In times of need

A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race. This has been your [the Twelve in England] feeling, and caused you to forego the pleasures of home, that you might be a blessing to others, who are candidates for [eternal life], but strangers to truth; and for so doing, I pray that heaven's choicest blessings may rest upon you. (See: History of the Church, 4:227)

As a whole, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are unique in our acts of unselfish service to others. Explains Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "Each year tens of thousands of Latter-Day Saints submit their papers for full-time missionary service," (Oaks, 2009). But it is not just that, often members of the LDS church are among the first on the ground following a hurricane or other major disaster. Why do we do it? The answer can be found in Matthew 16:24-25: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.; For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it," (Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV), 2013). You see, in serving others, we are also serving our Savior. 

 

Reference

Matthew 16:24-25 (new international version). (2013, August 27). Retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 16:24-25&version=NIV Retrieved: August 27, 2013

Oaks, D. (2009, April 01). Unselfish service . Retrieved from http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/unselfish-service?lang=en Retrieved: August 27, 2013