Brothers and sisters, it is a privilege for me to be here with you this evening to celebrate your accomplishments in graduating from BYU-Idaho. Your labors, combined with the invaluable service you have received from faculty, administrators, and staff, have enabled you to achieve this important milestone event in your life. Although you have worked diligently to attain this educational goal, your success this day is also due to the love and support from these kind and caring personnel at BYU-Idaho, along with the ever-present support of your family and friends. Please be certain to reach out and thank those who have played such an essential role in your educational achievements, for they are examples of the admonition that "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."[1] Their service to you has blessed your life in rich and marvelous ways and will continue to bear fruit in your life as you likewise abound in good works.[2] Service to others always brings feelings of eternal joy in the life of the giver, just as it does in the life of the receiver.
Throughout my life I have been impressed with the service I have observed offered by others, many times without their even knowing that their selfless labors were being noticed.
Some time ago, I was on my way to work early on an autumn morning. I exited the train I was on and transferred to a bus that would take me the rest of the way to my office. As I was looking out the window of the bus, observing the city coming to life on that particular day, I saw something that made me sit up and take notice. There, walking up the sidewalk adjacent to the road on which I was traveling, was an individual I knew fairly well who works in an adjacent department. Much to my surprise, I observed that he was picking up garbage as he walked up the street. He picked up trash that had been thrown on the grass that bordered the sidewalk and picked up trash that had been thrown into the gutter. By the time my bus passed by him, I could see that his arms were full of dirty garbage, pressed against his clean suit, while at the same time he was trying to balance a large and probably heavy briefcase. He was walking alone, and he likely had no idea that somebody he knew would be observing him.
Seeing him perform this good deed without any expectation of being noticed or recompensed made me reflect upon how important it is to serve our fellowmen simply to help make our corner of the world a better place. I know that this selfless act was not reported in the media and that people who walked up that same sidewalk shortly thereafter would never know that there had previously been much litter strewn along their path. But this individual made that small stretch of sidewalk and gutter much more beautiful for those who would follow him. I can only speculate that he also received a very real sense of satisfaction as he patterned his life after the example of the master giver of service, the Lord Jesus Christ. As you serve others, you will likewise be blessed, "for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."[3]
You will have many opportunities for service throughout your life. President Thomas S. Monson said that "most service given ... is accomplished quietly, without fanfare. A friendly smile, a warm handclasp, a sincere testimony of truth can literally lift lives, change human nature, and save precious souls."[4] These opportunities for service need not always be planned or orchestrated in advance but may be spontaneous in nature, thus allowing you to follow the Spirit as He directs you for good. Preach My Gospel teaches missionaries that unplanned service "involves listening to the Spirit to recognize opportunities for small, simple acts of kindness that you can offer to God's children." Missionaries are counseled to "pray and be aware of opportunities throughout each day to do good."[5] That same counsel would apply to each of us if we truly desired to make a difference in the life of a loved one, a neighbor, or even a stranger. As you engage in small acts of kindness to others, you will be more responsive to the promptings of the Spirit and will be better prepared to receive the heavenly help you desire that will be vital to true and lasting success in life.
You might ask yourself, "Where can I turn to find opportunities for service?" Organizations such as United Way have many volunteer opportunities listed on their websites, as does the Church's relatively new site JustServe.org, for those desiring to serve.
To be better prepared to render service of any type--planned or unplanned--you should prepare yourselves by seeing that your own life is in order--spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially. Once you are self-reliant in those important areas, it will be far easier to help lift others to a higher plane so that they too can enjoy the blessings you receive.
Serving others is typically more effective when you have put in the necessary time and effort to be prepared to help someone else who is struggling. As you look for opportunities to serve, you will have great success if you look for areas in which you already have an interest or a strength. This way you can be a ready and effective instrument in God's hands to lift others to the elevated place where the Savior stands.
You might potentially miss out on wonderful service opportunities if you are not prepared ahead of time to be of help. An excellent example of this was related by President George Albert Smith, the eighth President of the Church.
After World War II, President Smith met with United States president Harry S. Truman to inquire about his potential interest in having the Church ship food, clothing, and bedding to war-torn Europe. At first President Truman discouraged President Smith from doing so, because he said that the Europeans had no money to pay for these relief services.
When President Smith explained that the Church wanted to donate these goods, President Truman asked how long it would take to get the shipments ready. President Smith replied that the shipments were ready to transport and distribute because the Church had been involved for some time in the storing of food, grain, and livestock that could be made available immediately during this time of need. Because the Church was prepared ahead of time, they could satisfy an urgent need for food, clothing, and bedding without delay. Their preparations well ahead of time allowed them to serve their brothers and sisters in Europe with goods that clearly were lifesaving in nature.[6]
Look to Jesus Christ as the perfect example of one who lived His life giving selfless service to others. His mission was to do the will of His Father, and He accomplished that mission as no other individual could. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will bless you through Their Holy Spirit in your righteous efforts to be of help to others. Your good works will serve to "glorify your Father which is in heaven."[7]
As you leave BYU-Idaho and continue to serve in your life, you will be given an extra measure of strength to accomplish God's work.[8] In addition to the wonderful feelings you will feel through the Spirit as you serve others--feelings that will permeate and enhance all other areas of your life--you will also be blessed to "stand blameless before God at the last day."[9] I pray that the blessings of God will be upon each of you as you live a life of devoted service. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Mosiah 2:17
[2] Mosiah 5:15
[3] Galatians 6:7
[4] Thomas S. Monson, "To Learn, to Do, to Be," Ensign, Nov. 2008, https://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/11/to-learn-to-do-to-be?lang=eng
[5] Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2004), 168
[6] George Albert Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1947, 5-6
[7] Matthew 5:16
[8] Doctrine and Covenants 24:7
[9] Doctrine and Covenants 4:2