Enduring Joy Through Service to God in Ministering and Your Calling

When living in Taiwan, I started going to a little gym to lift weights. A frequent gym-goer was another American who was as superbly fit as he was foul-mouthed. I always tried to stay away from where he was in part because of his language, but also because his size was very intimidating. He made me look bad with his massive rock arms. One day, I don’t remember how, we struck up a conversation. In the process of talking over our workouts, he took it upon himself to be my coach and started adding weight to the bar I was lifting. He went with me to several stations, adding two to three times the weight I normally used and spotting me. And he made me do several sets!

Later that day and for the next three days, I was in serious pain! I could barely move myself to get up. But something interesting happened. After recovering for several days I could actually feel a change in my muscles. As I continued to actually push myself and not just go through the motions that made it seem like I was improving but wasn’t, I grew in strength. This man, rough as he may have been in other areas of his life, knew that pushing through and then recovering after would allow my muscles to grow.

Spiritually we are no different, but too often we act as I did: going through the motions, just enough to appear to be doing something, but holding back from the real work that brings growth. When we do this, we miss out on learning to access God’s power to do more than we can do on our own. Yes, there is such a thing as taking too much on and running faster than we have strength (Mosiah 4:27), but I fear the more common problem is lacking the diligence to win the prize or wasting our strength on less valuable things that moths and rust corrupt and thieves can break through and steal (3 Nephi 13:20). If you focus on the things that are the most important, if you “think celestial”, you will be supported and lifted to do what God asks of you (Alma 36:3).

Challenge of Our Callings and Ministering

While there are many applications of this principle, I want to address the need for us to increase our efforts in our callings and ministering assignments. I hesitate to associate these with difficulty, but one only need to read the scriptures and realize that the road to discipleship has never been a smoothly paved path. Nephi encountered opposition in all things as he went and did what he was commanded (2 Nephi 2:11). The sons of Mosiah were told to “bear with patience [their] afflictions” before they would have success (Alma 26:27).

So please don’t think that anything good will come easily. You may find gaps of skill, knowledge, and desire in yourself and in others when trying to serve in your calling. You may find love at home evasive. Those to whom you minister may not be willing to meet with you, leaving you wondering how you can fulfill the Lord’s errand. But the hard things the Lord requires of us are not an excuse for us to dismiss His commandments (1 Nephi 3:5).

I can clearly hear the protest against what I am saying: “So, Bishop, you are telling me that I need to be more dedicated and diligent in my callings and ministering, and it means my life is going to be harder? And I’m supposed to be happy about it?”

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying: when you strive to be more dedicated and diligent in your Church service, it WILL be a challenge! But if you end the expression of your imaginary concern like that, the most important components are missing: the reason and the results.

The Reason

The reason for serving in a calling and ministering to our fellow members is repeated over and over again in our lessons at Church: “As I have loved you, love one another. By this shall men know ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). “When you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17) “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him” (D&C 59:5). “Lovest thou me? … Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

But let me put this bluntly: if we use ministering as a measure of our love of the Savior, we as a ward are not honoring Him very much. We too often place our ministering assignments at the bottom of our list of things to do. Many do not know their ministering brothers and sisters. The Lord said, “Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today” (D&C 64:25). Please make this change today, and labor to serve your God by serving and loving His children in our ward.

The Results

The results of diligently serving is stated in the Handbook: Callings give members opportunities to feel the joy of serving God by serving His children (see Mosiah 2:17). Callings also help members increase their faith and draw closer to the Lord. (Handbook 30.0) These statements are true when applied to ministering as well.

Joy is the result, after, and even during, the difficulties of service as you learn that the Lord is with you in your efforts. Yoked with Him and doing His work, you come to know Him better, and you slowly and surely become like Him, adding to your joy.

If it is meant to be difficult to serve Him, where is the promised rest to our heavy-laden souls? How can He say His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30)? It is because when your heart has been changed to love His children, then the burden of service changes. You become like the sons of Mosiah who could not bear the thought of any human soul perishing (Mosiah 28:3) and so suffered all things so that they might save some few (Alma 26:26). When you love as the Savior loves and love others WITH His love, the burden of your service becomes light, joy will come and you will truly say His yoke is easy.

Honoring the Lord for the Lord to Honor Us

The General Handbook of the Church states: “Serving faithfully in a calling is more important than what the calling is. The Lord honors the dedication of all who serve in His Church” (30.0).

