Church defined by Christian service
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Elder Carlos H. Amado of the Seventy said three important purposes to the Lord's earthly ministry were: His atoning sacrifice, teaching the doctrines of salvation and His example of building the kingdom by serving others.
First, said Elder Amado, "He came to the world with the specific purpose to give His life, since only His life could give us eternal life."
Second, He taught "the doctrines that He learned from His Father, which includes the ordinances and covenants of salvation and exaltation."
Third was His example to "build the kingdom by serving others," which was "a different type of leadership."
Focusing the majority of his remarks on the importance of service, Elder Amado said, "To teach His doctrine and to serve our fellowmen are two responsibilities that we accepted when we were baptized."
He made reference to a time when the Savior showed compassion on the multitude by multiplying the loaves of bread and fishes after having taught them His doctrine (John 6:5-14).
"Without neglecting these temporal needs," said Elder Amado, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by commandment of the Lord, maintains the most sublime and lofty labor of service, which is to bless all men by teaching them the doctrine of Christ and inviting them to receive the saving ordinances, so that they might gain 'immortality and eternal life"' (Moses 1:39). Elder Amado said service has made the Church what it is today and service also "brings us closer to God and helps us refine our divine nature ....
"Those who serve will strive to ennoble, build and lift their fellowmen," he said, "therefore, they will find the good in others and they will not find reason or have time to become offended."
