Service: A Response to "Do the Right Thing at the Right Time, Without Delay" by Jose L Alonso

Elder José L Alonso of the Seventy spoke to us about service. Elder Alonso said “In our day many people are living in the midst of sadness and great confusion … not finding answers to their questions and … unable to meet their needs.” As servants of our Savior Jesus Christ—whose example we are trying to follow—it is our responsibility to help those who are lost, troubled, or seek answers. Elder Alonso expressed that it is our duty to “do the right thing at the right time, without delay.”

We must be ready to serve when we are called to serve. Elder Alonso recounted the story of how he and his wife lost their son while shopping in Mexico. It would not have been a good idea to plan on meeting a week later to decide how they were going to look for their son. They needed to act in that moment when they lost him. We must be similarly ready to act when called upon. Opportunities to serve come in many forms.

We need to be ready to help those who have passed on without a knowledge of the gospel by learning how to index and do family history.

Priesthood holders need to be prepared to go and give a blessing when called upon to do so.

We should be ready to do a difficult task, remembering that “the Lord giveth know commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

If you are the one in need of service, be ready to ask for help. People cannot read minds as much as they would love to be able to. Elder Alonso shared that “[e]veryone has opportunities to give service show love.” The way that we gain these opportunities is by people telling us about them. You will not be shunned because you ask for help. To reverse a very popular scripture on service: It is important to remember that by being served by others we are allowing them to serve God.

Not all service is done right away. Some does take planning. Be prepared to serve when called upon in the future to help those in need.

One important at of service is missionary work. Elder Alonso said “There are many who need to once again experience the sweet savor of happiness and joy through activity in the Church. That happiness comes from receiving the ordinances, making sacred covenants, and keeping the. The Lord needs us to help them.”

Doctrine&Covenants Section 4 tells us “see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength...if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; For behold the field is white already to harvest”

It said “the field IS white already to harvest” It didn't say the field will be ready two or three years from now; it said it is ready now. We must be prepared to thrust in our sickle and serve others by bringing them unto the truth and light of the gospel whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Elder Alonso quoted President Monson as saying “those whom we serve, who have felt through our labors the touch of the Master's hand, somehow cannot explain the change which comes into their lives. There is a desire to serve faithfully, to walk humbly, and to live more like the Savior.”

By serving others we not only bring ourselves closer to Christ, we bring those we are serving closer to Christ.

Elder Alonso spoke of how the Savior's life “was a life of service.” He said: “When we serve our neighbor, we help those who are in need. … As we emulate the Savior, we show our love to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and we become more like Them.”

Just as our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love all of us, we too must emulate this love for all. We can show this love by serving all of those around us. Elder Alonso shared with us this truth about our Savior's love, saying: “He blessed them one by one. That is the model the Savior has given us. His love is for all, but He never forgets the one.”

Never forget the one, for the one is just as important as the ninety and nine. Remember to serve as many as you can, but do not do this for the praise of those around you. Lose yourself in the service-it is a sweeter feeling than any felt through the praise of man.

Elder Alonso shared this quote from President Monson: “The Lord Expects our thinking. He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion.”