Service

"My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness-be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord's hand here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us." Thomas S. Monson What Have I Done for Someone?

"We rejoice that so many Latter-day Saint couples are among that unselfish group who are willing to surrender their personal priorities and serve the Lord by bearing and rearing the children our Heavenly Father sends to their care. We also rejoice in those who care for disabled family members and aged parents. None of this service asks, what's in it for me? All of it requires setting aside personal convenience for unselfish service. All of it stands in contrast to the fame, fortune, and other immediate gratification that are the worldly ways of so many in our day." Dallin H. Oaks Unselfish Service

"We must also serve Him to love Him. Joseph Smith did that, finally surrendering life itself in His service. Joseph prayed with the intent to obey. That obedience always includes service to others. Service in God's work allows us to feel a part of what He feels and come to know Him." Henry B. Eyring Prayer

"'If ye love me, keep my commandments,' Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love for the Lord." Jeffrey R. Holland The First Great Commandment

"Imagine what good we can do in the world if we all join together, united as followers of Christ, anxiously and busily responding to the needs of others and serving those around us-our families, our friends, our neighbors, our fellow citizens." M. Russell Ballard Be Anxiously Engaged

"If we want joy in our hearts, if we want the Spirit of the Lord in our lives, let us forget ourselves and reach out. Let us put in the background our own personal selfish interests and reach out in service to others." Gordon B. Hinckley Forget Yourself and Serve

"Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we're on our knees but while we're on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us. Selfless acts of service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven." Dieter F. Uchtdorf Waiting on the Road to Damascus 

"Sometimes we feel that we are weak and lack the strength to rescue others, but the Lord reminds us, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40)." Koichi Aoyagi Helping Hands, Saving Hands

"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." Spencer W. Kimball Small Acts of Service

"It is the time to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart--and our neighbors as ourselves. It is well to remember that he who gives money gives much; he who gives time gives more; but he who gives of himself gives all." Thomas S. Monson Christmas is Love

Recently in my daily prayers, I have been praying a lot to find ways to serve and have that spirit of Christlike love in my life. I know that it is through service that we are able to come closer to the Lord and to gain a stronger testimony of Him. Our Heavenly Father needs us to be His hands here on earth and serve all of His children. Through this, we can learn to love others the same way that the Savior loves them. I know that service is one of the greatest blessings we have been given and that service is the duty of all who are disciples of Christ. Christ's ministry here on earth was constant service to others. Those who were around Christ felt His love through His service to them and I know that through service others can feel Christ's love through us now. I am so blessed to have a testimony of the power of service and how it is truly a way of opening the Lord's kingdom to others. I know that service is how I can show my love for my Savior and Redeemer and that blessings will come upon all who feel the Spirit of service.