Tuesday, August 30, 2016

D&C 4:3 -- On Serving God and Doing His Work

"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"
Doctrine and Covenants 4:3


I was going to post more stuff from this section, but as I thought about it, I realized that this is a big enough idea on its own.  Although this section is often used in relation to full-time missionary service, it definitely doesn't only apply to that.  If we have desires to serve God, no matter where we are in life, we are called to do it.  Being a missionary is a great thing, and I am definitely not encouraging anyone to give up on being a missionary.  I'm just saying for people who can't make that dramatic change in their current lives, we are still called.

How can we serve if we aren't missionaries?  Tons of ways.  In recent conferences, we're heard about the great need that refugees have for help.  Widows and widowers sometimes just need someone to talk to.  There are children in need of help in all of our communities, especially orphans.  There are homeless people who need food, assistance, and sometimes just for someone to treat them like a valued person.  Giving to food banks, making quilts to keep people warm.  Tutoring or volunteering at an elementary school.  Teaching gospel stories to the toddlers in church.  God just wants us to help and lift and serve each other the best ways we know how.  If we pray and ask God what he wants us, as individuals, to do, he will let us know.

Let's be anxiously engaged in doing good, and serving God through serving others.  Let's give and share and help, sharing the gospel when appropriate as we go, but never requiring people to accept it before we are willing to help or love them.  Let's do what God would do if he were in our shoes, and let's continue his work and build his kingdom.

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