I was given the assignment to speak on Love and Service, and as I began to think of people in my life who emulate those two qualities, I thought of my dad’s best friend Ed. Ed was in my Ward growing up and he was a great example to me of love and service. I’d like to share just one example of why.
The Elders Quorum President in our ward told Ed about a family on the “do not contact” list. He asked Ed to go find out who the Wilcox family was, and if they wanted to be visited or to have their names taken off the roles of the church. He finally found their house, but no one ever answered the door. One night he caught the kids at home... but still no parents. The next night he ordered some take-out and took it to the kids. He did this a few times until one night he caught Yolanda (the wife), who was not a member and she thanked him for the dinners. Over time, he finally met Dave (the husband) by showing up one day while he was out working in his yard. Dave said that he did not want Home Teachers. Ed said that was fine and asked if he could help Dave with his yard work. Ed continued to visit the family and after many months Ed and Dave became good friends. Their families started to do things socially, went on vacation together, did BBQ’s together etc. After years of being friends, the Wilcox family began coming to church activities and soon after Yolanda started the missionary discussions. Yolanda was baptized, then their 2 daughters, and then Dave. They became fully active in the church, strong members of the ward with callings and eventually they were all sealed in the Temple.
Ed wrote this about the experience, “The secret to success; is true, sincere love and service to the Lord and to the family, with no thought for yourself or statistics or any other fake reason to visit them. Never give up!”
Being in that Ward and watching what took place with that family as a result of one man’s consistent selfless service and genuine love, really without any expectation of ever getting them to come to church, greatly influenced me. He wasn’t trying to fulfill a duty or get an A+ on some nonexistent home teaching report card, He simply decided to serve and love that family, and by doing just that, a miracle took place that will forever bless that family and generations to come. Ed taught me how to serve and love others and he changed my understanding of the purpose of home and visiting teaching.
In the Book of Mormon the account of Ammon and King Lamoni starts with service. Ammon, a Nephite, was taken before a Lamanite King who delighted in killing Nephites. Ammon told the King that his only desire was to dwell among them, perhaps permanently, and to serve them. There was no preaching, no judging, no condemning. Just an offer of service. The King agreed and sent Ammon to watch over his flocks, where he performed a heroic act in protecting them from the Kings enemies, and all without seeking recognition or reward. It was his selfless act of service and display of love, with no thought for his own life, that softened the heart of a blood thirsty King, and prepared him to receive the Spirit and partake of the plan of redemption, also allowing his entire household to be saved.
Ammon’s love and service continued to change lives as he met up with Lamoni’s father, who was The King over all the Lamanites. And despite This Kings attempt to slay Ammon and Lamoni, Ammon’s only concern was for The King’s eternal welfare and for Lamoni’s happiness. It was the great love that Ammon had for the King’s son that softened his heart. And soon after The King, his household and thousands of other Lamanites were converted to Christ and saved in the Kingdom of God. And it all began with one man’s unfailing love and service.
There is a divine power in love. Selfless love and service changes hearts and changes lives by gently tapping and then cracking that stony outer shell that surrounds our hearts, thereby allowing the Spirit to enter and create that mighty change within us.
Recently I was sitting in a church meeting listening to a lesson on service, and as I was listening to all the sweet examples of service that go on in other neighborhoods, I’m ashamed to admit, I asked God, “When have I ever been served?” Just as I asked that, a sister raised her hand (and forgive me if I don’t remember all the details) but she began telling a story of a teenage boy she had taught in Seminary, who made it almost impossible for her to teach her lessons. He was disruptive and disrespectful and made fulfilling her calling extremely difficult. However, she didn’t give up. She continued to pray for ways to serve and love this boy in her class. Many years passed and this boy, who was now a grown man, contacted her. She was very surprised by this. He wanted to let her know that he had served a mission, was married in the temple, was a father and a fully active member of the Church. He told her that she was his favorite teacher and that she had made the biggest impact on his life, and he wanted to thank her.
