“Learn Wisdom”

Church Educational System

King Benjamin’s comment about service to fellowmen (see Mosiah 2:17) suggests in beautiful simplicity the doctrine taught by the Savior:

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Regarding service to others, Elder Antoine R. Ivins said:

“The great value, I believe, that the Church has for us is the opportunity it gives us to serve, for, after all, the great benefits of life come from service. Generous, open-hearted, full service to our fellows, I believe, is the thing which brings us the greatest happiness.

We can serve our families and gain happiness by it; we can serve our friends and gain happiness by it; but if we would be happy we must serve and serve generously, and I believe myself that the greatest happiness that comes to me from observing the standards of the Church and meeting my obligations to it is the spiritual values that I get out of that service. I would like to be able to say that I always serve for the sheer love of service. I don’t know whether I can honestly say that or not, but I hope I can. I would like to suggest that all of us who serve, serve for the same motive, out of sheer joy and love of service.

I would that every man who accepts a responsibility in a priesthood quorum would accept it because of the opportunity for service which it offers him; not that he be a good deacon so he may be the president of his quorum. Not that he be a good priest that some day he may be made president of the elders’ quorum.

Not to be a good bishop, that when the stake is reorganized he may become the president of the stake, because if he serves with that motive, there is very likely to be a day of disappointment for him, but if he serves because he loves to, if he serves because he loves his fellows, then whether the other things come or not, he is never disappointed”

(in Conference Report, Oct. 1948, pp. 47–48).

Book of Mormon Student Manual (1996 Edition)

References