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(3/31/98)
"We counsel you to accept callings in the Church and to serve faithfully
in the positions to which you are called. Serve one another. Magnify
your callings. As you do so, you will be the means of blessing others
and you will increase in spirituality."—Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson,
p.454
(4/1/98)
"Some regard themselves as merely 'resting' in between Church callings.
But we are never in between as to this soaring call from Jesus: 'What
manner of men (and women) ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as
I am' (3 Nephi 27:27; see also Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48). It is never
safe to rest regarding that calling! In fact, being 'valiant' in one's
testimony of Jesus includes striving to become more like Him in mind,
heart, and attributes (D&C 76:79). Becoming this manner of men and
women is the ultimate expression of orthodoxy!"—Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Settle
This In Your Hearts", General Conference, October 1992
(4/2/98)
"Some callings and assignments in the Church may seem insignificant and
unimportant at the time, but with each willingly fulfilled assignment,
love of the Lord will grow. We learn to love God as we serve and know
Him."—Elder Marvin J. Ashton, We Serve That Which We Love,
General Conference, April 1981
(4/3/98)
"It is glorious to be a member. It is glorious to have any office or
calling in the Church, no matter how relatively humble the title may
sound. I am impressed constantly with the fact that, regardless of our
calling, we are all encouraged, we are all dedicated, and we are all
working in the service of the Master."—Henry D. Moyle, Conference
Report, October 1961, p.43
(4/4/98)
"Why is it that some young folks are almost overly conscientious in
their school work, even to neglecting their Church responsibilities,
when the spiritual should have priority in the study time of every
person if preference must be given? However, there is time for
fulfilling every need."—The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,
p.559
(11/13/04)
"Then the apostle Paul told us that the Lord had placed in His church
apostles and prophets, pastors and teachers, and evangelists for the
work of the ministry (that is the great missionary program), for the
edifying of the body of Christ (that's the teaching in our auxiliaries
and home teaching and priesthood teaching and so forth), for the
perfecting of the saints (that comes through the service that they
render), 'till we all come in the unity of the faith.' (See Eph.
4:11-13.)" - LeGrand Richards, "The
Things
of God and Man," Ensign, November 1977, p. 23
(2/11/05)
"We may be sure that if there are many children or invalids or aged in a
home, it is almost a certainty that such homes need help. O ye saints,
do not pine if you have not presidency or teaching positions. Be
anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of your own free
will. You may come nearer your heaven by the unobtrusive help you render
those standing in need of comfort, succor, and attention. You won't feel
important to the organization, but the angels will be smiling as they
record the hours of church service given to those whom the Lord loves
and to whom he personally directed his own effort-the poor, the
downtrodden, the needy, the ill, the discouraged.
"We are all church workers; those with specific assignments and those
with none are required by revelation to go to the house of prayer weekly
to offer up their oblations. We then renew our pledges to remember him
who is our Savior and to keep his commandments, the second one of which
is to remember to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Having
entered into this covenant, it is our responsibility to seek diligently
to show this love through our deeds." - S. Dilworth Young, "By
Love,
Serve One Another," Ensign, Dec. 1971, p. 67
(9/1/05)
"One who seeks to please his Heavenly
Father will serve the needs of our Father's kingdom. This Church is a
part of His divine plan. It is the kingdom of God in the earth. Its
work is important. Its work is necessary to the accomplishment of the
eternal purposes of our Father. If each of us is to please our Father
in Heaven, we must be responsive to the needs of His kingdom. We must
be willing to work wherever we are called to work and to develop our
talents so that our work will be more effective in reaching out to
those who are not members of the Church or those who are inactive in
the Church. We must be diligent in carrying forward the great work of
salvation for the dead and in every other way giving of our strength
and talent and substance to move forward and strengthen the Church.
This may involve some sacrifice, yes, but with every sacrifice comes a
blessing." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "To
Please
Our Heavenly Father," Ensign, May 1985, 50–51
11/28/05
"This church does not belong to its President. Its head is the
Lord Jesus Christ, whose name each of us has taken upon ourselves. We
are all in this great endeavor together. We are here to assist our
Father in His work and His glory, 'to bring to pass the immortality and
eternal life of man' (Moses 1:39). Your obligation is as serious in your
sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in my sphere. No calling in
this church is small or of little consequence. All of us in the pursuit
of our duty touch the lives of others. To each of us in our respective
responsibilities the Lord has said: 'Wherefore, be faithful; stand in
the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the
hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees' (D&C 81:5)."
