Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho

"Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, It's off to work we go." ~The Seven Dwarfs.  A lot is to be said about the Seven Dwarfs in the movie Snow White.  One of the first scenes in the movie has the dwarfs marching in single file and singing the song previously quoted.  Why are they so happy to be off to work?  That has always puzzled me. 

It hasn't been until a couple of years ago that I've really enjoyed helping others.  I used to look at it as more of work.  I was working to benefit someone else.  Though that is true, I still didn't have the right mind set while doing it.  Moroni 7:6 says, "...for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing."

The act of helping others consists of two separate, but equally important, parts.  The service itself is only half of it.  In order to successfully serve others, we must have the right mindset while doing it, which is the other half.  We could do all the service in the world, but without the proper mindset, it would profit us nothing.  We should all strive to have the mindset of those seven dwarfs who were happy as can be to go to work.  If we have that attitude while we serve others, we will be able to see the daily blessings that come from genuine service.

You Just Got Served!

As I've been on my mission, I've thought a lot about how I can be the best missionary I am capable of becoming.  A ton of ideas fly through my head each day of how I can improve.  In my opinion, it all boils down to service.  While on my mission, I devote 2 whole years to serving the Lord in whatever way he asks.  It's the least I can do to repay him for everything that he's blessed me with.

The service that I'm doing is helping more than just the people I serve.  It helps me every day.  King Benjamin, a righteous king in the Book of Mormon, explains the important of service in Mosiah 5:13, which reads, " For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"  From this scripture we find that service can help us as well. 

If we live our lives only thinking of ourselves, then we won't know too much about the people around us.  We'll be too busy tending to our own needs to take them, or their feelings, into consideration.  This scripture applies to our Heavenly Father as well.  How can we know him and what he wants for us if we never serve him?  The servant must serve the master to be able to better know the master's will. 

Jesus Christ himself said, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew 10:34).  If we lose our life in the service of God, we will find it.  I am a witness of that.  As I've been on my mission, I've discovered things about myself that I would've never known if I would have passed up this opportunity.  The things learned and the experiences gained will benefit me the rest of my life.  The same can happen to you if you put that scripture to use.  There's no end to the blessings that will come because of it. 

It's Always Worth it

So we had a pretty good snow storm the other day.  Me and a couple of Elders went out to shovel some walks/driveways.  My shovel wasnt my favorite.  It got stuck on every bump, crack or dip.  It was pretty frustrating.  But I knew that I was doing the right thing.  I had one more house left, and their walks. 

I kept having a conversation in my mind while I was shoveling.  Like two shoulder angels were arguing.  One kept saying, "You've done enough.  This last person can get their own driveway shovelled."  The other one responded with, "You've only got one left.  Just do it!"  Back and forth this was going on. 

Sometimes this is what life feels like.  It always seems like when we are doing the most good, the most opposition comes.  When we are trying to shovel others sidewalks, the sidewalk cracks get more and more persistent.  We can't let this get us down.  So back to the story.

I decide to go ahead and shovel the last houses walk despite the negative voice in the back of my mind.  I forgot about myself and my troubles, and just went to work.  It was by far the worst driveway I did.  While I was finishing up, the person living in this particular house came out and thanked me for doing this.  He said he was in a rush to get to work, and didnt have time to do it.  How grateful I was that I endured to the end. 

Life can be tough.  It can bring us down and wear us out.  But we must press on.  No matter how much opposition there is, we must continue doing that which we know is right.  My testimony of that increased today, thanks to a snow storm.  And how awesome will it be to have the Savior thank us for the work that we have done when we've finished.  It's always worth it.