From Thomas S. Monson, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (deceased) said:
As we look heavenward, we inevitably learn of our responsibility to reach outward. To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until they have surrendered their ego to the service of others. Service to others is akin to duty, the fulfillment of which brings true joy. We do not live alone—in our city, our nation, or our world. There is no dividing line between our prosperity and our neighbor’s wretchedness. “Love thy neighbor” is more than a divine truth. It is a pattern for perfection. This truth inspires the familiar charge, “Go forth to serve.” Try as some of us may, we cannot escape the influence our lives have upon the lives of others. Ours is the opportunity to build, to lift, to inspire, and indeed to lead. . . .
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the true Latter-day Saint is “to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church or any other, or in no church at all, wherever he finds them” ( Times and Seasons, March 15,1842,732). (“The Joy of Service,” New Era, October 2009, 4)
. . . . Man does not run the race of life by himself. When you help another in this race of life you really serve God. King Benjamin stated the principle so beautifully, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). . . .
Balanced service is a virtue to be cherished. There is to be time in your life to serve God, to serve your family, to serve your country and community, to serve your employer. . . . “Service with a smile” is far more than a department store slogan. It is a way of life and a path to happiness. (“The Race for Eternal Life,” Ricks College Baccalaureate, May 10,1967) ~ Teachings of Thomas S. Monson, (Deseret Book 2011, Salt Lake City) 281-82
