This I Testify: "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)

Today I was given a small, and very thoughtful gift. I was very touched by this for two reasons. One reason is because this friend didn't know I was having a "cloudy day" and stopped by with this small gift bag of treats. And the second reason I was touched was that she made these treats! They are kisses with mini-vanilla wafers on them, with pieces of pecans and pretzels for the stem all in the shape of acorns. I wouldn't think to make something like this, let alone take the time. I really appreciate the time and talent it takes to do this! They are so sweet (literally and figuratively)!

These little treats made me think of two scriptures. The first one is: "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). Being wise enough in this day and age to take the time to serve others is a true gift of ones self. All too often I hear of others saying, "That's not my job" and letting things go unattended and things getting broken or hurt rather than the bigger idea of "Love thy neighbor" (Matthew 19:19). When we are serving others we are doing so much more than just "service". We are making the world a better place to live by lifting others (see Ecclesiastes 4:9-10), we are adding "light" through doing "good works" (see Matthew 5:16), we are "willing to bear one another's burdens" (Mosiah 18:8), we are increasing love here on earth when we serve each other (1 thessalonians 3:12). We are becoming "saviors of men" (D&C 103:9) and as we are doing this, we are doing exactly what Christ wants us to do. He wants us to: "Learn of [Him]" (see D&C 19:23; Matthew 11:29) and become more like Him (see 3 Nephi 12:48).

Serving others doesn't need to be difficult and burdensome. Here is the second scripture that came to mind when this little gift was given to me today: "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise" (Alma 37:6). It is "foolishness" when we think that serving others has to take a ton of time, energy, or money because most of us don't have a ton of those commodities. Be we have some of them. And therefore, "by small and simple things" we can and do make a difference!

While we were in Vermont, my husband and I were able to see a helm of a ship. I was amazed at how small it really was in comparison to the rest of the ship. The Lord says: "You know...that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved...let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:16-17). We are very small, but can do great things! We can be the "means" of helping others weather the storms of life. And we all have storms, or sometimes just cloudy days.

What a blessing to have friends and be given opportunities to be the kind of friend and neighbor who will do "small and simple things" to help lay the "foundation of a great work" (see D&C 64:33). "The Lord does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs" (President Spencer W. Kimball). It is a great feeling to be "instruments in the hands of God" (Mosiah 27:36). This I testify.