Teachings of Presidents
Chapter 20

“Chapter 20: Serving God’s Children,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Thomas S. Monson (2020)

“Chapter 20,” Teachings: Thomas S. Monson

Chapter 20

Serving God’s Children

“There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved.”

From the Life of Thomas S. Monson

Elder William R. Walker, who was a General Authority Seventy, described how President Thomas S. Monson dedicated his life to serving others:

“His entire ministry has been filled with making visits to homes; placing his hands on heads and giving blessings; making unexpected phone calls to comfort and encourage; sending letters of encouragement, commendation, and appreciation; visiting hospitals and care centers; and finding time to go to funerals and viewings despite a very busy schedule.

“Just as the Savior would do, Thomas Monson has gone about doing good (see Acts 10:38) and blessing and loving others; this has been the driving force in his life.”1

Recalling a visit to an elderly friend who was about to die, President Monson related:

“I received a telephone call from a granddaughter of an old friend. She asked, ‘Do you remember Francis Brems, who was your Sunday School teacher?’ I told her that I did. She continued, ‘He is now 105 years of age. He lives in a small care center but meets with the entire family each Sunday, where he delivers a Sunday School lesson.” The granddaughter said that the previous Sunday, Brother Brems had announced to his family, “My dears, I am going to die this week. Will you please call Tommy Monson and tell him this. He’ll know what to do.”2

President Monson visited Francis Brems the next evening. “I had not seen him for a while,” he said. “I could not speak to him, for he had lost his hearing. I could not write a message for him to read, because he had lost his sight. I was told that the family communicated with him by taking the finger of his right hand and then tracing on the palm of his left hand the name of the person visiting. Any message had to be conveyed in this same way. I followed the procedure by taking his finger and spelling T-O-M-M-Y M-O-N-S-O-N, the name by which he had always known me. Brother Brems became excited and, taking my hands, placed them on his head. I knew his desire was to receive a priesthood blessing. The driver who had taken me to the care center joined me as we placed our hands on the head of Brother Brems and provided the desired blessing. Afterward, tears streamed from his sightless eyes. He grasped our hands in gratitude. Although he had not heard the blessing we had given him, the Spirit was strong, and I believe he was inspired to know we had provided the blessing which he needed. This sweet man … was confined night and day to a small room in a care center. And yet the smile on his face and the words he spoke touched my heart. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘My Heavenly Father has been so good to me.’”3

“Within that very week, just as Brother Brems had predicted, he passed away. I received the telephone call and then met with the family as funeral arrangements were made. How thankful I am that a response to render service was not delayed.”4

Jesus Christ healing

“Although [Jesus Christ] came to earth as the Son of God, He humbly served those around Him.”

Teachings of Thomas S. Monson

1

We look to the Savior as our example of service.

The holy scriptures are replete with examples of service by the servants of the Lord and by Jesus Himself. … He caused lame beggars to walk and blind men to see. He cleansed the lepers and healed the centurion’s servant. He restored to the widow at Nain her dead son. … He raised Lazarus from the tomb. He forgave the woman taken in adultery. He atoned for the sins of all of us. He died that we might eternally live. As we go about our daily lives, we discover countless opportunities to follow the example of the Savior.5

Like a glowing searchlight of goodness is the life of Jesus as He ministered among men. “I am among you as he that serveth” [Luke 22:27], Jesus declared. …

With the parable of the good Samaritan, the Master taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves [see Luke 10:30–37; Matthew 22:39]. With His answer to the rich young ruler, He taught us to shed our selfishness [see Matthew 19:16–24; Mark 10:17–25; Luke 18:18–25]. With the feeding of the 5,000, He taught us to see to the needs of others [see Matthew 14:15–21; Mark 6:31–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:5–13]. And with the Sermon on the Mount, He taught us to seek first the kingdom of God [see Matthew 6:33].

