by DaLea Ellis

Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” Ether 12:4

President Gordon B. Hinckley once counseled us: “Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people…work to lift and serve His sons and daughters. You will come to know a happiness that you have never known before…Let’s get the cantankering, selfish attitude out of our lives…and stand a little taller…in the service of others.” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley) (1997), 597.

I can testify that this is true. I know when I am serving others, I am happiest. Those are my best days. There is truly a joy that follows me throughout the day that is beyond anything I can describe. My burdens seem lighter and my day goes smoother. There is no substitute for this kind of happiness.

Give Loving Service

A few years ago, I had many opportunities to serve my husband’s family. His mom had been very ill for several months. She needed round the clock care and attention. There were many needs; taking turns sitting with her and taking care of her needs or helping keep their home clean. My father-in-law was Bishop at the time, and had so many extra responsibilities besides being at the hospital with his dear wife. It was a delight to me to be able to serve my loved ones during such a huge trial. There were many friends and ward members that stepped in to take a turn staying with Mom. The entire extended family felt blessed by the charity and love shown through this trial!

As Chieko Okazaki said, “Remember, our real calling to be a compassionate Christian came when we stepped out of the waters of baptism. The gift of the Holy Ghost is ours by right of confirmation. We don’t need to check it out of the meetinghouse library. We don’t need a bishop’s assignment to be kind. We don’t need to sign up to be thoughtful. We don’t need to be sustained by our wards to be sensitive. Rejoice in the power you have within you from Christ to be a nucleus of love, forgiveness, and compassion.”

I have served as a ward Relief Society President for the past two years. The opportunities for service are great in this calling. The opportunity to witness acts of service is even greater. There is a unique kind of love that grows between two people when service is a part of that relationship. Remember that you love those you serve and you should always serve those you love. Jesus Christ was the greatest example of this truth.

Faith, Hope, and Charity

Elder Russell M. Nelson taught how these values are consistently tied to one another. If we practice them, they will tie us to the Celestial Kingdom.

“Have you noticed in the scriptures that hope seldom stands alone? Hope is often linked with faith. Hope and faith are commonly connected to charity. Why? Because hope is essential to faith; faith is essential to hope; faith and hope are essential to charity. They support one another like legs on a three-legged stool. All three relate to our Redeemer.”

“Faith is rooted in Jesus Christ. Hope centers in his Atonement. Charity is manifest in the ‘pure love of Christ.’ These three attributes are intertwined like strands in a cable and may not always be precisely distinguished. Together they become our tether to the celestial kingdom. We read in the Book of Mormon: ‘There must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.’

‘And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope’.” (Ensign, February, 1997, 60).

Make The World A Better Place

Ether 12:4 begins, “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world…” Let us hope for a better world. To hope for a better world means that we begin to create it now. Our investment is measured in the sum of small things. The greatest and most constant example of this kind of hope and good works is my sweet mother-in-law, Shari Ellis. She was the most positive person I’ve ever known. I’ve tried through the years to become more like her.

She was always able to look on the bright side, no matter what was going on in her life. She taught her kids with this phrase and later had it framed as a gift for them lest they forget… “Return Kindness for Unkindness.” When her husband would get frustrated with someone else driving on the road, she would simply say: “well, maybe their dog died today.”

We don’t know the cause of other people’s attitudes and actions. She always willingly gave people the benefit of the doubt. What a great gift! She was patient and kind to others no matter the circumstance. I hope that one day I will be able live up to the standard she set. She made the world better and I hope that each of us can touch lives in this way.

“How great a thing is charity, whether it be expressed through the giving of one’s substance, the lending of one’s strength to lift the burdens of others, or as an expression of kindness and appreciation.” (Ensign, November 1990).

No matter the trials we are facing, we can find hope as we serve and do good works for others. As we lift another’s burden, we will always find our own burden lightened.