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). "
Thank you for this post. I think this is a very cool topic to blog about. I have always heard, you know, that we could become like Him or become this or become that. But it wasn't until I read this post that I began thinking about what the word become actually meant. It is just like what you said. It is something that requires work. One does not simply become a doctor by sleeping on his textbooks hoping to absorb the information, never going to classes, etc. It requires constant work. As does becoming what the Lord both wants and knows we can become. It is not easy, but it will be worth it. Thanks again for your post, and I look forward to hearing more.
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