No Less Serviceable

“If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.”1 Howard W. Hunter uses this scripture to teach us such a valuable lesson. While very few will have the power and prominence of Moroni, each of us can, through our own commitment, dedication and faith, make a difference in God’s kingdom. Chapter 23, No Less Serviceable, helps us understand that “every act of service is important in God’s eyes, no matter how unheralded or inconspicuous.”

Richard G. Scott once said, “When we give unconditional love; when our interest is first in serving, building, edifying, strengthening without thought of self; when we do not expect an automatic return for each act of kindness, generosity, or sincere effort to help; when we are not concerned about what we will receive or what others will say or whether our own burdens will be diminished, but selflessly seek to build another, the miracle of the power of the gospel is released in our lives. When we permit the Lord to work through us to bless others, that sacred experience releases power in our own lives, and miracles occur.”2 That is exactly what Chapter 23 is all about! Howard W. Hunter shares several examples from the scriptures where, following the example of some well-known people, ordinary, less noticed people did marvelous, even miraculous things, people whose incredible contributions were “unacknowledged by the eyes of men but not unseen by the eyes of God.”

Think for a moment of the people who have helped make you the person you are today. I suspect they are, like the people in my life, relatively unseen by the world. Yet the ripple effect of their goodness is immeasurable. As I studied this lesson, the phrase “unacknowledged by the eyes of men but not unseen by the eyes of God” really stirred some feelings of gratitude in me. I hope you will have the same sweet experience! Especially at this Thanksgiving season, I hope we can, as President Hunter encourages, remember the “profound service” of mothers, fathers, teachers and other unseen people who “make possible our opportunities and happiness every day.”

Let me share two examples of the kind of “profound service” President Hunter was talking about which are close to my heart. After 7 ½ years, last Thursday I became a grandma again! My daughter and son-in-law are the proud parents of a healthy, beautiful baby boy! The blessings of heaven are too many to mention, as are the acts of service. My daughter’s ward has provided meals. Their friends have given love and encouragement. And family has been there for all three of them. But, without a doubt (and hopefully without embarrassing them), the most profound service has been from this new mom and dad. Here is a sweet young couple willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to bring one of Heavenly Father’s precious children into this world and to give him the best environment possible! Dad is willing to work an almost full-time schedule while being a full-time student so that his little son can have a full-time mom. That is profound service! How I love them both for their sacrifices!

The other example I want to share began many years ago, but the effect is still being felt today! After a few years of marriage, my brother-in-law stopped attending church. My incredible sister took her kids to church alone for several years (clearly giving profound service to her family and a profound example to others). It wasn’t until they moved into a new ward that something changed for my brother-in-law. He was blessed to have the kind of home teacher we usually only hear about in general conference! This home teacher loved, served, encouraged and invited. His commitment, dedication and faith made all the difference in my brother-in-law’s life! It is hard to measure how far that influence has gone. Of course it positively affected his immediate family. Their son served a mission. Their children married in the temple and are now raising their own children in the gospel. But it has had a positive impact on the extended family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and ward members as well. Although decades have passed, the influence of one home teacher is still being felt. My brother-in-law has been a dedicated and devoted husband, father and priesthood holder. He and my sister have both served tirelessly wherever and whenever they have been called. (That is a whole other story!) For the past several years, my brother-in-law has been serving as the bishop, blessing countless lives in his ward! Because this wonderful home teacher understood who he was serving, he knew how to serve! Because this good man has continued to serve wherever the Lord has asked, I am sure my brother-in-law is just one of many whose life has been blessed by his profound service.

President Hunter reminds us that if we are ever called to a position that might bring attention to us we would be wise “to follow the example of those in the scriptures who received fame. Nephi is one of the great examples. His attitude was still fixed on the things that matter most.”

In our day, there are few more “famous” in the church than Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Yet he is so humble! His tender way has such an incredible impact, inspiring us to do good and be good. A few years ago he said, “We can live our religion so broadly and unfailingly that we find all kinds of opportunities to help families, bless neighbors, and protect others.

“If we do right and talk right and reach out generously with our words and our deeds, then, when the Savior cuts short His work in righteousness, says time is no more in this last dispensation, and comes in His glory, He will find us doing our best, trying to live the gospel, trying to improve our lives and our Church and our society the best way we can.

“When He comes, I so want to be caught living the gospel. I want to be surprised right in the act of spreading the faith and doing something good. I want the Savior to say to me: ‘Jeffrey, I recognize you not by your title but by your life, the way you are trying to live and the standards you are trying to defend. I see the integrity of your heart. I know you have tried to make things better first and foremost by being better yourself and then by declaring my word and defending my gospel to others in the most compassionate way you could.’”3

Can you think of a more powerful example of one whose attitude is still fixed on things that matter most?!

We are each part of God’s army. No matter where we serve, we each have an important part to play in living, sharing and defending the gospel of Jesus Christ. President Hunter said, “When we remember why we serve, we won’t be concerned about where we serve.”

Elder Holland reminds us, “God is calling us to live the gospel of Jesus Christ personally in small ways and large ways, to reach out to those who may not look or dress or behave quite as we do, and then (where we can) to go beyond that to serve in the widest community we can address.”3 May we be "no less serviceable" than Elder Holland. That is our challenge! That is our privilege!