True Conversion

I loved Elder Whetten’s general conference talk about true conversion and service. In high school, I had the opportunity to serve on seminary council, a group of students who were leaders in our seminary program. I cannot even begin to tell you how many hours of service that constituted. But even more so, I cannot begin to express the pure happiness I felt in that time of my life. Despite experiencing deep personal trials during that year, I felt joy when I served and I felt myself coming closer to my Heavenly Father. One of our advisors often told us, “An invitation offered in love will never offend.” I agree with this wholeheartedly and I think it goes along well with Elder Whetten’s general conference talk, because he noted that “love should be at the heart of all service.”

Service is a sign of true conversion, and it is a means of consecrating lives to helping others just like the Savior did. Thinking about the life of the Savior can be intimidating, but then I consider all of the small acts of service that He gave (gives) each day. I can serve in big ways by volunteering for organizations or fulfilling my calling, but I can also serve in little ways by saying hello, or washing my roommate’s dishes, or wiping out the fridge. Even though these acts of service are “little” and perhaps of little consequence to my own life, they could be the difference between a good and a bad day for someone else. When we are willing to serve and humble enough to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we are capable of being instruments in the Lord’s hands and angels in the lives of others around us.