Uchtdorf - The Why of Priesthood Service - April 2012

President Uchtdorf speaks about his Branch President extending him a call to serve as Deacon's Quorum President when he was young.  This Branch President took the time to explain to him his responsibilities and why the Lord organizes his church the way that he does.  He helped him understand the importance of the calling and his duties.  Similarly, we need to understand why we do things in the church so we can understand the importance to accomplishing God's plan for us in life.

• We need to be constantly reminded of the eternal reasons behind the things we are commanded to do. The basic gospel principles need to be part of our life’s fabric, even if it means learning them over and over again. That doesn’t mean that this process should be rote or boring. Rather, when we teach the foundational principles in our homes or in church, let the flame of enthusiasm for the gospel and the fire of testimony bring light, warmth, and joy to the hearts of those we teach.
  

He reminds us that what we do is important but why we do it is also significant.

• The what is important in our work, and we need to attend to it. But it is in the why of priesthood service that we discover the fire, passion, and power of the priesthood. The what of priesthood service teaches us what to do. The why inspires our souls. The what informs, but the why transforms.
  

President Uchtdorf notes that we don't always know why we are to do something.  Sometimes moving forward without knowing why takes faith.

• There are times when we have to step into the darkness in faith, confident that God will place solid ground beneath our feet once we do.
  

One of the main reasons we serve others is to help our fellowman along the journey of life.  To be of service, we need to have self-discipline to focus on things that are important.  If we can, we will produce great things with the Lord's help.

• We all know that it takes self-discipline to remain focused on the matters that have the greatest power to increase our love for God and fellowman, invigorate marriages, strengthen families, and build the kingdom of God on earth. Like a fruit tree with an abundance of branches and leaves, our lives need regular pruning to ensure that we use our energy and time to accomplish our real purpose—to “bring forth good fruit”!
  

We are not alone in this work.  As we move forward, with a desire to serve God and our fellowman, God will magnify and strengthen our efforts.

• God is faithful. Through the Holy Spirit, He will speak to our minds and hearts concerning the path we should follow during each segment of our lives. If our hearts are pure—if we seek not our own glory but the glory of Almighty God, if we seek to do His will, if we desire to bless the lives of our family and fellowman—we will not be left to walk alone.

Blessings come to those that service with all their heart soul.

• Divine blessings for priesthood service are activated by our diligent efforts, our willingness to sacrifice, and our desire to do what is right. Let us be the ones to act and not be acted upon. Preaching is fine, but sermons that do not lead to action are like fires without heat or water that cannot quench thirst. It is in the application of doctrine that the purifying flame of the gospel grows and the power of the priesthood ignites our souls.

Finally, President Uchtdorf with this thought.

• Gospel doctrine becomes more precious when it is put to use.
  

We need to practice what we preach.  We believe we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ.  That obligates us to do what Jesus Christ would do.  We each need to understand what the Lord expects of us, why He expects those things, and move forward acting upon those teachings.  The Lord is not interested in us blindly following Him.  Understanding why we do things will strengthen our testimonies of His divine work.  But we should be careful to not get caught up so much in why that we miss the point of having to actually go out and do something with this knowledge.  It is our responsibility to strengthen our brothers and that is what the world needs most.