Doctrine and Covenants 4:3
"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"
“Every member of the Church should be a
missionary. He is probably not authorized to go from house to house, but he
is authorized, by virtue of his membership, to set a proper example as a good
neighbor. Neighbors are watching him. Neighbors are watching his children. He
is a light, and it is his duty not to have that light hidden under a bushel,
but it should be set up on a hill that all men may be guided thereby. …
… If you will live in accordance with those
humble principles under the covenants you made at the water’s edge, and since
that time in Sacrament
meetings, and many of you in the House of God, you will fill a noble mission,
and God will reward you.”
-President David O. McKay
“Have you ever
wondered what language we all spoke when we lived in the presence of God? I
have strong suspicions that it was German, though I suppose no one knows for
sure. But I do know that in our premortal life we learned firsthand, from the
Father of our spirits, a universal language—one that has the power to overcome
emotional, physical, and spiritual barriers.
That language is the pure love of Jesus Christ.
It is the most powerful language in the
world.
This deep and
abiding influence is a language that reaches to the very soul. It is a language
of understanding, a language of service, a language of lifting and rejoicing
and comforting.
Learn to use the universal language of Christ’s love.”
-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
We read in 1 John chapter 4 that
“18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out
fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not
made perfect in love.” Conversely, he that practices and tries
for love, cannot fail, and practices the opposite of fear. What we know to be
called faith. So when we use our faith to practice love, WE will not be afraid.
A Poem from Scott Lewis and Elders from his mission:
I had been in that hole for a very
long time
In the dark and the damp, in the
cold and the slime.
The shaft was above me; I could see
it quite clear
But there’s no way I ever could
reach it from here.
Nor could I remember the world way
up there
So I lost all my hope and gave in
to despair.
I knew nothing but darkness, the
floor and the walls,
then off in the distance I heard
someone call:
“Get up! Get ready! There’s nothing
the matter.
Take rocks and old sticks and build
up a fine ladder.”
This had never occurred to me—had
not crossed my mind.
But I started to stack all the
stones I could find.
When I ran out of stones, then old
sticks were my goal,
For one way or another I’d get out
of that hole.
So I soon had a ladder that was
sturdy and tall
And I thought, “I’ll soon leave
this place once and for all.”
I climbed up my ladder. It was no
easy chore,
For from lifting those boulders, my
shoulders were sore.
I climbed on up the ladder, but
soon had to stop
For my ladder stopped short—some
ten feet from the top.
I climbed back down my ladder and
started to cry
I’d done all I could do. I gave my
best try.
And in spite of my work, in this
hole I must die.
And all I could do was to sit and
think, “Why?”
Was my ladder too short? Or my hole
much too deep?
Then from way up on high came a
voice, “do not weep.”
And then faith, hope, and love
entered into my chest
As the voice said to me that I’d
done my best.
He said, “You’ve worked very hard,
and your labor’s been rough,
But the ladder you’ve built is at
last tall enough.
Do not despair. You have reason to
hope.
Just climb up your ladder; I’ll
throw down my rope.”
I climbed up the ladder, then
climbed up the cord.
When I got to the top, there stood
the Lord.
I couldn’t be happier; my struggle
was done.
I blinked at the brightness that
came from the Son.
I fell to the ground, His feet did
I kiss
I cried, “What can I do to repay
thee for this?”
Then He looked all about Him. There
were holes in the ground.
They had people inside, and were
seen all around.
There were thousands of holes that
were damp, dark, and deep
The Lord turned to me and He said,
“Feed my sheep.”
Then He went on His way to help
other lost souls,
And I got right to work, calling
down to the holes:
“Get up! Get ready! There’s nothing
the matter.
Take rocks and old sticks and build
up a fine ladder.”
It now was my turn to spread the
good word.
The most glorious message that man
ever heard.
That there’s one who is willing to
save one and all
And we’ve got to be ready when He
gives the call.
He’ll pull us all out of the hole
that we’re in
And save all our souls form death
and from sin.
So do not lose faith; there is
reason to hope
Just build up your ladder; He’ll
throw down His rope.
"I think there is a reason that the first two commandments are to do with love. And I believe it has to do with the idea that charity never faileth."
