Oaks - Why Do We Serve? - October 1984

President Oaks speaks for the first time in General Conference.  He speaks about why we serve in the Church of Jesus Christ.  He points out that we are under covenant to serve God and our Fellowman.

• Service is a covenant obligation of all members of the Church of Jesus Christ.
  
• Whether our service is to our fellowmen or to God, it is the same.
  

He details the point of his talk being that we need to not only know how to serve, but why we are serving.

• In order to purify our service in the Church and to our fellowmen, it is necessary to consider not only how we serve, but also why we serve.
  

 
President Oaks details 6 reasons we serve in the church.  He says that “These first two reasons for service are selfish and self-centered and unworthy of Saints.”

Reason 1
Some may serve for hope of earthly reward.

• Such a man or woman might serve in Church positions or in private acts of mercy in an effort to achieve prominence or cultivate contacts that would increase income or aid in acquiring wealth. Others might serve in order to obtain worldly honors, prominence, or power.
  

 
We should serve without any expectation of recognition.

• Those who serve quietly, even “in secret,” qualify for the Savior’s promise that “thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
  

 
Reason 2

• Another reason for service—probably more worthy than the first, but still in the category of service in search of earthly reward—is that motivated by a personal desire to obtain good companionship.
  • Persons who serve only to obtain good companionship are more selective in choosing their friends than the Master was in choosing his servants or associates. Jesus called most of his servants from those in humble circumstances. And he associated with sinners.
    

 
Reason 3
Some may serve out of fear of punishment.
 
President Oaks points out that some serve because they fear the consequences of God if they turn down a calling or refuse to serve.

Reason 4
Other persons may serve out of a sense of duty or out of loyalty to friends or family or traditions.

• Service of the character I have just described is worthy of praise and will surely qualify for blessings, especially if it is done willingly and joyfully.
  

 
Reason 5
One such higher reason for service is the hope of an eternal reward.

• This hope—the expectation of enjoying the fruits of our labors—is one of the most powerful sources of motivation. As a reason for service, it necessarily involves faith in God and in the fulfillment of his prophecies. The scriptures are rich in promises of eternal rewards.
  

Reason 6
The last motive I will discuss is, in my opinion, the highest reason of all. In its relationship to service, it is what the scriptures call “a more excellent way.”

• If our service is to be most efficacious, it must be accomplished for the love of God and the love of his children.
  

President Oaks quotes D&C 4 and references that we need to serve with our heart might mind and strength.  He points out that heart and mind are necessary.

• We learn from this command that it is not enough to serve God with all of our might and strength. He who looks into our hearts and knows our minds demands more than this. In order to stand blameless before God at the last day, we must also serve him with all our heart and mind.
  
• Service with all of our heart and mind is a high challenge for all of us. Such service must be free of selfish ambition. It must be motivated only by the pure love of Christ.
  

I like the idea of looking inwardly to determine what my motivation is in choosing to serve in my calling.  I hope that it is because I love my fellow man.  I hope it is my desire to bring the light of Christ to other.  I hope it is to minister to those that are needing the healing that the atonement can bring into their lives.  Look at your reasonings and together, let’s set our lives on the path to living a more excellent way as President Oaks has mentioned.  I know that as we seek to serve because we love the Lord, we will be blessed and guided to serving the way the Lord would like us to serve.