"To Love is to Serve"

I'm not sure where I originally heard this saying. I searched it on lds.org but couldn't find the exact quote. There were, however, some re-wordings of it, so I will post links to some of those articles in a few minutes.

But what does it mean? The answer is simple. When my mother willingly serves someone, she does it because she loves them and is concerned about them. When the Relief Society president goes out and serves her sisters, she does it because she loves them and is concerned about them. When President Monson or any of the brethren who lead the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serves a person, it is because they love them. They show their love for others by serving them. To love our fellowman is to serve our fellowman. Service=Love. Love=Service. 

But why do they love them? Because, as a certain familiar theme states, "We are [children] of our Heavenly Father, who loves us and we love Him." Our Eternal Father loves us so so so much! And the feeling is mutual. But how can we show our love for Him? After all, He's definitely got us beat! He shows us in the beautiful world around us, in His daily tender mercies, in miracles, in scriptures, in everyday things. 

Well, in Mosiah 2:17 it states that "ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Jesus expounded on this concept when He taught His followers the famous and familiar Matthew 25:35-40: 

"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:

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

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

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

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

 "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."

So yes, if we want to show our love to our Father above, we need to show it to His children below. To love our Father is to serve His Children. Service=Love. Love=Service. Btw--I've said that twice. You should understand it by now. :)

I hope you will go about your Sunday afternoon loving and serving your family, and look forward to a post sometime soon about some Personal Progress I've been working on! Don't forget to let me know in the comments your thoughts on loving and serving! 

I hope your Sabbath is a Delight!