reminds Latter-day Saints that they are the Lord’s hands and
that the blessings of eternity await those who faithfully serve
others.
Service in the Temple
“Great service is given when we perform vicarious ordinances
for those who have gone beyond the veil. In many cases we do
not know those for whom we perform the work. We expect no
thanks, nor do we have the assurance that they will accept that
which we offer. However, we serve, and in that process we attain that which comes of no other effort: we literally become
saviors on Mount Zion. As our Savior gave His life as a vicarious
sacrifice for us, so we, in some small measure, do the same
when we perform proxy work in the temple for those who have
no means of moving forward unless something is done for them
by those of us here on the earth.”
The Need to Serve
“We need to be given a chance to serve. For those members
who have slipped from activity or who hold back and remain
noncommittal, we can prayerfully seek for some way to reach
them. Asking them to serve in some capacity may just be the
incentive they need to return to full activity. But those leaders
who could help in this regard are sometimes reluctant to do so.
We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put
behind them bad habits. They can repent from transgressions.
They can bear the priesthood worthily. And they can serve the
Lord diligently.”
Are We Doing All We Should?
“The world is in need of our help. Are we doing all we should?
Do we remember the words of President John Taylor: ‘If you do
not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for
those whom you might have saved had you done your duty’?
[Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor (2001), 164].
There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage,
hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The blessings of eternity
await you. Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but particiWe Are the Lord’s Hands
“My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of pants on the stage of … service.”
our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort,
our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, Teaching from This Message
or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with “If you have Christlike love, you will be better prepared to teach
the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent
the gospel. You will be inspired to help others know the Savior
upon each of us. …
and follow Him.” Consider praying for increased charity for those
you visit. As you develop Christlike love for them, you will be
“That service to which all of us have been called is the service of better able to serve in meaningful ways both the Lord and those
the Lord Jesus Christ.”
you teach.
Serving in the Savior’s Shadow
“In the New World, the resurrected Lord declared, ‘Ye know the