Finding Joy through Loving Service

Mormons Serving Worldwide

" It is only when we love God and Christ with all of our hearts, souls, and minds that we are able to share this love with our neighbors through acts of kindness and service--the way that the Savior would love and serve all of us if He were among us today.

" When this pure love of Christ--or charity--envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like unto that of the Savior. He shared this desire with His Apostles on the eve of His Crucifixion. He said:

" A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you....
" By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).

" The love the Savior described is an active love. It is not manifested through large and heroic deeds but rather through simple acts of kindness and service" -Elder M. Russell Ballard, Finding Joy through Loving Service 


We are a very blessed people with many opportunities to serve and love our neighbors. It is through those selfless acts of kindness and service that we are filled with the pure love of Christ. Charity is a gift that we should so earnestly strive for and desire within our hearts. It is through charity--or the pure love of Christ-- that we can think, act, and feel more like our Savior, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Through the pure love of Christ we are able to serve and love as the Savior did. I can't think of a better way to Become like Him than to serve and love as He did. We are all trying to be like Jesus in all that we do and say. Our life has little purpose if we remain selfish and unwilling to give of ourselves in the service of our God and King. Let us actively love one another by small and simple acts of kindness and service everyday. There is no need for the "large and heroic" deeds but rather there is a need for the small and simple ones. I hope to be better at giving my heart to the service of God's Children. I know that when we are truly serving our brothers and sisters that we are becoming more like Our Father in Heaven and Our Savior.

As Elder Ballard has said," May we show our love and appreciation for the Savior's atoning sacrifice through our simple, compassionate acts of service." It is my prayer that we all may do so with a happy heart.

Faith---the Choice is Yours

Richard C. Edgley once said, "But, while I don't know everything, I know the important. I know the plain and simple gospel truths that lead to salvation and exaltation. I know that the Savior did suffer the pain of all men and that all repentant people can be cleansed from sin. And what I don't know and don't completely understand, with the powerful aid of my faith, I bridge the gap and move on, partaking of the promises and blessings of the gospel. And then as Alma teaches, our faith brings us to a perfect knowledge (see Alma 32:34). By moving forward into the unknown, armed only with hope and desire, we show evidence of our faith and our devotion to the Lord."

I love this so much! I feel like I could do better at demonstrating my faith in Heavenly Father and the Savior. I often find myself asking why and I hope to rather be moving forward into the unknown with hope and desire. I don't know everything but I too know the important. The important is enough to move forward with faith into the unknown. Sometimes the unknown can be scary and very overwhelming, but it is with the powerful aid of faith that we can bridge the gap and move on! In the process of replacing fear with faith we are able to access the promises and blessings of the gospel. Let us show evidence of our faith and our devotion to the Lord. God has a plan for each of us and it is through faith that we keep walking even when our course may be uncertain.

"Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism."

The Touch of the Master's Hand

I found this while cleaning out my Grandmother's house and It hit home pretty hard. I just wanted to share it with you today in hopes that it may touch you as well. Many of you have probably heard it and others not.

The Touch of the Master's Hand:
'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin
but held it up with a smile:

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar"; then, "Two!" "Only two?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three--" But no,
From the Room, far back, a gray-haired man
came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
and tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
with a voice that was quiet and low,
said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
and he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand, twice,
and going, and gone." said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried.
"We don't quite understand
What changed its worth, "Swift came the reply:
"The touch of the master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune.
and battered and scarred with sin.
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage." a glass of wine:
a game--and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
He's "going" and almost "gone."

But the Master come, and the foolish crowd
never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand

- Myra B. Welch

I love this so much! I know it to be so true! I hope that you all can gain something from this and use it to help someone else!

Cheerfulness Brings Others

One of my favorite scriptures of all time is D&C 68:6 "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."

I love this scripture for so many different reasons but I want to focus on two phrases "be of good cheer" and "ye shall bear record of me". Finding Joy in the journey that lies before us is very important in carrying out God's ways. We are always counseled to be of good cheer and to be optimistic. The plan of salvation is also referred to as the plan of Happiness. We are a church of happy living and good cheer. When we are full of happiness we have the desire share our testimonies with others of what we know and feel. We have a desire to help others to feel of the joy that we also feel in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionary work is carried out in such a different way when we are living a happy and loving life.

