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By Mary Richards, Church News
Service can be a part of goal setting for the new year.
The Caring social media accounts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — which document the humanitarian, service and relief efforts of the Church — shared a post in January about making volunteering and service a part of New Year’s resolutions.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of so many organizations, including ours,” states the Facebook post. “Service, whether in an organization or in your neighborhood, connects us with others and makes a difference.”
For the Arkell family in the Lehi Utah West Stake, service helps teach them to become more like Jesus Christ.
Every other month, the Arkell children take turns picking a service project from JustServe.org, which is a website and app where volunteers can find local service opportunities.
Kamri, 16, told the Church News last year why she loves to do service.
“It’s like the gift that keeps on giving. You do it once, and you are excited to do it the next time,” Kamri said.
Her father Ben Arkell pointed out that one of the three pillars of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints’ Children and Youth Program is service and activities — and the purpose of the program is to “Strengthen the rising generation’s faith in Jesus Christ, and help children, youth, and their families progress along the covenant path as they meet life’s challenges.”
Youth, their parents and youth leaders can look at JustServe, ChurchofJesusChrist.org/youth/childrenandyouth and the Gospel Living app or website to find many ideas for service and activities — especially as January is a time when children and youth are looking to set spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual goals.
A social media post from JustServe on January 1 shared six service-related goal ideas:
- Serve for a set number of hours this year.
- Complete a set number of projects this year.
- Commit to a regular volunteering opportunity.
- Try three new service opportunities this year.
- Volunteer to organize a service project in the community.
- Document volunteering experiences and share them to raise awareness.
JustServe also posted on social media in January about serving with others, saying that when people serve together or when youth serve with a friend, they can have fun, learn and grow, bond over new experiences and spend quality time together.
In a BYU Education Week class in August 2023, Chris Crippen — the director of BYU’s Center for Service and Learning — spoke about expanding one’s circle of service.
“Service is contagious,” said Crippen. “People will see it, and they want to join in. They want to be part of that.”
Service starts in the home within families. Loving one’s neighbor is done by looking at people, not projects, he said.
Crippen said, “We have the obligation as community members, as fellow travelers on this earth, to look out for one another, to open our eyes, and to extend a hand of gratitude and smile. And even just saying hi can be a significant service.”
Besides JustServe, Crippen also pointed to “This Is Ministering”, which is a page on the Church’s website with resources to become a better minister.
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