How has service blessed your life?

"Harold B. Lee once said: “If you want to love God, you must learn to love his children and to love serving his children. No person loves God unless he loves his service and unless he loves our Heavenly Father’s children.” Conversely, Deiter F. Ucthdorf said: “The divine love of God turns ordinary acts into extraordinary service.” I have come to know that service, and love are inextricably connected. With service comes love though not in the way I initially believed. The person receiving the service does not necessarily love the person making the sacrifice. That person may not even realize a sacrifice is being made. The person giving the service, when offered with the humble motive of love of God, gains love for those he serves. The more he serves the more he loves and the more he loves to serve. The thing most intriguing to me about this principle is that love is expansive. When we humbly serve a person and gain love for them, it does not diminish in any way the love you have for others. Our capacity to love knows no bounds. When we serve others, and feel our love increase, we truly glimpse the infinite! Service has made all the difference in my life in bringing me closer to God by the realization that the human condition is universal. Know one individual can lift himself above another, We all stand in need of the service Jesus Christ offers to be made whole."

-Maury

"Service is the way we show love, care, and charity for all of God's children. I have learned that it is the small and simple acts of service we do each day that lift heavy hearts and bring relief to the secret suffering of those around us. I asked my dad one day what i could do to serve my family even though i am away at college. He said that i should take care of myself, and do well in school. This was very meaningful to me, and i think my father is very wise. He knows that i have a desire to help my family, and while i am away, the best i can do that is through my good example to my younger brothers and sisters, as well as my success in securing a future for myself so i will not have to be a burden to my family at a later date. Through visiting teaching, i have learned that i can serve my girls everyday by praying for them by name, and trying to include their specific needs in my communication with Heavenly Father. It is always so touching to me when hear that others pray for me, and it is a pleasure to serve my friends, ward members, and family through heartfelt prayers in their behalf.

Service blesses my life because as i serve those who are hard to love, i develop a love for them, and begin to understand them and their needs. This lifts the burden of my own pride from my shoulders as i let go of preconceived notions about some people and love more freely. I often feel a sense of accomplishment, a peaceful feeling, and a feeling of joy come into my life when i serve others. Those i serve often help me more than i help them in the process. One example of this was when i recently went to a nursing home to sing to the elderly there with a group of my girl friends. I was worried because i do not always know what to say to people who are in a different stage of life than me, and it is often difficult for me to interact with these people because i am shy. However, after we sang to this particular group, they cheered us on and asked for more singing. The residents were so welcoming, so kind, and complimented us many times on not just our singing, but also our personalities. They asked us to come again soon. I left the nursing home full of love for those people, and with a huge smile on my face. I know that as i strive to serve others, i will become more like Jesus Christ."

- Megan

How has the power of prayer impacted your life?

"One of our Senior Sister missionaries in the Canada Toronto West mission where I was mission president from July 2004 through August 2007 has gone on another mission. Her name is Trudi Smith and she is now serving in Australia. Recently she wrote the following concerning answers to prayers:

'On monday, Preparation-day, we drove out to the state park and drove all the way through the park and saw nothing (this is where we saw the 2 kangaroos before). I suggested to Sister Lee that we take one of the little dirt roads through the park, so we did. We saw some beautiful scenery and some beautiful birds but no Kangaroos. I told Sister Lee, 'When we had prayer we didn't ask Father to let us see Kangaroos!'

She said, 'You are right,' so we had another prayer. About two minutes later two large kangaroos almost ran over us.....Well not really, but they were only 8-10 feet in front of our car. As we continued to drive we saw 8 more.'

The Lord will reward us even in small things when we ask in faith. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you." "

-Alan (LDS Bishop)

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"As a young man I didn't understand much about prayer...only that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is interested in us and wants us to pray to him. Over time and years of experience my prayers have become much more sincere and meaningful. I communicate in prayer 'as one man communicates to another' but with much more humility and caution; recognizing that He does hear me. I understand now he He is the Living Water from which we will never thirst; that I can go to him for comfort, direction, answers and blessings that I seek. I know he hears and answers me and that his answers are personal to me. My relationship with him, my understanding of His ways, have been strengthened; and now I know that it will only get better if I continue to pray."

-Rod

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"There have been many instances where I knew that Heavenly Father heard and answered my prayers, but I think the most important ones haven't been when I'm in danger, when I lost something, or any other incredibly dire circumstance such as that. Rather, I understand Heavenly Father's love for me when he answers the prayers that are pleas for comfort, guidance, or simply me expressing some concern I have and feeling instant peace. These moments constantly show me that Heavenly Father hears and answers every prayer, no matter how small."

-Krystal

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"For me understanding that when I pray I am praying to an all knowing and all-powerful God allows me to be completely honest with my feelings, desires, hopes, and needs. I learned a while ago that prayer isn't just a humdrum activity that should be done morning and night. For me prayer has allowed me to talk openly with a being that loves me unconditionally and knows my intentions even when I can't articulate things. To be able to have open communication with my Gods (Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ) allow me to progress forward in the Lord’s plan when the world seems to be falling backwards. I know that prayer is the communication highway for me to receive personal revelation, promptings, and to feel the Lords love he has for me individually. Christ lives and he listens and answers my prayers."

-Heather

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"Prayer has been a consistent source of comfort in my life. With its fair share of curveballs, life as a college student is far from easy. Some days I feel great about who I am. However, there are days I do not. That being said, daily prayer to my Father in Heaven has kept me more consistent in the way I feel about myself. I’ve discovered that God answers the majority of my prayers through the actions of others. He comforts me through caring friends, roommates, family members, random strangers, and (of course) through the Holy Spirit. I’m sure life’s curveballs will continue to frustrate me through failed relationships, slow processes of learning, and the trials that unexpectedly turn my life upside down. However, I know God holds me to be of great worth. Thus, he comforts me whenever I ask Him."

-Graden

Feel free to send in your own testimony/stories about prayer to: hislovingarmsblog@gmail.com.