Elder Holland profoundly said, "Surely there is no more powerful missionary message we can send to this world than the example of a loving and happy Latter-day Saint life. The manner and bearing, the smile and kindness of a faithful member of the Church brings a warmth and an outreach which no missionary tract or videotape can convey. People do not join the Church because of what they know. They join because of what they feel, what they see, and want spiritually. Our spirit of testimony and happiness in that regard will come through to others if we let it."

We are all missionaries and by living happy and loving lives we can bring so many to the fold! Just by a smile or an act of kindness we can "bring an warmth and an outreach which no missionary tract or videotape can convey"! How powerful our optimism in our everyday lives really is! How powerful our words and testimony can be! How powerful our smile can be to someone else. We are to be examples of the believers in all that we do and say. I pray that we each can share our testimonies, talents, and smiles a little more. I hope that we can reach out to others in kind acts of service! We are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and let us represent well!

The Finished Story

"With the Lord, nothing is impossible, but we each have to finish our story. He sends His Spirit, we call our encouragement to each other, but we have to keep writing, keep walking, keep serving and accepting new challenges to the end of our own story. "Still walking" is the fundamental requirement in the journey of life. He wants us to finish well. He wants us to come back to Him. I pray that each of our stories will end in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, the authors and finishers of our faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." - Gayle M. Clegg

I wish to echo the words uttered by Sister Clegg that with the Lord, nothing is impossible. Our stories must be finished. Christ has promised as declared in D&C 84:88, "... I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and my angels round about you, to bear you up." I can't think of a better promise. How could any of us afford to keep Christ out of the details of our story? As Sister Clegg states,""Still walking" is the fundamental requirement in the journey of life." All that Christ requires of us is to keep walking and He will be on our right hand and on our left. As we keep moving He will send angels to be round about us to bear us up. As we keep writing our story and keep trekking along His spirit shall be in our hearts. Nothing is impossible with the Lord! Our stories began with our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ... It is our Heavenly Father's and Savior's plea that we might end mortality and begin Eternity with them. I know this to be true with all of my heart. Keep writing, Keep walking, Keep Serving and remember Christ in the details. Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ love us. They want us to succeed. They want us to return! So keep moving and find joy in the journey!

Heavenly Help

Mark Mabry Photography: Reflections of Christ -Angels

Elder Holland profoundly said," I have spoken here of Heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments int he hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk and talk with- - here, now, everyday. Some of them reside in our neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

I believe in this with all of my heart and soul. I have no doubt in my mind that everyone has someone in their lives that is truly angelic! I am lost for words when it comes to the gratitude I feel for the people in my life who are like this. One person I know who really emulates this profound concept of angelic is always so close to God and so pure and so good that is scares me. Sometimes I think this person could just move to the other side of the veil at any given moment. I am so grateful for that person and the example that has been shown to me. I hope that all of us have people like this in our lives. I hope that there are angels around each one of you to bless and help you in times of need. I hope you walk and talk with many of them. I know that there are SO many of you out there that are purely angelic! I love you! I am grateful for you! (Thanks for the amazing quote! You know who you are and I love you!). May God bless each one of you!

Loneliest Walk

 heavenlyfathersplan.blogspot.com/2010/07/do-y...

He pushes up the board they've tied onto His shoulders

He bears, with dignity, disgrace

He hears the jeering and the wind is getting colder

Tastes the blood upon His face

His body bruised and back still open from the scourges

The consequence of wicked men

He knows no man on earth has ever deserved this

But still He bears it all for them

And He keeps moving up the hill to do His father's will

With each step He takes there's another to follow

and one more ache, one more tear to swallow

We all stand by and watch as the price is paid

Through the loneliest walk of His life

So we don't feel alone in the night

We can have His hand holding the light

Through the loneliest walks of our lives

Keep pushing through this lonely walk you're going through

Cause someones walked this way before

This song is one that I have loved for awhile. Life is hard for everyone and there is devastation, heartache, and loss all around us. We knew when we came here that it wasn't going to easy but that it would be worth it. The greatest thing about life is that Christ can be the center if we will let Him. Christ brings me hope and faith to keep going even when it is hard. I love Him with all of my mind, heart, and soul. Christ is my brother and my best friend. For me and for you, He suffered and died. "He knows no man on earth has ever deserved this, but still He bears it all of them." He did that for me and for you so that we don't have to feel alone. He loves us and I know that without a doubt in my mind. Someday I will be able to thank Him and kiss the hands and feet that were driven with nails for me. I hope that each of you will take 4 minutes and 34 seconds to listen to this song. I hope that through it we can remember that life is hard but it is worth it because of Christ. He loves us.

If you would like to listen you can find the song here.