Obligation

Five rabbis recently visited Salt Lake City to visit LDS sites and learn about our church. The visited BYU, a temple that was open for tours, temple square, welfare square, and LDS Humanitarian services.

Afterward, they shared what they learned. Most of their comments are what I would have expected. They found more in common with us then they would have thought. They wanted to spend days at the Family History Center doing genealogy research. They were impressed with the organization of our welfare and humanitarian services.

But one comment jumped out and smacked me in the face.

Rabbi Isaac Jeret said "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. 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."

I agree with him, but it's something I tend to forget. I made a choice to belong to this church. And with that I accepted an obligation to serve others. The majority of the service I render is through my calling and as a visiting teacher, but am I looking for other opportunities? Am I aware of the needs around me, or am I blinded by my own selfishness?

I'm going to mull this over for the next few days. And pray about it, obviously. There is something there I need to learn, but I'm not sure what it is yet.