15 Ways to Serve God Through Serving Others

These Suggestions Can Help You Develop Charity!

by Rachel Bruner

Updated January 06, 2018

To serve God is to serve others and is the greatest form of charity: the pure love of Christ. Jesus Christ said:
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one
another. (John 13:34).
This list gives 15 ways in which we can serve God by serving others.

Serve God Through Your Family

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To serve God starts with serving in our families. Daily we work, clean, love, support, listen to, teach, and
endlessly give of ourselves to the members of our family. We may often feel overwhelmed with all that we must
do, but Elder M. Russell Ballard gave the following counsel:
The key... is to know and understand your own capabilities and limitations and then to pace yourself, allocating
and prioritizing your time, your attention, and your resources to wisely help others, including your family...
As we lovingly give of ourselves to our family, and serve them with hearts full of love, our acts will also be
counted as service to God.

Give Tithes and Offerings

MRN's are needed to pay tithing online or in person. Photo courtesy of © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All
rights reserved.
One of the ways we can serve God is by helping his children, our brothers and sisters, through paying
a tithing and a generous fast offering. Money from tithing is used to build God's kingdom upon the earth.
Contributing financially to God's work is a great way to serve God.
Money from fast offerings is directly used to help the hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger, sick, and afflicted
(see Matt 25:34-36) both those locally and world wide. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has
helped millions of people through their amazing humanitarian efforts.
All this service has only been possible through both the financial and physical support of many volunteer as
people serve God by serving their fellow man.

Volunteer in Your Community

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There are countless ways to serve God by serving in your community. From donating blood (or just
volunteering at the Red Cross) to adopting a highway, your local community has great need for your time and
efforts.
President Spencer W. Kimball counseled us to be careful not to select causes who's primary focus is selfish:
When you select causes to devote your time and talents and treasure to, be careful to select good causes...
which will produce much joy and happiness for you and for those you serve.
You can easily become involved in your community, it only takes a little effort to contact a local group, charity,
or other community program.
Home and Visiting Teaching
Home teachers visit a Latter-day Saint in need Home teachers visit a Latter-day Saint in need.
For members of the Church of Jesus Christ, visiting each other through the Home and Visiting teaching
programs is a vital way we have been asked to serve God by caring for one another:
Home teaching opportunities provide a means by which an important aspect of character may be developed:
love of service above self. We become more like the Savior, who has challenged us to emulate His example:
'What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am' ( 3 Ne. 27:27)...
As we give of ourselves in the service of God and others we will be greatly blessed.
Donate Clothing and Other Goods
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All throughout the world there are places to donate your unused clothing, shoes, dishes, blankets/quilts, toys,
furniture, books, and other items. Generously giving of these items to help others is an easy way to serve God
and declutter your home at the same time.
When preparing those things you are going to donate it is always appreciated if you only give those items that
are clean and in working order. Donating dirty, broken, or useless items is less effective and takes precious
time from volunteers and other workers as they sort and organize the items to be distributed or sold to others.
Stores that resell donated items usually offer much-needed jobs to the less fortunate which is another excellent
form of service.
Be a Friend
Visiting teachers greet a Latter-day Saint woman. Photo courtesy of © 2011 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights
reserved.
One of the simplest and easiest ways to serve God and others is by befriending one another.
As we take the time to serve and be friendly, we’ll not only support others but also build a network of support
for ourselves. Make others feel at home, and soon you’ll feel at home...
Former Apostle, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said:
Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I
have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds
relationships that can last lifetimes.
Who does not love and need friends? Let us make a new friend today!
Serve God by Serving Children
Jesus with little children. Photo courtesy of © 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
So many children and teenagers need our love and we can give it! There are many programs to become
involved with helping children and you can easily become a school or library volunteer.
Former Primary leader, Michaelene P. Grassli counseled us to imagine what the Savior:
...would do for our children if he were here. The Savior’s example... [applies] to all of us—whether we love and
serve children in our families, as neighbors or friends, or at church. Children belong to all of us.
Jesus Christ loves children and so too should we love and serve them.
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of
such is the kingdom of God"( Luke 18:16).
Mourn with Those that Mourn
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If we are to "come into the fold of God, and to be called his people" we must be "willing to bear one another’s
burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those
that stand in need of comfort..." (Mosiah 18:8-9). One of the easiest ways to do this is to visit and listen to
those who are suffering.
Carefully asking appropriate questions often helps people feel your love and empathy for them and their
situation. Following the whisperings of the Spirit will help guide us to know what to say or do as we keep the
Lord's commandment to care for one another.
Follow Inspiration