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "This
Is
the Work of the Master," Ensign (CR), May 1995, p.69
1/7/06
"The only principle upon which position should be sought and held by the
servants of God is that they might thereby be more useful—that the field
of their usefulness might be enlarged. No man should seek to hold a
position to gratify a vain ambition to excel. And whatever the position
that may be assigned him, he should therewith be content. If an Elder's
happiness be affected by the prominence or obscurity of his station, it
is an evidence that he is dependent upon something beside the Spirit of
God for happiness; if he be appointed to labor in a humble position by
those who have the authority and he strives to fill that appointment
honorably, he will be happy—his happiness will be perfect; his joy will
be full; should his station be ever so exalted, he could be no more than
this...." - George Q. Cannon, "Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of
President George Q. Cannon," selected, arranged, and edited by Jerreld
L. Newquist, p.181
10/8/06
"The Lord in His infinite wisdom has designed His
Church to operate with a lay ministry. ... almost always there is
sincere effort to provide meaningful gospel service.
"Occasionally we find some who become so energetic in their Church
service that their lives become unbalanced. They start believing that
the programs they administer are more important than the people they
serve. ...
"As a result of their focusing too much time and energy on their Church
service, eternal family relationships can deteriorate. Employment
performance can suffer. This is not healthy, spiritually or otherwise.
While there may be times when our Church callings require more intense
effort and unusual focus, we need to strive to keep things in proper
balance. We should never allow our service to replace the attention
needed by other important priorities in our lives. Remember King
Benjamin's counsel: 'And see that all these things are done in wisdom
and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he
has strength' (Mosiah
4:27)." - M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/9/06
"First, focus on people and principles—not on programs. One of the most
important things we do through the gospel of Jesus Christ is to build
people. Properly serving others requires effort to understand them as
individuals ... so that the correct help and support can be provided.
... The primary purpose of Church leadership meetings should be to
discuss how to minister to people....
"Our goal should always be to use the programs of the Church as a means
to lift, encourage, assist, teach, love, and perfect people. 'Remember
the worth of souls is great in the sight of God' (D&C
18:10). Programs are tools. Their management and staffing must not
take priority over the needs of the people they are designed to bless
and to serve." - M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/10/06
"Second, be innovative. As we work to magnify our callings, we should
seek the inspiration of the Spirit to solve problems in ways that will
best help the people we serve. We have handbooks of instruction, and
their guidelines should be followed. But within that framework are
substantial opportunities to think, to be creative, and to make use of
individual talents. The instruction to magnify our callings is not a
command to embellish and complicate them. To innovate does not
necessarily mean to expand; very often it means to simplify.
"Being innovative also means that we do not have to be told everything we should do. The Lord said, 'It is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant' (D&C 58:26). We trust you, brothers and sisters, to use inspiration. We trust that you will do so within the framework of Church policies and principles. We trust that you will be wise in counseling together to help build faith and testimony in the lives of those whom you serve." - M. Russell Ballard, "O Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/11/06
"Third, divide the work and delegate
responsibility. There is a difference between being responsible for
getting the work done and doing the work yourself. For example, gone
should be the days when the elders quorum president feels he needs to
personally finish the home teaching visits that others have missed. Home
teaching is about love of people and service to and watch care over our
Heavenly Father's children.
"Assignments should be made, responsibilities should be delegated, and
members should be allowed to fulfill their stewardship as best they can.
Counsel, advise, persuade, motivate—but don't do the work for them.
Allow others to progress and grow, even if it means sometimes getting
less-than-perfect results on the reports." - M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/12/06
"Fifth, we need to thoughtfully allocate our
resources of time, income, and energy. I would like to let you in on a
little secret. Some of you have already learned it. If you haven't, it's
time you knew. No matter what your family needs are or your
responsibilities in the Church, there is no such thing as 'done.' There
will always be more we can do. There is always another family matter
that needs attention, another lesson to prepare, another interview to
conduct, another meeting to attend. We just need to be wise in
protecting our health and in following the counsel that President
Hinckley has given often to just do the best that we can.
