Lesson: Being Hands of the Lord

Two weeks ago, I overheard grandma and my Aunt Wendy going over who was going to teach a lesson in Relief Society for the first Sunday of the month and I got excited and volunteered myself. They seemed surprised, I think because typically one of the Relief Society presidency teaches on that day every month, but they were pleased that I offered and allowed me to do it. The topic grandma gave me was “Hands of the Lord: Service” and I got in particular excited about this because 1. I feel like this is something I am close to, especially with all of the things I’ve been thinking about and experiencing the last few months and 2. Because service is something that I desperately need to learn more about and get more action in my life. I find it hard to get motivated about it and seeing an opportunity for teaching as also an opportunity to learn, I thought this would be a good topic for me.

Well, today, I got to give my lesson and I am so pleased! I prayed really hard for guidance while working on it and before the lesson that I would feel guided by the Spirit. It is important to me to know that I’m not alone up there because I need the Spirit in order to teach, for it to touch people and for them to hear what Heavenly Father needs them to hear. I didn’t have any experiences like I did when I said prayer that one time - my mind blank and words filling my mouth from an unknown source - but there was a confidence in me that defied my anxiety and several people during the discussion parts gave stellar input and told wonderful stories. Not only did they understand but they shared with me and the rest of the class things that were impactful and real. In that way, I felt the Spirit strongly and a couple of times I was able to skip over things that were not relevant or had already been brought up in my lesson plan. That’s one problem I have, is writing too much, so, it was good that I was guided to know with a glance what was important and what I could do without.

Anyway, here is that lesson. I left in the question parts but did not put in the things the sisters said. I figured I’d just leave this bare bones and write about those comments another time.

My lesson today is on “Being the hands of the Lord through service.” A lot of times when I hear the word “service” I feel a little intimidated and chagrined right from the start. A lot of people’s ideas about service have to do with big community projects or outreach type programs – going to a soup kitchen, visiting a retirement home, etc. And if you’re like me, it is easy to find reasons not to get involved and feel discouraged by these big events and big ideas. So, when I got the topic for this lesson, my main goal for it was to find ways in which to motivate people, including myself, to do service. To get us pumped up and excited about it, rather than getting mucked up and bogged down in the bigger picture of obedience to the Lord, consecration, and treating it in general like a chore added onto a list of life’s demands.

First, let’s read Alma 17:9-11:

9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.

10 And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted.

11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

·        How does God reach His people to do work among them?

·        Does He go personally?

He reaches them through us. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ don’t go knocking door to door, like “Hey, I’m here to teach you about me and my plan for mankind.” He doesn’t teach us from a cloud. Most of the time people aren’t sitting around having mind-blowing spiritual experiences all by themselves. The Holy Ghost has a still small voice and if people aren’t aware of it or aren’t looking for it, a lot of times they can’t find it on their own.

There was a story in the September 2016 New Era called “Go See Rebecca.” It was about two sister missionaries who served in Illinois and a woman they were teaching named Rebecca. She was very passionate about the gospel but she lived a great distance away from the church building and where these sisters lived. Zone conference was scheduled and would put these sisters out in Rebecca’s area and they called to ask if she would be home for them to teach her on that day. She would not as she had to work that day. Well, the day of the zone conference came and the sisters had time left over afterwards.

The one sister offered the idea that they should go out to see Rebecca and the other sister was confused by that because they knew she wouldn’t be home. Then she felt a pulling inside her, almost like a force physically drawing her to visit this woman and, following the promptings of the Spirit, they turned the car around and went to Rebecca’s house. They knocked twice on the window to Rebecca’s basement apartment and were discouraged by the lack of response, since they both felt they were supposed to be there that day. They knocked again and just when they were about to leave, Rebecca answered the door. She explained that she was home that day because she’d been fired from her job and she’d actually been praying that they would visit her.

I just love stories like that. I’ve had several experiences in my life where prayers were answered by other people in coincidental situations that were too good to be true. Just a perfect lining up of events that showed me the Lord’s hand through their actions. A quote from Spencer W. Kimball says: God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom. So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds!"

Read Matthew 25:34-40

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

·        What does this mean to you?

I had a sort of epiphany this Christmas season when we had the Light the World initiative and that video they kept showing us. I think I saw it 3 or 4 times but I really love it. I liked the connection it made in showing Christ doing acts of service and then it would cut to someone in our modern day, doing something similar, and a lot of times almost the same postures and gestures as Christ used in the previous clip. It really hammered home the point of us being His direct representatives here on Earth. Then we read this scripture around the same time in Gospel Principles class and I made the extra connection that not only are we His hands but those we help become His surrogates. By helping our fellow brothers and sisters, it is as if we are helping Jesus himself, broken in spirit or needing our help.

·        What are some things we can do to help other people? What are some examples of service? (List them on the board)

·        What are some things that keep us from serving others? Like, what are some things that hold us back from doing everything that we should be doing for other people? (List them on the board)

Read Mosiah 4:24

24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.