In the New World, the resurrected Lord declared, “Ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do” [3 Nephi 27:21]. …

We bless others as we serve in the shadow of “Jesus of Nazareth … who went about doing good” [Acts 10:38]. God bless us to find joy in serving our Father in Heaven as we serve His children on earth.6

We look to the Savior as our example of service. Although He came to earth as the Son of God, He humbly served those around Him.7

Let us be willing and worthy to serve. Let us in the performance of our duty follow in the footsteps of the Master. As you and I walk the pathway Jesus walked, we will discover He is more than the babe in Bethlehem, more than the carpenter’s son, more than the greatest teacher ever to live. We will come to know Him as the Son of God, our Savior and our Redeemer. When to Him came the call of duty, He answered, “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever” [Moses 4:2]. May each of us do likewise.8

2

We are the Lord’s hands on earth, and He depends on us to serve and lift His children.

The Apostle Paul admonished, “By love serve one another” [Galatians 5:13]. Recall with me the familiar words of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon: “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” [Mosiah 2:17]. …

I am confident it is the intention of each member of the Church to serve and to help those in need. At baptism we covenanted to “bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light” [Mosiah 18:8]. How many times has your heart been touched as you have witnessed the need of another? How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that “oh, surely someone will take care of that need.”

We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the “thick of thin things.” In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes. …

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 hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.9

“When our loved ones are ill, there is a natural bond between friends that grows ever stronger.”10

There are opportunities to serve which are open to everyone. The blind and the handicapped need friendship; the aged are hungry for companionship; the young need understanding guidance; the gifted are starved for encouragement. These benefits can’t be conferred by [giving money]. Personal service is direct and human.11

Perhaps when we face our Maker, we will not be asked, “How many positions did you hold?” but rather, “How many people did you help?” In reality, you can never love the Lord until you serve him by serving his people.12

woman and older woman hugging

“We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness.”

Of all the blessings I have had in my life, one of the sweetest is that feeling the Lord provides when I know that He has answered the prayer of another person through me. As we love the Lord, as we love our neighbor, we discover that our Heavenly Father will answer the prayers of others through our ministry.13

3

“Have I helped anyone in need?”

[A] familiar hymn teaches:

There are chances for work all around just now,

Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”

But go and do something today.

[“Have I Done Any Good?” Hymns, no. 223]

Let us ask ourselves the questions: “Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?” What a formula for happiness! What a prescription for contentment, for inner peace—to have inspired gratitude in another human being.

Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved. … We can dry the tear of the weeping. We can comfort the dying by sharing the promise of eternal life. If we lift one weary hand which hangs down, if we bring peace to one struggling soul, if we give as did the Master, we can—by showing the way—become a guiding star for some lost mariner. …

May we resolve from this day forward to fill our hearts with love. May we go the extra mile to include in our lives any who are lonely or downhearted or who are suffering in any way. May we “[cheer] up the sad and [make] someone feel glad” [“Have I Done Any Good?” Hymns, no. 223].14

One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of a car we drove, what kind of a house we lived in, how much we had in the bank account, nor what our clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because we were important in the life of a boy or a girl.15

Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another: a question concerning a person’s family, quick words of encouragement, a sincere compliment, a small note of thanks, a brief telephone call. If we are observant and aware, and if we act on the promptings which come to us, we can accomplish much good.16

Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, “You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven’t time to be concerned for others.” Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord. In moments when the light of resolution dims and when the heart grows faint, we can take comfort from His promise: “Be not weary in well-doing. … Out of small things proceedeth that which is great” [Doctrine and Covenants 64:33].17

I would hope that we would not lose the real objective of our cherished opportunities to serve. That objective, that eternal goal, is the same spoken of by the Lord and found in the Pearl of Great Price: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” [Moses 1:39].

May we ever remember that the mantle of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a cloak of comfort but rather a robe of responsibility. Our duty, in addition to saving ourselves, is to guide others to the celestial kingdom of God. …

What kind of service does heaven require? “The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days” [Doctrine and Covenants 64:34].18

4

When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help.

To all who go forth in [the Savior’s] service, He provides this assurance: “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 mine angels round about you, to bear you up” [Doctrine and Covenants 84:88].19

When our hearts are in tune with [the Savior’s] teachings, we discover the unmistakable nearness of His divine help. We are on the Lord’s errand, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. … The help you need may not come just as you envision, but it will come.20

If any brother or sister feels unprepared—even incapable—of responding to a call to serve, to sacrifice, to bless the lives of others, remember this truth: “Whom God calls, God qualifies.” He who notes the sparrow’s fall will not abandon the servant’s need.21

5

As we serve others, we will become acquainted with the Savior.

