Submit to God by serving others
It is the tendency of mankind to seek self-benefit. The only remedy for the deep-seated selfishness of mankind is to willingly submit to God.3 In opposition to man’s natural motive—which is to get everything he can, irrespective of what it costs others—God’s motive is to maximize the joy of all, irrespective of what it costs him.4
The transition from one’s natural state into a servant of God occurs as one learns and lives to maximize the purpose of God, which is to provide everything necessary so that all people progress as far as they are willing to into greater and longer-lasting happiness.5
You cannot serve God without serving others.6 The consideration of others above self is a nonnegotiable quality of conversion.7 The converted do not seek their own benefit before the benefit of others.659 In doing this they walk in the example and after the order of God.
The Lord directly explained that he expects us to emulate his love for all people, commanding us to practice it in the same form it was demonstrated.660 God’s purpose is for you to love him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength,661 and to love others662 as God loves you.663 Our happiness here and hereafter is maximized to the extent that we take advantage of God’s love by becoming more like him664 and demonstrate God’s love by helping others to do the same.665
Footnotes
- 1. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8) ↩
- 2. If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments. (D&C 42:29) ↩
- 3. For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3:19) ↩
- 4. He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. (2 Nephi 26:24) ↩
- 5. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) ↩
- 6. And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. (Mosiah 2:17) ↩
- 7. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:32) ↩