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As I have pondered various discussions regarding fulfilling home teaching assignments and serving faithfully in the Church, I have come to realize that my running is kind of like serving in the church in some regards. Service in the church should be a labor of love, but it takes effort sometimes to reach a point where service becomes more than simply fulfilling one’s duty.

For example, I do not like to run. It is a labor for me to get out of bed every morning and go for a run. However, I have come to realize through consistent effort that running is good for me. I have lost weight, gained much needed cardio-vascular strength, I feel better, and I feel healthier; all blessings of keeping the Lord’s law of health. This testimony, although I still don’t love running yet, is what keeps me running. I also have come to recognize that despite how I feel when I have to get out of bed to start my run, whenever I complete my run I am always glad I ran. I have a fulfilling feeling of satisfaction that I accomplished something good. I recognize Heavenly Father’s blessings in my life because of my efforts.

Often times this parallels service in the Church. Many times in my life I have fulfilled callings and assignments simply because of duty, because it was expected of me. However, as I have consistently fulfilled those assignments, I have come to recognize the associated blessings, despite my fulfilling them for the wrong reasons. I think this is why so often the scriptures refer to laboring in the vineyard. Service in the church is a labor and it takes effort to develop a love of that labor. But when we perform our labor sincerely and consistently, it becomes a labor of love and hearts are softened, attitudes changed, and we begin to serve not because of duty or expectation, but because we love those we serve.

President Thomas S Monson recently taught: “Miracles are everywhere to be found when the priesthood is understood, its power is honored and used properly, and faith is exerted. When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes.” (April 2012 General Conference – Willing and Worth to Serve)

I believe that arriving at the point where we achieve true selfless service takes effort. It is not something usually achieved in a brief flash of church service, but only comes through years of dedicated and consistent fulfilling of priesthood duties and responsibilities. It comes as we magnify our callings and come to love the labor to which we are called.

Brethren, the world is in need of our help. Are we doing all we should? Do we remember the words of President John Taylor: ‘If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty.’ There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The blessings of eternity await you. Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but participants on the stage of priesthood service.”
—President Thomas S. Monson, “Willing and Worthy to Serve”, General Conference, Apr. 2012

Elder Jeffrey R Holland

“In fact, it ought to be a matter of great doctrinal consolation to us that Jesus, in the course of the Atonement, experienced all of the heartache and sorrow, all of the disappointments and injustices that the entire family of man had experienced and would experience from Adam and Eve to the end of the world in order that we would not have to face them so severely or so deeply. However heavy our load might be, it would be a lot heavier if the Savior had not gone that way before us and carried that burden with us and for us.” (Lessons from Liberty Jail – Ensign September 2009)

“Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” (None Were with Him – April 2009 General Conference)