The Savior taught His disciples, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” [Luke 9:24].

… Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives.

In the October 1963 general conference—the conference at which I was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—President David O. McKay made this statement: “Man’s greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others” [in Conference Report, Oct. 1963, 8].22

youth and adults serving together

“Those who lose themselves in service to others … in effect save their lives.”

I had [an experience] with a dear friend of mine, Louis McDonald. Louis never married. Because of a crippling disease, he had never known a day without pain nor many days without loneliness. One winter’s day, as I visited him, he was slow in answering the doorbell’s ring. I entered his well-kept home; the temperature in save but one room—the kitchen—was a chilly 40 degrees [Fahrenheit; 4.5 degrees Celsius]. The reason? Insufficient money to heat any other room. The walls needed papering, the ceilings needed to be lowered, the cupboards needed to be filled.

I was troubled by Louis’s needs. A bishop was consulted, and a miracle of love, prompted by testimony, took place. The members of the ward—particularly the young adults—were organized and the labor of love begun.

A month later, my friend Louis called and asked if I would come and see what had happened to him. I did and indeed beheld a miracle. The sidewalks which had been uprooted by large poplar trees had been replaced, the porch of the home rebuilt, a new door with glistening hardware installed, the ceilings lowered, the walls papered, the woodwork painted, the roof replaced, and the cupboards filled. No longer was the home chilly and uninviting. It now seemed to whisper a warm welcome.

Louis saved until last showing me his pride and joy: there on his bed was a beautiful plaid quilt bearing the crest of his McDonald family clan. It had been made with loving care by the women of the Relief Society. Before leaving, I discovered that each week the Young Adults would bring in a hot dinner and share a home evening. Warmth had replaced the cold, repairs had transformed the wear of years, but, more significantly, hope had dispelled despair, and now love reigned triumphant.

All who participated in this moving drama of real life had discovered a new and personal appreciation of the Master’s teaching “It is more blessed to give than to receive” [Acts 20:35].23

God bless all who endeavor to be their brother’s keeper, who give to ameliorate suffering, who strive with all that is good within them to make a better world. Have you noticed that such individuals have a brighter smile? Their footsteps are more certain. They have an aura about them of contentment and satisfaction—even dedication—for one cannot participate in helping others without experiencing a rich blessing himself.24

Every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the waters of baptism, has covenanted to stand as a witness of God “at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) and has expressed a willingness to “bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light” (Mosiah 18:8).

By fulfilling this covenant in our lives, we will become acquainted with him who declared, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.” (3 Ne. 11:10.) This is the Jesus whom we seek. This is our brother whom we love. This is Christ the Lord, whom we serve. I testify that he lives, for I speak as one who has found him.25

Suggestions for Study and Teaching

Questions

  • Review the many ways the Savior set an example of service for us (see section 1). What can we learn from His devotion to serving others? What are some ways we can follow His example of service in our daily lives?

  • In what sense are we serving God when we serve others? (See section 2.) Why is it important to know that “we are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth”? When has the Lord answered your prayers through another person? How can we prioritize our lives so we can dedicate time to service?

  • Review the ways President Monson encouraged us to give of ourselves (see section 3). When has someone made a difference in your life by serving you in one of these ways? How have you seen “small acts of service” lift and bless others? How can we become more aware of the needs of others?

  • How has the Lord magnified your efforts when you have served Him? (See section 4 and Doctrine and Covenants 84:88.)

  • President Monson taught that when we serve others, we will “grow and flourish” (section 5). How has serving others helped you grow? What are some other ways you have been blessed as you have served others? Why do you think “it is more blessed to give than to receive”? (Acts 20:35). How has serving others brought you closer to the Savior?

Related Scriptures

Joshua 22:5; Matthew 25:31–46; John 13:34–35; Mosiah 5:13; Doctrine and Covenants 4:2–6; 58:26–28; 81:5

Study Help

“Reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully” (Henry B. Eyring, “Serve with the Spirit,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 60).