Imagine seeing a westbound car pulled over at the side of the road. The driver gets out and walks around to the passenger side of the vehicle, where he discovers a very low tire. Shortly after, a following car stops, and a young man gets out. Just then, an eastbound car stops and another young man crosses the road to see if he can be of assistance.
The driver of the car with the flat tire finds himself looking at two young men, both over 185 cm in height, both in white shirts with missionary badges. One was on his way to serve as an ordinance worker in the Cardston Alberta Temple; the other returning from serving in the temple with the same assignment. Now imagine what thoughts go through the mind of this man, the recipient of these spontaneous acts of service to assist him in his time of need.
Yes, both of these young men were service missionaries. In addition to their assigned service areas, they seek to serve others. That requires looking for a need, recognizing it, and then taking the initiative to act on what they have seen.
There Are Roads to Jericho All Around Us
If the principle of assisting someone in need on a roadside sounds familiar, it should. While the magnitude of the problem being experienced by the driver did not match that of the man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho who was attacked by thieves, wounded and left half dead (Luke 10:25-37), he nevertheless was certainly in need.
The story of the Good Samaritan tells of two travelers passing by, ignoring the wounded man. It was left to a third traveler to see and to serve. This man on the highway was also passed by other drivers. It was left to the service missionaries, who saw what others had seen but, unlike the others, took the initiative and acted. Like the Good Samaritan, the service missionaries observed and then served. What a Christ-like virtue to find expression in a simple act of service!
True Disciples of Christ Take the Road Less Travelled
Much like Mormon, whom Ammaron described as being “quick to observe” (Mormon 1:2), service missionaries are also quick to observe. Indeed, we believe service missionaries are blessed with a particularly discerning eye and spirit, and then, coupled with divine promptings, they act upon what they see.
Weekly, in a soup kitchen for the homeless, Sister Steed and I worked alongside service missionaries who thought and acted as Sister Tracy Browning expressed when speaking of Christ, “He directs our mouths to testify of Him, our hands to lift and serve as He would lift and serve, our eyes to see the world and each other as He does” (in Conference Report Oct. 2022,15).
Opportunities to testify of Him come to service missionaries in unique ways and often unique circumstances. They see the world as He does; their hands lift and serve as He would lift and serve.
Called to Serve
Service missionaries receive a mission call from President Russell M. Nelson with a responsibility to serve. They do this not only in formal assignments but also with the expectation that they look to serve in everyday settings.
Be it in the temple, soup kitchens, the bishop’s storehouse, food banks, schools, hospitals, seniors housing, online responsibilities, shovelling snow, yard care, and, yes, even roadside assistance, all are serving their fellowmen as the Savior would.
Set apart as ordinance workers, their service in the temple holds a special place in their hearts. On a personal level, they have shared experiences with us that have drawn them closer to Christ. They have been part of many tender mercies in their interactions with others attending the temple.
President Nelson addressed the importance of the calling as a service missionary when he said, “Dear young friends, you are each vital to the Lord…Your decision to serve a mission, whether a proselyting or a service mission, will bless you and many others… All missionaries teach and testify of the Savior” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2022, 6).
Service Missionaries Grow While Travelling The Covenant Path
As Service Mission Leaders, Sister Steed and I were humbled by the faith, commitment, knowledge, and expression of testimony of each sister and elder with whom we served. They desire to serve. With increasing confidence and newly acquired skills, they answer the call of a prophet and draw closer to their Saviour.
We had occasion to visit with a service missionary who, despite the many hours he served, wondered and was troubled if he was doing enough. We discussed 2 Nephi 31 with a focus on the doctrine of Christ. The Saviour speaks to Nephi, saying, “Follow me, and do the things which you have seen me do” (2 Nephi 31:12). We concluded our visit by emphasizing that through his service, he is continuing his journey as a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. This elder then understood that his service was indeed an acceptable offering unto the Lord.
Service missions are evidence of the inspiration of our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. They are part of the “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30) change that blesses the lives of missionaries and all with whom they have associations. They are following the counsel of Christ, who instructed the multitude to let their light shine, show their good works, and glorify their Father (Matthew 5:16).
Sister Steed and I were blessed to function as a ‘we’ in all our interactions with service missionaries and their families. Sharing everything we did, said, and remember adds immeasurably to our feelings towards each of our missionaries. We have been humbled and blessed to be among so many who serve as the Savior would serve. In their lives, their families, and all those they serve, we know their service makes a difference. We know that service missionaries are the hands of the Lord as they lift and serve.