One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is it's history of self-sacrifice. From it's earliest days, those members who were committed to its cause sacrificed their good name, fortune, talents and even lives to build up the Kingdom of God, for they saw it as precisely that. Driven by their enemies, the pioneers of the Church crossed the Indian infested, desolate plains and mountains by handcart to arrive at the Salt Lake Valley. Their history is well documented and worth studying.
In our modern day Latter-Day Saints are called upon to pay tithing and fast offerings, to serve in their congregations and communities, and to even serve in leadership positions as Bishops and Stake Presidents without pay. The Church has no paid clergy. A Bishop usually will devote 30 hours per week of his time on average to his calling, and this lasts for five to seven years.
Young men and women volunteer to serve on missions, which are paid by themselves. Older retired couples volunteer also volunteer to serve on proselyting, genealogical and humanitarian missions.
Why? What spurns us to sacrifice so much? I joined the Church when I was 17, and volunteered to serve a mission when I turned 19. In my years as member of the church (41 as of this writing) I have served, as cub scout leader, executive secretary, membership clerk, Gospel Principles teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Sunday School counselor, Sunday School President, young adult leader, Primary teacher, Young Men's counselor, Young Men's President, counselor in the Elder's Quorum Presidency, Elder's Quorum President, counselor in a High Priest's group, High Priest Group leader, secretary in the Elder's quorum, secretary in High Priest's group, building maintenance rep, home teacher (the most important calling of all), and veil worker in the Temple.
The most enjoyable calling was working in the nursery with the little ones.
Sacrificing my time has developed my talents and increased my faith. And this faith has in turn allowed me to give more of myself. We believe that when we are in the service of our fellow men we are only in our service of our God. Faith without service is hollow wishful thinking.
The reason the Lord called his Church the Church of Jesus Christ and added of Latter-Day Saints, is because the members of the Church constitute an integral part of moving the work of God along on the earth. We become an extension of God's purpose, and begin to taste of the happiness that comes from service. Because, let's face it, in the hereafter when we'll have no reason to worry about death of illness, our only desire will be to bless others. That's what Love is. It is other-centered, not self-centered. And so, God allows us the opportunity to become other-centered by being of service in big and small ways.
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