Love One Another and Serve One Another

During the last week of His life, the Savior reaffirmed the importance of service to others. Listing a number of basic needs—food and water, shelter, clothing, medical care, and emotional support—He instructed us to provide these resources to people in need, saying, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Many years earlier, on the American continent, King Benjamin taught the same principle to his people. “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God,” he said (Mosiah 2:17). He told them to teach their children “to love one another, and to serve one another” (Mosiah 4:15). And he listed a number of service activities which we should be involved in—”feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally” (Mosiah 4:26).

In 1832, the Lord counseled Frederick G. Williams, “Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (Doctrine and Covenants 81:5; see also Hebrews 12:12.)

Elder Steven E. Snow provided the following guidance about serving others:

1. Give service “unselfishly, with no thought of personal gain or reward.”
2. Give “as needed, not when convenient.”
3. “Look for opportunities to serve.” They may not always be obvious.
4. “It is not enough to simply say, ‘Call if there is anything I can do.’ Rather, look for ways to bless the lives of others through seemingly simple acts of service.”
5. “It is better to do even things of little consequence than to do nothing at all.”

(“Service,” General Conference October 2007)

Today I will follow the teachings of Jesus by proactively looking for ways to serve others. I will remember that my acts of service are not wasted, even when they may seem small.