Service: Find Yourself

LDS Missionaries Helping to Cleanup

Flood Damage

Last week, a group of LDS (Mormon) missionaries, myself included, made our way to Roundup, Montana where severe flooding had taken place the previous week. The small town was consumed in a muddy mess, which we had the privilege of making our way through to tear out carpet, knock down dry wall, and move furniture that had been soaked by the waters of the overflowing Mussel Shell River.



Flood in Roundup, MT



As worked for hours in the muck, the knowledge I had already of service was expanded and I found that I was happy.  You may ask, is it possible to be happy when working in a pool of mud and debris for hours on end? I'll tell you from first hand experience that the words of Spencer W. Kimball rang true to me on that day. He said, "The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. We become more significant individuals as we serve others. We become more substantive as we serve others—indeed, it is easier to “find” ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!"

It is true, the tedious tasks that were at hand in Roundup brought happiness to my soul because I knew that we were helping those who were truly in need of our help. I truly realized that as we serve others, we realize our potential. As we freely give of ourselves to help others we emulate the example of Jesus Christ.

Benjamin, a prophet in the Book of Mormon tells us,"... when you are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) It is so true! As we serve others we bring ourselves closer to our Father in Heaven. As we helped the citizens of Roundup I felt as though Heavenly Father was smiling down on us, pleased with our effort.



Downtown Roundup, MT During Flood



The wonderful thing is that we can all serve. It's not limited to any one group or people. There is always some way to serve. Just smiling at someone who looks as though they are having a rough day, is a great service. There is always service to be done, and every time we help and serve others without wanting or asking for anything in return, it is almost as though you can feel heaven smiling down.

Growing up, it often felt like clouds of darkness were always over me. The pit of depression was often upon me. I was truly lost. I searched for ways to pull myself out. Serving others and losing myself by helping others was the first thing that really ever worked. I noticed that the more I served others the happier I became. Soon the desire to follow Christ came, and the desire to live more principles of the gospel followed. I'm still not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I can honestly say that through serving others, I have found myself.

The Floods Come Up

Incredible amounts of rain have poured over the Montana landscape over the passed several days. As a result from the heavy precipitation many streams, rivers, and creeks have flown over their usual boundaries, and water has ended up in the basements of homes and in the streets.

In many of the places where the rivers are beginning to flood, many people have gathered and began to place sandbags, dirt, and other barriers along the banks of the rivers to keep the water from spilling over into the town. If the water did come into town, then many homes would be ruined or even swept away, and many lives would be at risk.

As the floods of affliction and trials pour into our everyday lives, are we taking the time to sandbag and build our barrier against the adversary? Are we built upon the sure foundation, who is Christ, that we will not be swept away in the current of adversity?

In the Book of Mormon, Helaman counsels his sons to build their foundation the rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ. He says, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

 

Life's storms will beat upon us, the winds will rush against us, and the floods will come in. However, if we are built upon the sure foundation, the rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, we will not and cannot fall. Let us build up our barriers against the floods of life by immersing ourselves in the word of God, which is both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Let us call upon God through mighty prayer, not only in the face of trials, but at all times for He knows us, loves us, and with him all things are possible. Let us be built upon Jesus Christ, stand as an "...example of the believers," (1 Timothy 4:12) and be more devoted disciples of our Lord and Savior.