Service of God

                Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when we teach the importance of service to the rising generation.  We, as parents and grandparents, have the God-given responsibility to teach our children and youth to love and serve each other.  We must teach them that some of the most important work we can ever do will be that which we do within the walls of our own homes.

                There are opportunities all around us to serve others.  We can teach the rising generation the importance of serving by encouraging them to look for ways to help others people as they go through their daily activities and then report back to the family.  We must teach them that they are serving God as they serve His children.  Some of the most important acts of service are expressed through “everyday acts of kindness” (For the Strength of Youth, 32).

                The righteous King Benjamin taught this truth to his people, “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Christ, Mosiah 2:17).

                We can teach our children to use their talents to bless others.  A good example of one who does this is Kuha’o, a blind 15-year-old piano prodigy who shares his God-given musical gift freely in order to bless all who hear him.

                Another way to teach children to serve is to involve them in service projects.   Even little children can help bake cookies to share with the neighbors or helping a neighbor with work in their yard.

                I know that we can strengthen our families, communities, and nations by teaching the rising generation by precept and example to serve other people.