Service (Follow Up)

What did you discover about yourself?

Class member shared: I’m in different places in different aspects of life.

Class member shared: I learned that service comes when you aren’t expecting it.  The day after class she got up at 3am to go get a bobble head BSU collector item.  They got there and there was a lady sitting on the sidewalk.  I just really need help.  What do you need?  I’m a recovering drug addict and my grandmother is in the hospital and I just really need a cigarette.  She was so grateful.  About an hour later a girl came in and she had a flat tire outside.  She was happy throughout the rest of the day.  She had a lift.  She saw the world differently.  It wasn’t a big deal.  She realized that she was doing better than she thought.  She really did want to help people.  It started with serving her son.  Her attitude about that was great.  When you start up the continuum then the Lord can use you for more things. 

Class member shared: She did a FHE on service.  Theme was “Have I Done Any Good in the World Today”.  She hummed it and sung it the whole week.  Her kids that fight are working together.  Her daughter told her she helped someone.

Class member shared: When you have the mind set you see them.  Even though she isn’t where her husband is she feels good about doing that when she is with him.  Even when she isn’t there herself.

Finally Mike showed up and he was filthy.  He looked horrible.  He had stopped and gotten under someone’s car and fixed a tire.  He was doing what was right.

Her boys were nurturing a little deer that had been hit on Christmas Eve.  They had called Fish & Game and were waiting for them. 

Class member shared: About a year ago they said you are making another meal.  She was in the “I have to” mode and couldn’t turn it down.  She changed her attitude about it.  If I can help someone in a need I will.  It will come back to me.  About 6 months later they were going through hard things and the ward brought in meals for 2 weeks.

Class member shared: She thought “Service, I’m already good at that”.  She realized as she got further through the lesson she realized that she really was way further off than she thought. 

Most people think that if we do acts of service we are good people and we get credit for being good.  It’s not the end.  It’s the condition of the heart.  We have the agency to do it crabby or to do it happy.  That is our agency.  That is how we purify our soul.

Class member shared: I could change my attitude.  Can you still have the “May I” and feel frustrated?  Yes.  For those of us learning the process change it then you will reach a point where you choose to take it.  We can change our attitude.

Class member shared: I almost feel like I’m fine to take meals to other people, but I sometimes have a hard time serving day in and day out, when it’s all on me.  I do it begrudgingly.  How do keep that “up” feeling day in and day out?  You have to change how you think.  That is the moment you have agency, in changing that thought process.   

There is power in those statements she gave.  “I have to do the dishes” change to “I’m grateful to have dishes to do.”

Class member shared: They just needed to regroup.  The Savior even left and went to a quiet place.  You can only give so much. 

Sometimes you have to take a day to fill yourself up.  To be really filled that spiritual depth.  I recommend doing 3 things….check the quality of your prayers, check your personal scripture reading, check how long it’s been since you went to the temple.

Children need to have ownership of those service opportunities. 

Service is what develops gratitude.  Things never develop gratitude in children or you.  It’s what you give. 

The answer to fear….“The Lord will never give us what we can do, but he will enable us to do what he give us.”  (Look up quote)

President Henry B Eyring 1997 October conference "Feed My Lambs"… “It is wise to fear that our own skills are inadequate to meet the charge we have to nourish the faith of others. Our own abilities, however great, will not be enough. But that realistic view of our limitations creates a humility which can lead to dependence on the Spirit and thus to power."

Traveling behind another car, didn’t stop and hit another car.  She knows CPR and has always been afraid.  That thought left almost immediately as it came.  She just checked things out.  The Lord gave her the strength to do what needed to be done.  Just being there and being able to let them use her phone and wait with them.  He called her and told her that she was her angel there.  She took control and helped and was his angel there.  The Lord gives us strength in the time she needed.  You have to know that he will be there.

Story in Magazine….Someone decided for Thanksgiving they gave each of their grown children and grandchildren $10 with the assignment to use it for some good.  It was to be used for a service.  Then they were to report back for Christmas what they had done.  1 girl had bought yarn and knitted scarves and hats for homeless.  Someone else took it to school and gave it to the office for lunches for kids that couldn’t afford lunches.  She decided I’m going to do that. 

Went in to pay for gas and went in to pay for it and someone else already paid for that.  She didn’t know anyone there.  How could someone pay for it when they didn’t know how much gas she put in.  She has no idea who would do it, but she has never forgotten.

Class member shared: Parents have given them $50 each to use.  Last year they decided rather than finding different things then they were going to pool their money and give whatever else they could.  They started an account for her parents to go on a mission.  It’s been one of their goals, but they haven’t been saving for something like that.  Some of those things can hurt too for family.