Speaking at the October 1984 general conference, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve said that people serve one another for different reasons. Some reasons, he pointed out, are better than others. Without claiming to give an exhaustive list, Elder Oaks named in ascending order from the lesser to the greater six reasons for service:

1. Hope of earthly reward. "Such a man or woman might serve in Church positions or in private acts of mercy in an effort to achieve prominence or cultivate contacts that would increase income or aid in acquiring wealth. Others might serve in order to obtain worldly honors, prominence, or power."2. Personal desire to obtain good companionship. "Persons who serve only to obtain good companionship are more selective in choosing their friends than the Master was in choosing His servants or associates. Jesus called most of His servants from those in humble circumstances. And He associated with sinners. He answered critics of such association by saying, `They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' " (Luke 5:31-32.)

3. Fear of punishment. "The scriptures abound with descriptions of the miserable state of those who fail to follow the commandments of God. . . .

Such descriptions surely offer sufficient incentive for keeping the commandment of service. But service out of fear of punishment is a lesser motive at best."

4. Sense of duty or loyalty to friends or family or traditions. "These are those I would call the good soldiers, who instinctively do what they are asked without question and sometimes without giving much thought to the reasons for their service. Such persons fill the ranks of voluntary organizations everywhere, and they do much good. We have all benefited by the good works of such persons. Those who serve out of a sense of duty or loyalty to various wholesome causes are the good and honorable men and women of the earth."

5. Hope of an eternal reward. "This hope - the expectation of enjoying the fruits of our labors - is one of the most powerful sources of motivation. As a reason for service, it necessarily involves faith in God and in the fulfillment of His prophecies. The scriptures are rich in promises of eternal rewards. For example, in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith in June 1829, the Lord said: `If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.' " (D&C 14:7.)

6. Pursuit of "a more excellent way." (See 1 Cor. 12:31.) "Charity is the pure love of Christ." (Moro. 7:47.) The Book of Mormon teaches us that this virtue is `the greatest of all.' (Moro. 7:46.) The Apostle Paul affirmed and illustrated that truth in his great teaching about the reasons for service:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. . . .

" `And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, . . . and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.' (1 Cor. 13:1-3.)

"We know from these inspired words that even the most extreme acts of service - such as giving all of our goods to feed the poor - profit us nothing unless our service is motivated by the pure love of Christ."