Volunteerism

[Moksha]

I ran across an interesting article in the newspaper. Below is the comment of Rabbi Isaac Jeret visiting Utah from his California congregation. He apparently toured the Humanitarian Center and the new Draper Temple:

"Rabbi Isaac Jeret from the Rancho Palos Verdes area spoke of "a unique kind of volunteerism" he observed in seeing the Church's humanitarian efforts.

He noted, "Volunteerism in the Mormon Church is about obligation rather than about choice. The choice is to become a member of the Church. But once one is, there's a sense of covenanted responsibility." He said that is something that should be shared by all in the Jewish community as well as in Christianity, but has been hampered by making everything a matter of personal choice.

He continued, "One of the things we've lost is the sense that to volunteer is actually something that is an obligation, and to work - to do - is an obligation. It's really inspiring to see a community that has retained that core religious value."

He perceived that the LDS style of volunteer effort was through a sense of religious obligation rather than as a personal choice. He was inspired by this. Could be he sensed this was a way to insure volunteer needs rather than rely on the more traditional but happenstance way of volunteering.

What is your opinion about volunteering as a religious obligation?

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[Faded]

It should be both religious obligation as well as personal choice. If you must begin by doing the right thing for lesser reasons, then at least you are doing the right thing. In the process of continuing to do the right thing, the true spirit of it comes to rest inside you.

If we learn from Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith, we see that giving of themselves for the wants and needs of others was second nature to them. That is how all of us should be.

[ADoyle90815]

I think in other Christian churches, people volunteer because THEY chose to do so, and it involves things like working in the food bank which is available to anyone who needs it, regardless of where they go to church. Many churches also donate baby clothes and other items to battered women's shelters and other items to homeless shelters.

[LDSVALLEY]

I don't volunteer because I feel I have an obligation to the church. Rather because the church has taught that we are God's instrument here on Earth to further his work and to help is children. Because the Lord has blessed my life and because other members have as well I do what I can when I can to help others because I choose to do so. It makes me feel better about my life and the Lord blesses me for my service.

Let me add that I was just on the receiving end of members help even if it was not organized through the church nor were any my home teachers. One gave 20 hours, one 16 hours, one 6 hours of service and a fourth lent me a tractor to fill everything in.

[Maxel]

My obligation to Christ is to "feed His sheep" as well as I am able; to serve my friends as the Master serves me.

I like how Alma the elder put it in Mosiah 18:8-9:

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Volunteering to serve others is an obligation we choose to take upon ourselves when we enter the waters of baptism and make that covenant with Christ. I believe the Holy Ghost prompts us to volunteer, as service is an important trait of godliness. I like how soundly Rabbi Jeret understands the principle.

[EruditioSalvatus]

The LDS church is like most religious institutions. it instills within their congregation a sense of duty and karmatic loyalty. God loves a working man, god blesses those who serve him, and so forth. There is actually a row in Israel because many seminaries are expressing the opinion to the young men that it is their duty to serve in the armed forces, which is no different than expressing the opinion that humanitarian works. It ends up that some people will do things suggested by the church because it's their (duty, obligation, ent al) and not choosing to do so lets them stray away from the holy infrastructure.

After all, if god asked you to do something, you'd be daft not to, right?