Service, or caring for others, is an important part of the lives of members of the Mormon Church (properly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Members are taught that in serving others they serve God and become more like Him. In the Book of Mormon, Mosiah 2:17 states, “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”Jesus Christ is the perfect example of humility and service. “Those who followed Jesus called Him ‘Master.’ Yet, although He was their leader, Jesus taught them He was their servant. He wrapped a towel around Himself and washed their feet in a basin of water. That was a job for servants, not for one who was their Master. He told them that if He was willing to serve them by washing their feet, they ought to be willing to serve each other (see John 13:5-17)” (lds.org).
Service should be exemplified in all parts of our lives, but especially in the home. We have been given families as a gift. Within families, we can learn to serve each other better. Parents are obligated to be good examples to their children and to teach them the value of service.
Church leader N. Eldon Tanner gave these as examples of developing a service-oriented attitude:
We can and should have compassion. We can and should seek out those in need. The Lord expressly lays this charge on the bishops in the Eighty-fourth Section of the Doctrine and Covenants (See Doctrine and Covenants 84:104-5). . . . We can and must give of ourselves personally as priesthood and Relief Society officers; as visiting and home teachers; as friends, parents, and loved ones. We can and do pay our fast offerings . . . And finally, we can and must stay involved until the solution of the problem is found and resolution of the needs is accomplished. This is achieved when the individual in need can once again fully care for himself. It must be emphasized that we do not rely on some outside agency to show the compassion or perform the labor that we have covenanted to do (“Latter-day Samaritans,” Ensign, Nov. 1977, 91).
Elder V. Dallas Merrell stated,
Service is at the heart of eternal life and our personal destinies. The basic test in this life is what we choose to do and become. The Savior has told us what to do: “For the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do” (3 Nephi 27:21). He has said what we should become: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27). By choosing to do His work we become like Him (“A Vision of Service,” Ensign, Dec. 1996, 10).