A lot of times, when I hear this scripture, it can make it easy for me to say “I can’t” when I am asked to serve. There’s so much that I feel helpless about, that I fall short on. I don’t have a lot. I can barely feed myself, I don’t have nice, new clothes. Until getting some charity of my own from my family, I had not bought myself new shirts or pants in almost 4 years. And it’s not like I’m going out and having a good time, blowing money on shopping sprees or going on long trips. It’s just bills, expenses, and generally looking after my bare minimum well-being. What could I possibly have to offer someone else?

Or, I’m busy. I have family responsibilities, chores around the house, errands to run during the day. With my list of things to do added onto the list of stuff I don’t have, the calculations end up at zero. There is nothing to give. What I do have is so little that I cannot afford to give any of it away. Plus, add onto that the risk of helping those who don’t want to be helped. Who aren’t appreciative or who might reject me because they doubt my motives.

I realize though, that sometimes I set pretty low standards for myself. When I start looking around and I’m honest with myself, I actually do have a lot of time to give. Right after going through the checkout line or gas station it is easy to say, “Welp! There’s nothing in my wallet or bank account now! What help could I possibly give to anybody else?”

·        What are some things we can do that don’t cost anything though? What are some ways to serve people that are more valuable to them than money or gifts?

(optional personal story) When I had the idea to do scripture study with my family, I was worried at first about not having enough time. Ben had ball practice until 6 p.m. every day of the week and some days the kids spent with their dad. It felt like our window in which to fit this amount of study and discussion in was too small. But when we actually sat down to do it, not only did we find time for that but it was like time opened up for us. Ben still got home at 6 but there was a big window of time between that and scripture study in which we found time to do other things as a family. And the schedule for the visits with dad changed so that we weren’t juggling that on top of everything else.

(optional personal story) Cards are ridiculous prices nowadays but being an artist, it is often easy for me to doodle and create things. Instead of watching a series of Youtube videos and losing track of my evening, I can set aside time to make my own card for someone. Anyone can really. It doesn’t have to be flashy or on expensive card stock. You can fold a piece of printer paper in half and doodle a little something on the front and put a thoughtful message inside. Even being an artist as I am, do you know how much that would mean to me, to get something like that? On a day when I’ve just had enough, to get a card with a silly drawing and “I was thinking of you today” inside, how much that would just uplift me and make my mood better? I know Heavenly Father is always there and always available and attentive to my needs but it is sometimes hard to hear Him as loudly as I would like. A card or comment from someone else is an acknowledgement of me, a validation, a feeling of not being alone

(optional personal story) We often shortchange ourselves and how much of an impact we can really have. I used to work as a cashier at Price Chopper and I can testify to you, the power of a smile. Someone comes through my line very rude or grumpy, I can give in to the urge to be rude back, to close myself up and passive aggressively “punish” them. “Oh, you’re going to treat me like that? Well, I guess you just don’t get a smile from me today!” I could do this in the hopes that they will realize how they have mistreated me and feel shamed for it…but most of the time this is not what happens. Most people don’t realize how they come across or they’re already so wrapped up in a victim-state of defensiveness that me being snooty and rude to them is “just one more thing piled on to their bad day.”

Only occasionally did I fall into this trap to give in to that natural emotional state. Most of the time, I saw it as a challenge. “Alright, I’m going to get a smile out of you before your order is over, Mister!” I can forgive them for their attitude and try to do everything I can to make their day better. Talking in understanding tones, being helpful and friendly, smiling; by the end of the order 8 times out of 10, after treating them like a friend who is having a bad day, there was an observable change in these people’s demeanors and tone and I have actually made a lot of friends that way. People who upon that first meeting were gruff and nasty, would come back another visit and wait behind 4 or 5 people just to see me.

A kind word, a bit of patience, and a smile. The bare minimum I could possibly do and how much of an impact I have made upon their day! This too is part of the Lord’s work and probably just as tough as getting out there and doing actual service, is just biting your tongue, swallowing your pride and looking to make someone else feel good about a bad situation.

•      Any thoughts or comments?

Read D&C 64:33

33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

·        What sticks out to you in this scripture? How does this make you feel about service?

Read Luke 12:29-31

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 ¶But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

·        What is He saying here? What is He promising us?

I should not cling to the meager things I have – all things He has given to me – because He promises to make sure all of my needs are met. He’s not going to demand this job from us and then leave us in need of help. He’s telling us, “Don’t worry about it.” He’s telling us to trust Him, to have faith in His ability to provide for me too, if I am just willing to help Him serve His other children. That seems like a really great guarantee to have, that whether here or in the next life, I don’t have to sit here and count all my things and make sure I have enough. I don’t have to sit here and weigh whether or not I can spare anything for another. He is giving me a 100% guarantee that if I follow Him, I shall never want for anything, both in spirit and in physical things.

•      Any thoughts or comments?