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Several years ago when hearing a sister talk about her sick daughter, who was isolated at home because of a
long-term illness, I felt prompted to visit her. Unfortunately, I doubted myself and the prompting, not believing it
was from the Lord. I thought, 'Why would she want a visit from me?' so I did not go.
Many months later I met this girl at the house of a mutual friend. She was no longer sick and as we talked the
two of us instantly clicked and became close friends. It was then that I realized that I had been prompted by
the Holy Ghost to visit this young sister.
I could have been a friend during her time of need but because of my lack of faith I had not heeded the Lord's
prompting. We must trust the Lord and let Him guide our lives.
Share Your Talents

Children who show up to the weekly service event have their own projects to complete. Many count and
bundle pencils for school kits or they make educational toys and books. Photo courtesy of © 2007 Intellectual
Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sometimes in The Church of Jesus Christ our first response when we hear that someone needs help is to
bring them food, but there are so many other ways we can give service.
Each of us have been given talents from the Lord that we should develop and use to serve God and others.
Examine your life and see what talents you have. What are you good at? How could you use your talents to
help those around you? Do you enjoy making cards? You could make a set of cards for someone who's had a
death in their family. Are you good with children? Offer to watch someone's child(ren) in a time of need. Are
you good with your hands? Computers? Gardening? Building? Organizing?
You can help others with your skills by praying for help to develop your talents.
Simple Acts of Service

Missionaries serve in many ways such as helping to weed a neighbor’s garden, doing yard work, cleaning a
house or assisting in times of emergencies. Photo courtesy of the Mormon Newsroom © All rights reserved.
President Spencer W. Kimball taught:
God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.
Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom... In the Doctrine and Covenants we read about
how important it is to '...succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.'
( D&C 81:5.) So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with
mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate
deeds!
Sometimes all it takes to serve God is to give a smile, hug, prayer, or a friendly phone call to someone in need.
Serve God Through Missionary Work
Missionaries engage people on the street to talk about life’s most important questions. Photo courtesy of the
Mormon Newsroom © All rights reserved.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ, we believe that sharing the truth (through missionary efforts)
about Jesus Christ, His gospel, its restoration through Latter-day prophets, and the coming forth of the Book of
Mormon is of vital service to everyone. President Kimball also said:
One of the most important and rewarding ways in which we can serve our fellowmen is by living and sharing
the principles of the gospel. We need to help those whom we seek to serve to know for themselves that God
not only loves them but he is ever mindful of them and their needs. To teach our neighbors of the divinity of the
gospel is a command reiterated by the Lord: 'It becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his
neighbor' ( D&C 88:81).
Fulfill Your Callings
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Members of the Church are called to serve God by serving in church callings. President Dieter F.
Uchtdorf taught:
Most of the priesthood bearers I know... are eager to roll up their sleeves and go to work, whatever that work
might be. They faithfully perform their priesthood duties. They magnify their callings. They serve the Lord by
serving others. They stand close together and lift where they stand....

When we seek to serve others, we are motivated not by selfishness but by charity. This is the way Jesus Christ
lived His life and the way a holder of the priesthood must live his.
Faithfully serving in our callings is to faithfully serve God.
Use Your Creativity: It Comes from God

Music plays an important role in worship for Latter-day Saints. Here, a missionary plays his violin during a
church service. Photo courtesy of the Mormon Newsroom © All rights reserved.
We are compassionate creators of a compassionate and creative being. The Lord will bless and help us as we
creatively and compassionately serve one another. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:
"I believe that as you immerse yourselves in the work of our Father, as you create beauty and as you are
compassionate to others, God will encircle you in the arms of His love. Discouragement, inadequacy, and
weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace, and fulfillment. As spirit daughters of our Heavenly Father
happiness is your heritage.
The Lord will bless us with the needed strength, guidance, patience, charity, and love to serve His children.
Serve God by Humbling Yourself

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I believe it is impossible to truly serve God and His children if we, ourselves, are full of pride. Developing
humility is a choice that takes effort but as we come to understand why we should be humble it will become
easier to become humble. As we humble ourselves before the Lord our desire to serve God will greatly
increase as will our capacity to be able to give of ourselves in the service of all our brothers and sisters.
I know our Heavenly Father deeply loves us- more than we can imagine- and as we follow the Savior's
command to "love one another; as I have loved you" we will be able to do so. May we find simple, yet profound
ways to daily serve God as we serve each other.