I’d like to share a story that illustrates this principle.

Recently, Hazel had tried unsuccessfully to record a video for a dance scholarship in her dance studio. It had come to the night before it was due, so when she came home from dance class and a late rehearsal, I told her that we could film it at the church in the cultural hall if she wanted to do it still. She was visibly very tired from a long day of dancing. When I say long day, you have to understand that she drives to Salt Lake City six days a week getting there around 1:00 and it was now 10:00 at night. That’s on top of school and early morning seminary. Still, I knew this was the last chance to do this. I could tell she was conflicted and uncertain if the effort would be worth it. I thought she might just call it quits. But she collected her stuff and we came to the church. As she practiced the moves they wanted to see and we recorded them a few times, I started to see why she was so reluctant. It was strenuous for her to do the routines again and again after an exhausting day, causing her to be out of breath and the floor was more difficult to get her footing. But she kept going and she finished the task on time. We don’t know all of the results of her efforts yet, but I can tell you two. One, she has the peace of knowing that she gave it her all. Two, she has a father who better appreciates the effort she makes. I was never more proud of her than I was at that moment.

Brothers and sisters, you also have a Father in Heaven who knows what you can do with the aid of His power. And He supports us when we increase our efforts to serve His children. Now is not the time to hold back. The last time I went to the temple, I was inspired to ask a question: What am I withholding from the Lord? What fraction of my heart, piece of my mind, measure of my might, or sliver of strength am I holding back and therefore missing out on growth and opportunity to serve my God and increase in my love for His children? Remember that enduring to the end isn’t just simply just making it to the end. It is the process of becoming like our Master Shepherd in the end.

Love the People in Your Ward

As the scriptures say: “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind” (D&C 64:33-34). Enduring the change of heart that we all must continually undergo brings eternal joy as Ammon tried to express: “This is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people” (Alma 26:36). Please be mindful of God’s people in this ward. Love one another, serve one another faithfully. Even though you may encounter difficulties in doing so, persevering with genuine love will bring you greater joy than you can imagine and bring you closer to Him whose love sustains us.

President Nelson said the following: “The covenant path is a path of love … that compassionate caring for and reaching out to each other. Feeling that love is liberating and uplifting. The greatest joy you will ever experience is when you are consumed with love for God and for all His children.

Loving God more than anyone or anything else is the condition that brings true peace, comfort, confidence, and joy.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

D&C 58:2-4

2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

5 Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow.

D&C 60:13

13 Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known.

D&C 63:47

47 He that is faithful and endureth shall overcome the world.

D&C 64:15-16

15 Behold, I, the Lord, was angry with him who was my servant Ezra Booth, and also my servant Isaac Morley, for they kept not the law, neither the commandment;

16 They sought evil in their hearts, and I, the Lord, withheld my Spirit. They condemned for evil that thing in which there was no evil; nevertheless I have forgiven my servant Isaac Morley.

D&C 64:20

20 And again, I say unto you, that my servant Isaac Morley may not be tempted above that which he is able to bear, and counsel wrongfully to your hurt, I gave commandment that his farm should be sold.

D&C 64:25, 29, 33-34

25 Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today.

29 Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord’s errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord’s business.

33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

34 Behold, 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.

Mosiah 24

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

Handbook 30.0

Heavenly Father gave Jesus Christ a sacred mission to fulfill (see Luke 4:18–19; John 6:38; 3 Nephi 27:14–16). During His ministry, the Savior trusted His disciples with important responsibilities (see Luke 10:1–9). Likewise, the Lord calls men and women to serve in the Church today through inspired invitations from His servants. These opportunities to serve are known as callings.

Callings give members opportunities to feel the joy of serving God by serving His children (see Mosiah 2:17). Callings also help members increase their faith and draw closer to the Lord.

It is not appropriate to aspire to specific callings in the Church (see Mark 10:42–45; Doctrine and Covenants 121:34–37). Nor do Church members “advance” from one calling to another. After serving in one calling, they should not expect to receive a calling of greater responsibility or prominence. Serving faithfully in a calling is more important than what the calling is. The Lord honors the dedication of all who serve in His Church.

One Piece

“Shanks always said that if the path to what you want seems too easy, then you’re on the wrong path.” - Luffy