"The key, it seems to me, is to know and understand your own
capabilities and limitations and then to pace yourself, allocating and
prioritizing your time, your attention, and your resources to wisely
help others, including your family, in their quest for eternal life." -
M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
10/13/06
"Sixth, a word to you leaders about extending
responsibilities to members and especially to recent converts. President
Hinckley said that every new member of the Church needs a
responsibility. Whatever responsibility may be extended should not
overwhelm new members but should give them ample opportunity to become
comfortable in the Church by learning its doctrine and by rubbing
shoulders with friendly members. It should anchor them to the restored
gospel through increasing their testimony and giving meaningful
service." - M. Russell Ballard, "O
Be Wise," Ensign, November 2006
12/26/07
"My testimony is that if we dedicate our
lives to magnifying our calling in the priesthood and awake and arise to
our opportunities, the work of our Heavenly Father will grow and prosper
until no power can stay it. This is my conviction and my testimony to
you. I pray that our Father in heaven will give us the deep and abiding
appreciation for our membership in the Church and then nudge us all to
serve as we have never served before..."
- Carl W. Buehner, "Conference
Report," October 1958,
Afternoon Meeting, p.120
11/1/08
"It is not surprising that we
feel from time to time nearly overwhelmed. Your thought that 'I'm
not sure I can do this' is evidence that you are understanding what it
means to hold the priesthood of God. The fact is that you can’t do it by
yourself. The responsibility is too difficult and too important for your
mortal powers and for mine. Recognizing that is at the foundation of
great priesthood service.
"When
those
feelings of inadequacy strike us, it is the time to remember the Savior.
He assures us that we don’t do this work alone." - Henry B. Eyring,
"O Ye That Embark," General Conference, October 2008
4/9/09
"We know that when we serve our
fellowmen, we are only in the service of our God. (See Mosiah 2:17.) We
have the responsibility to serve as though the entire future of the
Church depended upon you or upon me." -
Thomas S. Monson, Area Conference Report, Copenhagen,
1976, p. 31
12/22/09
“There is no sabbatical or retirement program
from priesthood responsibilities—regardless of age or physical capacity.
While the phrase ‘been there, done that’ may work as an excuse to avoid
skateboarding, decline the invitation for a motorbike ride, or bypass
the spicy curry at the buffet, it is not an acceptable excuse for
avoiding covenant responsibilities to consecrate our time, talents, and
resources in the work of the kingdom of God.” – Dieter
F. Uchtdorf, “Two Principles for Any Economy,” Ensign, November 2009
4/14/10
When I hear someone say they can't serve because they don't feel well, I
remember a stake I once visited in Mexico. The stake president spoke
about a lesson he learned from his wife. He said that a week before the
conference, he had scheduled some home teaching visits but came home
from work and didn't feel well. He told his wife that he guessed he
wouldn't go home teaching because he was sick. Her reply to him was, 'Go
sick!' And he went. - F. Burton
Howard, "Commitment," Ensign (CR), May 1996, p. 27
5/22/10
"There is the natural tendency to look at those who are sustained to
presiding positions, to consider them to be higher and of more value
in the Church or to their families than an ordinary member. Somehow we
feel they are worth more to the Lord than are we. It just does not
work that way!" - Boyd K. Packer, "The Weak
and the Simple of the Church," (CR) November 2007
7/12/10
"Accept every opportunity to serve in building the kingdom of God, and
I bear you my witness that as you do your part, the Lord will make you
equal to every task that you are called upon to perform." - Franklin
D. Richards, "Conference Report," October 1969, Third Day—Morning
Meeting, p. 124
6/19/12
I know that God expects us to work to purify our hearts and our
thoughts so that we may serve one another for the highest and best
reason, the pure love of Christ. - Dallin H. Oaks, "Why
Do We Serve?" Ensign (CR) November 1984
10/7/12
When the Savior called
Peter, James, John, and others, did they have experience? No, but He
told them He would train them; He would make them fishers of men. Did
His apostles and disciples make mistakes? Of course they did, but they
were given opportunity, and they learned. So will our new brothers and
sisters learn and grow as we befriend them, extend calls to them, and
nourish them with the good word of God. - Richard H. Winkel, "No
Man Is An Island," Ensign (CR) November 1999
7/29/13
To
faithful souls who labor in His service, in whatever calling,
Jesus gives the blessing of acting as His undershepherds,
charged with nourishing the sheep of His pasture and the lambs
of His fold. How do wise undershepherds fulfill that sacred
responsibility with honor and energy, striving always to be true
and faithful to the trust reposed in them? The scriptures
provide the guidelines within which faithful servants carry out
sacred tasks. - Alexander
B. Morrison, "Nourish
the Flock of Christ," Ensign (CR) May 1992
9/7/13
Now,
despite the humility with which I approach this call, I have full
confidence in my ability to perform. This, however, is not
self-confidence, but confidence in the fact that the Lord makes
every man and woman equal to the assignment that he or she is
given. Therefore, I state clearly but humbly, “I will go and do
the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord
giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall
prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he
commandeth them.” (1
Ne. 3:7.) - Glen
L. Pace, "Confidence
in the Lord," Ensign (CR) May 1985
7/5/14
At
this conference we have seen the release of some faithful brothers,
and we have sustained the callings of others. In this rotation—so
familiar in the Church—we do not “step down” when we are released,
and we do not “step up” when we are called. There is no “up or down”
in the service of the Lord. There is only “forward or backward,” and
that difference depends on how we accept and act upon our releases
and our callings. - Dallin H.
