“When you want to love someone more, serve them”. This popular statement among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the driving force behind countless acts of service that are performed for and on behalf of our fellowmen. King Benjamin, an ancient prophet of God in the Book of Mormon spoke to his people concerning the importance of service. He said, “And behold, I will 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)
A hymn which motivates Heavenly Father’s children to do good continually, and clearly spells out what immeasurable joy awaits those who lose themselves in serving others every day: “Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed....” (Hymn 223)
The Mormon Helping Hands program of the Church is one such event that members all over the world engage in during the month of August every year in order to reach out to Heavenly Father’s children, to bless them with a multitude of service projects whether they are members of the Church or not.
Some of the program's objectives are to help the needy, improve communities, strengthen members, build relationships with opinion leaders, and enhance the reputation of the Church.
Sister Nyameka Dzapata, the Relief Society president of the Johannesburg 2nd ward in South Africa, speaks about her own experiences in serving others through the Mormon Helping Hands program. Her most outstanding experience was when the ward visited the Esselin Street Home of the Aged.
“For me, more than the cleaning experience, was the opportunity to interact with the people in the home, not as someone better than them, but to show them that I loved them as the Saviour did. Since then, I have appreciated every opportunity to serve others, and by so doing, serving the Lord as well.”
Sister Jennifer Zwane also shared her profound experiences as she has served in the program: “You get to see the gratitude of the people in their eyes, and it is very humbling...There are times we have had to clean streets, and times we had to clean homes and even sing for people. You get to really understand what it means to be on the Lord’s errand.”
The upcoming Mormon Helping Hands will take place on the 20th of August 2016. Get involved with your local unit. Through so doing, members will be increasingly united and through service, be able to testify of their God.
