Becoming

The gospel motivates you to become. It requires you to work-- there's no easy way out, no "easy A", no sitting back to ride the waves. You are either progressing, or digressing.

Service is one of those things that you can incorporate daily to progress. Sometimes we think we have to do something big: go on a humanitarian trip, go on a mission, or convert someone. But it really is "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6).

So here's a little advice from Elder Oaks, in his talk The Challenge to Become:

"We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life. This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason--for the pure love of Christ. The Apostle Paul illustrated this in his famous teaching about the importance of charity. The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is that charity, "the pure love of Christ"(Moro. 7:47), is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. 

Charity is something one becomes. 

Thus, as Moroni declared, "except men shall have charity they cannot inherit" the place prepared for them in the mansions of the Father (Ether 12:32; emphasis added). "

Forms of Service

Service comes in many shapes and sizes: from the humanitarian trip to Africa to smiling at someone. But all of it matters, and all of it has an affect-recognized or not- as service creates a ripple effect. One story about serving through forgiveness has been astounding to me.

Elder Oaks referenced this story in the April 2013 General Conference talk, Followers of Christ, when he stated: "Chris Williams drew upon his faith in Jesus Christ to forgive the drunken driver who caused the death of his wife and two of their children. Only two days after the tragedy and still deeply distraught, this forgiving man, then serving as one of our bishops, said, "As a disciple of Christ, I had no other choice."'

What an amazing example of service. Forgiveness is among one of the hardest gifts we are able to give. By acting in such a loving manner, Chris Williams gave the young, drunken driver a chance at life-- he gave him his future back.

The ripple effect of this service was unimaginable to Williams. As news reports shared the remarkable story, the community and world received an example of service that impacted their lives. Williams gave many talks to help others understand forgiveness. A Mormon Message was created to spread this example. Chris Williams also wrote a book, "Let It Go," to share the message of the importance of forgiveness.

Service comes in unexpected ways. 

Letter to the Editor

Service, from Elder Ballard, “the very definition of our religion,” can be bad. “Service” and “bad” aren’t usually stringed together- ever. By realizing there are ineffective ways to serve, improvement and effectiveness of service becomes possible. Members of the LDS church should approach service with unselfish motives in order to uphold the divine characteristic of charity.

Ineffective service is a common daily occurrence. One simple way to evaluate the effectiveness of service is to evaluate motive. Traditionally, the viewpoint of serving in order to receive blessings has evolved. This outlook should not be the motive- the one completely pure motive of service is charity, through love for God’s children and willingness to serve to display love for God.

It is important to recognize and improve tactics of service. Basic ways to improve service are: put in effort, go out of your comfort zone, use your brain, observe before you serve, reach your full potential in order to help others reach theirs, reflect on your experience, and learn through your service. Learning to serve effectively is essential, for service influences countless lives daily. Service is a quality we will always be encouraged to incorporate more abundantly in our lives, hopefully in a more effective way in order to maximize our efforts and abilities to help others. By recognizing the ineffective ways to serve by using our “heart, might, mind and strength” mentioned in D&C 4:2, assessment of our methods of service and improve upon them becomes possible.

Always

Saturday Morning

I remembered last night, but I pretended I didn't. I'll set my alarm and see if I want to go when it wakes me up...
Alarm. 

Five more minutes? 

Snooze.

Alarm.

Snooze...again? 

Guilt. 

Get out of bed.

Put on sweats, put my hair in a ponytail. 

Go grab gloves, a bucket, and a shovel.

Off to the youth service activity...

Search lds.org

"Unselfish Service" --Dallin H. Oaks

"The Spirituality of Service" --Derek A. Cuthbert

"Service" --Steven E. Snow

"Finding Joy Through Loving Service" --Russell C. Taylor

"She Stretched Out Her Hand to the Poor" --Barbara B. Smith

"The Service That Counts" --Thomas S. Monson
"Service, A Divine Quality" --Carlos H. Amado

"Why Do We Serve?" --Dallin H. Oaks

"Sacrifice" --Dallin H. Oaks

Always

Why does the hesitation always come? Never want to go sacrifice and serve, seems inconvenient. Then I start weeding with my friends in the ward. It becomes somewhat fun. 

Afterwards. 

Always afterwards. 

Always afterwards, happiness and gratitude flood in. 

Interview

The idea of posting on service came to me, as I mentioned previously, from an amazing course I took at BYU called Learning Through Service. The Professor, Casey Peterson, is also the director for the Center for Service and Learning at Brigham Young University. He became interested in service through "a lifelong pursuit as both a giver and receiver".

He changed my views on service, and so I asked him a few questions as I wanted you to have the same opportunity. 

Service to Casey Peterson is defined as "selfless sharing of time and talents to helping others as an instrument in God's hands." A major learning experience for me was when I realized that service isn't always effective. This realization allows for the opportunity to improve our methods of service. "Service can be ineffective when planned around the needs of the server, instead of the recipient. I believe some good will come from every effort to serve, but the efficiency increases as the awareness of the needs of the person being served is found."

He shared four suggestions to make our service more effective:

• Love
• Thought
• Reflection 
• Revelation

So, how does the Church of Latter-Day Saints exemplify effective service?
"Knowing the needs of cultures, individuals, and communities. Each response is specific to an area, well researched, and well planned. The larger picture is maintained well."

Lastly,
How can we incorporate effective service in our daily lives, jobs, school, and hobbies? "Continual prayer to be guided, a willingness to always act, and opportunities to continually reflect on what is happening."

Movie Review

     I recently watched a very interesting film, titled “Waste Land.” As I’ve been reflecting on what I saw, I’ve had a few thoughts that I would like to share with you! Yes, you could be broad and argue that recycling is a service because it saves the planet. And that’s just peachy, good, great…yeah! But I want to go deeper than this, like the film did, and make you realize that you can make a difference. 
     As this film explored the lives of a few particular pickers, it showed the transitioning of their lives as they helped create trash art. Each trash picker working at the landfill in Rio de Jeneiro reacted in similar ways:

•          They realized how life was comparatively, before and after.
•          They were grateful for their new perspective.
•         They wanted to make a difference.

     You may be wondering how this can relate to service? An understanding leads to a grateful heart and a desire to serve. 

     It becomes a cycling pattern for good. So take from that what you will, and maybe spend a night on Netflix watching “Waste Land.”

"I'd never imagined I'd become a work of art."

"I don't see myself in the trash anymore. I really don't."

"I have nothing to complain about in my life. Nothing, nothing at all. Oh man, if I complained God would punish me."