Service

Hello Brothers and Sisters.

As I was saying my morning prayers, and writing in my Prayer Journal, I thought of an old friend from my childhood. I was asking for opportunities to serve, and do missionary work. I thought of this friend when I was speaking that prayer, and felt a very strong impression to write a letter to them.

This person is suffering a great addiction, and continues to make poor choices that hurt this person and their family. Being a person who has suffered from addiction as well, I felt the need to share my experience, and let this person know that it is hard, and it is painful, but that this can be overcome through the Atonement of our Savior. I knew how this person would react, how they would be disgusted that someone would dare suggest God was answer. After all, God is for fools, a bedtime story told to idiots and children to keep them in line.

I knew they would think this because I used to think the same things. I used to hate the very idea of God. At one point in my life, the mention of His name, or Jesus name filled me with anger, rage. As I write that, I'm ashamed. I'm so filled with sorrow for the person I used to be. I can hardly fathom that for years I reviled Him, and rebuked Him, and cursed His name, yet He loves me. More than I can ever comprehend in this life. Every single time I screw up, I make a mistake, I sin, I err, I do wrong, when the right is presented to me. Every time I feel a prompting from Him and do otherwise, he still loves me. I can't imagine any being on this Earth being capable of that kind of love, save a parent. He truly is a loving, caring, compassionate Father to us all.

I remember an experience I had last week as I was driving home from school. I saw a man pushing a minivan in the center lane, and I felt a strong urge to pull up behind him and offer my assistance.

But I kept on driving.

Why?

This brother was in need, and I saw that, and He told me to help him... and I kept driving. And as I drove past, I felt a deep pang of sorrow and sadness, and I knew that I had rejected His voice in my life to offer service, to let Him work through me for my fellow man. Tears welled in my eyes as I looked back and saw 2 other cars pull in to help.

I'm so thankful that the Lord sent others to help out this man. But I know that won't always be the case. I gave a lesson on Service in church yesterday, and one of the brothers in the class related a story he had heard of a sister who was baptized into the church in her 80's. When she received her Patriarchal blessing, she was told that had a brother been diligent in his duties, she would have received the gospel, and it's blessings in her youth.

What a horrible thought. To think that my inaction could rob someone of the joy and peace of the gospel for so many years is terrifying. I hope that we might all learn from that example, and follow the Lord's voice whenever it prompts us to give service. For when we are in the service of our fellow man, we are only in the service of our god, and we will receive great blessings by doing His work. I hope that in the course of my following His promptings in writing the letter, I can bring one of His children back to the fold.

I love you, my Brothers and Sisters,
Taylor