Oaks, “The
Keys and Authority of the Priesthood,” Ensign (CR) May 2014
2/14/15
Throughout life you will have a
wide variety of duties and responsibilities. Many of these are
temporary and will be relinquished upon your release. (You probably
won’t object to your release from a call to pull weeds at the
welfare farm.) But you never will be released from responsibilities
related to your personal and family development. - Russell
M. Nelson, “Personal
Priesthood Responsibility,” Ensign (CR) October 2003
3/25/15
I
conclude by bearing my witness as to the truthfulness of the gospel
of Jesus Christ. The greatest blessings we have received in our
family have been when we have been most liberal with our time, our
means, and our efforts in carrying out our responsibilities in the
Church. These blessings are available to everyone if they will but
have faith, accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then live in
conformity with its teachings. - O.
Leslie Stone, "The
Constant Exercise of Our Faith," Ensign (CR), July 1973,
p.59
4/1/15
The
procedure of sustaining is much more than a ritualistic raising of
the hand. It is a commitment to uphold, to support, to assist those
who have been selected. - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "This
Work Is Concerned with People," Ensign (CR), May 1995, p.51
5/16/15
Through personal experience I have found that when one does not have
the Spirit of the Lord, any service within the Church becomes
extremely arduous. On the other hand, when our spirits are in tune,
the powers of heaven can and do distill upon us, drenching us with
joy in serving the Lord through service to others. It is then that
our confidence waxes strong before God and the Holy Ghost becomes
our constant companion. (See D&C 121:45-46.) - Spencer
J. Condie, "In Perfect Balance," p. 85
6/18/15
Surely only the standard of excellence is the goal we should be
attempting to achieve in the assignment we have been given in Church
service. I challenge you to enthusiastically accept Church calls and
with diligence make every effort to achieve the highest level of
performance. - L. Tom Perry, "But
Be Ye Doers of the Word," Ensign (CR), May 1977, p. 59
10/28/15
Any
calling we receive in the Lord’s kingdom requires more than our
human judgment and our personal powers. Those calls require help
from the Lord, which will come. Even the new deacon will learn that
is true, and he will go on learning over the years. - Henry
B. Eyring, “You
Are Not Alone in the Work,” Ensign (CR) November 2015
2/11/16
If we are called to positions of leadership, we are accountable to
the Savior for the acts we perform in that office. Those actions are
shaped by attitudes, and attitudes are elevated while lowering our
heads in humble prayer. - Russell
M. Nelson, "Thou
Shalt Have No Other Gods," Ensign (CR), May 1996, p.14
10/22/16
Whether we are
overwhelmed or underwhelmed, whether we are scared to death or bored
to death, the Lord wants us to gear down, power up, and serve.
I see no signs that President Monson and his associates in the First
Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve are too busy or too tired.
They exemplify in an inspiring way the power that comes into our lives
as we exercise faith, accept assignments, and fulfill them with
commitment and dedication. – Carl
B. Cook, “Serve,”
Ensign (CR) November 2016
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