Robert Fulghum, at a conference, asked a well known doctor a question that he hadn’t been able to find an answer for. He asked, Dr. Papaderos, what is the meaning of life? Dr. Papaderos, seeing that it was a serious question, answered it
Taking his wallet out of his pocket, he…brought out a very small round mirror, about the size of a quarter, and said… “When I was a small child during the war (WWII), we were very poor and we lived in a remote village. One day on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror. A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place.
“I tried to find all the pieces and put them together but it was not possible, so I kept only the largest piece. This one. And by scratching it on a stone, I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun could never shine—in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find.
“I kept the little mirror; and as I went about my growing up, I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child’s game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of the light. But light—truth, understanding, knowledge—is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.
“I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have, I can reflect light into dark places of this world—into the black places in the hearts of men—and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.”
This story can pertain to many different topics; however, I thought about service when I read this story. Coincidentally, that’s what my talk is about. It’s based on Elder Oaks’ talk he gave back in April of 2009. In his talk he said, “Our Savior gave Himself in unselfish service. He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others. If any man will come after me [He said], let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Time and time again, we’ve been told and commanded to serve one another. In Mathew chapter 22, verses 37-40, it reads………… Service is the driving force of what makes things good in life and it shows our appreciation for what God has done for us. No matter what we accomplish in our lives, it means nothing if we don’t serve others. President Monson said, “An attitude of love characterized the mission of the Master. He gave sight to the blind, legs to the lame, and life to the dead. Perhaps when we face our Maker, we will not be asked, ‘How many positions did you hold?’ but rather, ‘How many people did you help?’ In reality, you can never love the Lord until you serve Him by serving His people.”
Often, service is never in our time table and we have to make room it. We have to sacrifice our personal things in order do what we’ve been asked to do. In Elder Oaks’ talk he gives many examples of how members of our church give service. He said that Latter-Day Saints are uniquely committed to sacrifice. Many members go to the temple to do work for dead. They spend countless hours doing work for those who have passed on. Members also sacrifice for their children. They selflessly bear children and then raise them while sacrificing some of their own wants. Another example is that every week we partake of the sacrament; in doing so, ‘we witness our commitment to serve the Lord and our fellowmen.’ ‘In sacred temple ceremonies we covenant to sacrifice and consecrate our time and talents for the welfare of others. Members also serve in humanitarian efforts.’ These are all ways that we can serve and continue to serve as we go through life.
Service not only helps the receiver, but it helps the giver out too. It’s funny, when I’m having a bad day, feeling depressed or having self-pity party. The solution that comes up or is advised to me is to serve others and forget about my problems. By doing this, I’ve found that my problems seem easier to manage and they’re not a big deal anymore. An example is that a few semesters ago, I had many projects and some major tests to do. I was feeling very overwhelmed; the typical feeling of a college student. While a friend of mine was having problems with her life. Her house was really bothering her because it was so messy and it was adding on to her problems. I volunteered my services, not really expecting her to accept them. However, a few days later I got a call from her to see if I would help her. I had to sacrifice time in studying to help but I went and I helped her. Afterwards, I found my problems were manageable and were easier to do and I felt better too. In Elder Oaks’ talk he also said that “Unfortunately, some Latter-day Saints seem to forego unselfish service to others, choosing instead to fix their priorities on the standards and values of the world. Jesus cautioned that Satan desires to sift us like wheat, which means to make us common like all those around us. But Jesus taught that we who follow Him should be precious and unique, “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” to shine forth to all men.” We need to forego the standards of the world and work to build up the Lord’s standards. In the story about Dr. Papaderos; about how he realized that his life was like the mirror. Since he chose to, he could reflect the truth, the goodness, and the service that others saw and was an example to many people. That’s how we need to be. In Mathew 5:14-16 it reads…………………..
We all have an obligation to sacrifice our time, talents and ourselves for the furthering of the kingdom of God. Service is a large part of that because we use those things to help others. The more we serve, the better examples we become to the world in showing them what we believe and how we need to act. A large portion of Elder Oaks’ talk was then dedicated to missionary work. The prophet Joseph said, “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the gospel.” Every year, thousands of missionaries sacrifice their personal time, priorities and desires in order to serve the Lord by going on a mission.
When you speak with returned missionaries, they don’t regret it. They learn things that they couldn’t learn anywhere else. Despite how hard it was for them; for the most part, they all loved their missions and want to go back. Where much is given, much is required. We’ve been given and blessed with so many things that we have higher standards that we must meet and should want to meet. Service is one of the keys to reaching these standards. Going on a mission is a great way to serve. For me, it’s a dream come true. Ever since I was a little girl, well little in age because I’m still kind of short, I’ve wanted to go on a mission. God has helped me so much in my life and with my problems and blessed me with countless things that I can’t even begin to list. This desire that I’ve had and still have is that I want to serve others and help bring them to the knowledge of their God and their Redeemer and let them experience what I’ve experienced in my own life.
I’ve always loved serving and I’m happy that I get to show my appreciation by going on a mission. Missions are the ideal way to serve too. You don’t have to worry about any tests or homework or silly things like that. You get to focus on serving the Lord fully without worrying about things like that. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “What you are is God’s gift to you; and what you do with yourself is your gift to God.” That’s how it is when you do service. You’re serving the master when you reach outside of yourself and serve others. At the end of the talk, Elder Oaks said, “Our Savior teaches us to follow Him by making the sacrifices necessary to lose ourselves in unselfish service to others. If we do, He promises us eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God”, the glory and joy of living in the presence of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.” I challenge you all to find ways to serve, and find ways to better the lives of others.
BEAR TESTIMONY
