Serving Others is Serving Christ - LDS Talk

Matthew 25:40- “And the King [who is Christ] shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

I would like all of you whose eyes are not already closed to close them now and imagine what it would be like if you were to stand before Christ at this point in your lives, with his hands outstretched towards you waiting for you to come to him. You can see the marks in his hands and feet where he personally suffered for each of you. Now with your eyes still closed I would like you to Imagine your friends and family before you. Your parents, and siblings, closest friends and the most fond memories you have of them. Last, I would like you to imagine someone you might have just met or someone you have seen in passing or haven’t gotten along with very well. Now You can open your eyes.

Inasmuch as ye have done it [or thought it or not done it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it [or thought it, or not done it] unto me.”

Today I would like to hit on 3 points the first of which I have already introduced, second is serving others amidst trials, and third is temple work for the dead whether it be baptisms endowments or family history work.

Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren

In Matthew 25 the Savior sets forth the principle of service. He says “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:” I could add to this list lonely and you befriended me, stressed and you made me laugh, burdened and you helped me relax.

The context of this scripture is this: “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats [or those who didn't keep their covenant to be “willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort,”] on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you” for they are they who loved and served others no matter who they were.

Serving Others Amidst Trials

One of my favorite songs is “Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has anyone’s burden been lighter today because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there?”

I have found that the best way to get through trials is by doing good in the world, by helping those in need. When we are serving others and thinking about their needs above our own, this not only takes away time we had to think of our own trials, but also allows us the blessings for bing in the Lord’s service. For he said, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

This service can take many forms; yard work for a neighbor, cleaning up a park, doing your roommates dishes, inviting and offering rides to activities, visiting and home teaching, making cookies for the white house or others, and so on. (4:30)

Temple Work

One of the greatest services we can render on this earth is temple work; because these people can’t do this work for themselves.

I know from time to time some of us have thought, “Oh I don’t have time to go to the temple, because I have to get dressed and drive all 5-10 minutes to get there and then it takes another thirty minutes to an hour and a half to do” or “I don’t want to go do family history work because my Mom Sisters and Grandma are already doing it and they have made it back to Noah. (or for all those who have Fathers Brothers or Grandfathers doing the work substitute their name in those places)”

Christ took the time and suffered for what you couldn’t do for yourself; surely you could spare a few hours of your life for those people who still need to be found and need their work done.

Conclusion

That might have come off as harsh but it is the truth. I speak this for myself as well. What is more important in this life than our family; or than learning about our ancestors whether they are found or not? What is more important than the worth of that soul you helped or found or did the temple work for?

I can promise you that the blessings that come from these kinds of service are lasting. I know that after this life we won’t regret the time we spent in the service of others. It is my testimony that “when we are in the service of our fellow beings [whether dead or living] we are only in the service of our God;” and what better way to spend our time.

I know that God loves his children and that each and every person who lives, has lived, or will live have their own trials to face. He has made us, his children, this way that we may have opportunities to help and be helped. That is how we will become like him.