Lesson 8 of the Spencer W. Kimball manual for this year’s course of study is entitled “Selfless Service.” We begin, as always, with a short story from President Kimball’s life that illustrates the point. He was flying out of Chicago and noticed a young mother, heavily pregnant, struggling with her two-year-old child. The plane was late, the toddler was tired and cranky, and because she was threatening miscarriage, the mother was not able to pick the child up. President Kimball stepped in and offered to hold the child, giving her a piece of gum. President Kimball later received a letter of thanks from the child the woman had been carrying, stating that if he had not offered to help, it’s entirely possible that pregnancy would have ended too soon. We never know what our small acts of service will do in the lives of others.
The lesson goes on to show the Savior as the ultimate example of service. He was always aware of the needs of those around Him and put His needs behind everyone else’s. So many of today’s problems stem from selfishness and from being blind to those we come in contact with. When we take the time to study the life of the Savior and to understand why He did the things He did, we will find ourselves more attuned to the Spirit and we’ll feel natural stirrings of charity and compassion.
When we are prompted to serve others, it is often because God wants to show them the power of His hand. We are able to be His hands here on earth, to bring to pass those miracles that are needed. To quote President Kimball directly: “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.” I would also interject that we not hesitate to receive service when it is given. God wants so badly to bless us, and if we reject “charity,” we are rejecting His help in our lives.
The lesson goes on to suggest that we use our talents and abilities to serve others. We have all been given special powers and we should develop them, as well as our own personalities, to avoid becoming what President Kimball calls “rubber stamps.” And, after we have developed these talents, we should use them in whatever way we can to build up the Kingdom of God.
We cannot leave service up to other people. We must go out there and serve on our own time. Just as the five wise virgins could not share their oil, so we cannot share the blessings that come from service. If you cannot served, you do not get those blessings.
President Kimball goes on to counsel us to be wise in how we spend our charitable time. There are many good causes out there, but many that are better. We should find ways to serve that exemplify the Lord’s teachings and that won’t enable us to get caught up in vain glory.
We should also teach our children to serve. President Kimball suggests service as a way to keep children actively entertained and away from delinquency. It also encourages children to stay active in the Church later on, when they are old enough to make such decisions. It will also help them to attain an abundant life.
I’ll close with another direct quote from the lesson: “If we seek true happiness, we must expend our energies for purposes larger than our own self-interests. Let us ponder prayerfully how we may effectively and lovingly give service to our families, neighbors, and fellow saints.”
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