We all know the story of the Little Red Hen and how she had this plan to bake some bread, starting from the very beginning with planting the wheat. Through each step of the process, planting it, tending it, cutting it, then grinding it into flour, she asked all the other farm animals for help, and all of them responded with, “Not I.” Over and over again. None of them wanted any part in helping her. But when it came time to eat the bread that she baked, when they were asked if any of them would help her, all of them were super eager to offer their assistance. “Oh, I will!” they said.

·        Do any of the other animals deserve bread?

·        What are some of the reasons we might find it difficult to help someone? In what ways do they make it difficult for us to feel like it’s worth it?

Read Mosiah 4:16-18.

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

·        What exemptions does this say we should put on who we help? Are we supposed to make judgements against people and find reasons they are not worthy of our help? Why not?

My brother Daniel is 21 and for a while after he graduated, he didn’t have a job. He would sleep all day and then play video games all night. And he would eat…and leave dishes. All of the other kids in our family have been trained to do their dishes right after use, so, the only dishes left in the sink would always be Daniel’s. And me, being his older sister, couldn’t ever tell him anything. I was not in charge, so, if I ordered him around, bugged him to do something, or even just asked, it would start an argument between us. Mom would ask him to do his dishes and the response would always be, “Yeah, uh-huh, I’ll get to it.” We’d be left waiting until the cows came home for this boy to do his dishes!

Well, I got a very huffy attitude about this and would not offer to help or do them. Why should I do the dishes for this grown, adult man! Spoiled baby! Do your own dishes! But then I started to watch what happened. My mother would need to use the sink for something, or a particular dish for dinner that was dirty from Daniel’s cooking. Having asked him a million times and still finding the sink full of his dishes, she’d give up, stressed and frustrated and either do them herself or ask one of my other siblings to do them. They’re good kids, so, they were only too happy to help, especially if monetary incentive was offered. But still, those weren’t their dishes either.

I thought about my own mindset towards my brother and how unforgiving that was and how being stubborn wasn’t any more peaceful than arguing. I thought about how I could set an example for him, what it is like to have his things taken care of when they weren’t asked and how that might impact him if he were of the Spirit to notice. I thought about how I’d be serving my mother to take care of these dishes, so that she wasn’t left frustrated or stressed. I thought about serving my siblings, who didn’t deserve this extra burden put upon them. It was something that I was forced to self-analyze, actually fairly recently, in regards to this topic.

Read Mosiah 4:19

19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

·        We all have sinned, right? We’ve all been a little rebellious and done something we know we shouldn’t have. When you turned to God and asked Him for help, did He turn you away?

The Atonement doesn’t just work for ourselves but it can work for other people as well. We’ve all been there, a little lazy, a little selfish, a little arrogant, and a little naïve. It doesn’t seem fair to look outside at someone, not knowing their hearts or their struggles, and say “That’s not good enough.” From our positions of safety, albeit small as it is because we still sin(now we just sorta know better), we shouldn’t use it to condemn others but to lift them up. Joseph Smith said: “The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs.”

•      Any thoughts or comments?

Read Alma 29:9-10

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.

·        What sticks out to you in this scripture?

It is not just that we know what it is like to be sinners and still loved but we also know how good it feels to have our needs provided for us by the Lord. It is like getting birthday gifts; we all know what it is like to get something we truly need and want from someone who loves us and is sensitive to those needs. Wouldn’t we want that for others?

It’s good to be sensitive to the Spirit and it helps a lot to know when you’re being prompted. But I think it is putting the cart before the horse to wait to be prompted before you go out and serve. I think we can often use our self-absorbed feelings, like anxiety or depression as excuses to stay home, but once we get out there and just start doing, we can start having that impact on others and feel those changes upon ourselves as well. So, by all means, develop yourself spiritually and work on that but don’t use that as an excuse to wait. Service builds faith and invites the Spirit as well.

(optional) A lot of ancient cities were defined as wicked because they were rich, selfish, and arrogant. I think what it gets right down to, not only the sinful part but that they were not willing to be tools for the Lord. If there’s all these poor people starving to death and dying in a city, or there’s people who are looking for answers and open to the Spirit, hungry for another way, but no one willing to teach them, no one willing to reach them, no one willing to do good deeds and help each other…how does God reach those people in that city? They often were full of people who would mock or try to kill the prophets who told them they should be serving God and serving each other. Their unwillingness to do that was so deep, they had the desire to take the life of another rather than even hear about it.

We can sit here and talk all we want about service and the idea of service but we are asked to actually act and do. We have His guarantee of not only being provided for just by the necessity of being faithful and obedient but also His belief in us and our capabilities. Not only that but through the words of His prophets, we are told that even the smallest things we can do to change our perspectives and reach out for those small connections can have a major impact. It counts! A smile, a comment, a phonecall, they count! It is about being a willing vessel, a willing tool, His willing hands. Instead of thinking “What have I to gain from this?”  the question really becomes “What have I got to lose?”

I know that we are urged to love one another to bring about His kingdom not only here on earth but the plan of salvation in the life after this. I know that I can’t do any of this without Him, and I know, if I obey Him, He will gladly give me all the help I need. He will not only provide the opportunities but He will provide the means as well, if we just try. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.