“If I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?” These are the same sentiments Jesus expressed to his apostles a century and a half later: “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:13–15). The apostles would be among the greatest men on earth and were called to be leaders over all. To be a leader simply means one has been called to serve. We are not to be self-serving but rather to be serving everyone else. President Howard W. Hunter taught, “Our focus should be on righteousness, not recognition; on service, not status.” 2 Likewise, Elder Dallin H. Oaks observed, “If our service is to be most efficacious, it must be accomplished for the love of God and the love of his children.” 3 It is instructive that the priesthood is given to the brethren to bless others, not themselves. We never hear of a priesthood holder laying his hands on himself and giving himself a blessing.
“Ought Not Ye to Labor to Serve One Another?”
“If I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?” These are the same sentiments Jesus expressed to his apostles a century and a half later: “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:13–15). The apostles would be among the greatest men on earth and were called to be leaders over all. To be a leader simply means one has been called to serve. We are not to be self-serving but rather to be serving everyone else. President Howard W. Hunter taught, “Our focus should be on righteousness, not recognition; on service, not status.” 2 Likewise, Elder Dallin H. Oaks observed, “If our service is to be most efficacious, it must be accomplished for the love of God and the love of his children.” 3 It is instructive that the priesthood is given to the brethren to bless others, not themselves. We never hear of a priesthood holder laying his hands on himself and giving himself a blessing.