As this sister was telling her story I realized it was God’s answer to my ungrateful question, “When have I ever been served?” This sister was telling my story. As a youth, I was every teacher’s worst nightmare. It was as if my life’s mission was to be as difficult as I possibly could. None of these teachers could have known that I behaved that way because at the time I was suffering through some very painful experiences. I know that there were many prayers offered by my teachers and church leaders, pleading to Heavenly Father to help them love me. Throughout those years, there were some truly extraordinary teachers who showed me unconditional love and continued to serve me despite my constant defiance; those teachers would not give up on me. Their examples helped me begin to understand, that the Savior loves me. This prompted me draw nearer to him, to acquire a testimony of Christ and His Gospel, and to eventually be married in the Temple and sealed to my family. Now my family and I continue to receive the blessing of the Gospel and I am forever grateful for the love, service and long suffering of those true Disciples of Christ in my Sunday school classes. I know that I am not the only person who has had their life changed because of seemingly simple acts of love and service. My story is just one of many.
Sharing Christ’s Gospel is not merely educating someone of the doctrine, but rather sharing with others that overwhelming love that Christ unfailingly gives to us. Christ-like love and service are how we can introduce people to Him and bring to them His Gospel. Love is the core message of our Father’s Plan of Happiness. Silvia Allread, The First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency said, “When love becomes the guiding principle in our care for others, our service to them becomes the gospel in action. It is pure religion.”
When asked to name the greatest commandment, Christ did not hesitate. ““Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
President Uchtdorf said referring to Christ’s answer, “How clearly the Savior spoke when He said that every other commandment hangs upon the principle of love… If we truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our fellowman with all our heart, soul, and mind—everything else will fall into place. When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as Disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.”
“Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships... Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope.”
Recently I read a book where the main character is a man who is suffering in his marriage and is at the point where he feels there is little hope that his marriage will survive. Throughout this story the spirit of the man's deceased grandfather visits him and mentors him. During one of his visits the grandfather says to his grandson, “It’ not your marriage that needs saving, it’s your love.”
Like the couple in this book and many other couples, a while back Luke and I were experiencing a difficult time in our marriage and I just could not foresee a positive change in our future. One night Luke told me that he would find some way to serve me every day. He took a piece of paper and with red marker scribbled the words “Have I Rubbed Sheri’s Feet Today?” and he taped it on the wall by my side of the bed. He told me that every night he was going to serve me by rubbing my feet. That seemingly small act of service has since nurtured a love in our marriage that I didn’t even know could exist. His selfless service, with no expectations or thought for himself, has changed us both. It has been almost 4 years and he has never missed a day, and when he goes out of town he makes up for lost days by rubbing my feet twice. That paper sign now sits framed on my bed stand, not as a reminder for a foot rub, but as a reminder to us both that in order for us to cultivate the kind of love we want to have for one another, we must serve each other on a daily basis. My children and I are so blessed to have such an amazing example of love and service within our home, a husband and a father who truly understands the virtue of service. He is my greatest example of Love and Service on this earth.
Sylvia Allread said, “We must love one another and serve one another. The pure love of Christ is expressed as we give selfless service. (Serving) one another is a sanctifying experience which exalts the receiver and humbles the giver. It helps us become true Disciples of Christ.”
The virtue I feel I’ve actually been describing in this talk is Charity. If the expectation to feel charity for everyone seems daunting, you are not alone. I confess that until recently, I did not enjoy lessons on Charity. I had thought of Charity as a character quality that I must develop in order to be saved, and for me developing charity was an overwhelming and impossible charge. For years I would try to make myself feel this “perfect love” for everyone, and I would fail miserably every time. It was, to say the least, discouraging. I began praying and searching for an understanding of how I could obtain charity. As I searched, pondered and prayed my understanding of Charity began to change and the overwhelming burden of creating Charity was taken from me. While reading the definition of Charity, I began to see the words a little differently. Instead of reading "Charity is The Pure Love of Christ", I read it as "Charity is Christ’s Pure Love". And I began to understand that Charity is Christ’s Love. I cannot create it. The only way for me to obtain it is by and though Him. If we draw close unto Him, he administers Charity to us, and then can channel it through us to others.
President Uchtdorf said, “’God is Love,’ the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love, not only from him but for our fellow man.”
So when the natural imperfect woman in me is incapable of the love that I need for my fellow man, he invites me to “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive.”
When the angel in Nephi’s vision asked, “Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?” Nephi answered, “Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things… Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.”
Charity is God’s Love, and is that fruit that is most sweet. It is the greatest of all the gifts of God. As we will draw near unto Christ and partake of His love, just as Lehi exclaimed, our souls will be filled with exceedingly great joy. And Like Lehi, once we have tasted that joy we will then have the desire to bring others unto Christ, so that they too may be filled.
I testify that these things are true.In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
