Serve the Lord First

 

Serve the Lord First

3 Nephi 20:41–42

Last night, while reading President Oaks’ biography In the Hands of the Lord, I highlighted this line:

“When you are in the work of the Lord, the obstacles before you are never as great as the power behind you.”

This morning, my scripture study took me to 3 Nephi 20:41–42:

“Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord… for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward.”

Those two thoughts came together so beautifully. I’ve always been fascinated by how the Lord fulfills that promise—to go before us and to stand behind us when we’re about His work. I’m not a prophet, but I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, and I try to lift where I stand and be about His business in whatever small way I can.

Bishop Williams used to say, “Give the Lord an hour and He’ll give you back two.” I’ve seen that truth proven many times, but one day in particular stands out.

My schedule that day was packed. I had errands to run and was preparing to speak at a stake meeting that evening. Still, I felt prompted to call a sister in our ward who was very ill, with several young children and a home that needed her. During our conversation, words slipped out of my mouth before I even thought about them:

“How can I help you today?”

Immediately I thought, What did I just say? My day was already packed. But she quietly said her laundry room was piled high and her family was running out of clean clothes.

So, I gathered up basket after basket of laundry and spent the entire day washing, folding, and returning it. I knew I hadn’t prepared for my talk as much as I’d hoped (and anyone who’s worked with Young Women knows how much we like to prepare!).

But the miracle came that evening. The Lord truly went before me and behind me. My talk flowed better than I could have planned, the Spirit was strong, and I came home exhausted but deeply grateful—with a full heart and a quiet testimony reaffirmed:

When we put the Lord’s work first, everything else falls into place.

Sometimes it’s easy to think we don’t have the time or strength to do one more thing for someone else. But when that quiet prompting comes, I’m reminded that the Lord’s work always multiplies what little we have to give.