Service was joy

Here's a little something to think about this Sunday—the relationship between life, joy, and service.

Brightening a friend's day

Since I'm encouraging everyone to get involved in service, I thought I'd share a recent project of my own. After learning that one of my very best friends, D, was going through a rough patch, I knew I wanted to do something special for her. Since she lives several hours away I decided to send her a package.

How can I serve when I'm busy?

This is probably one of the top questions when it comes to getting involved in service. I know I have asked myself this several times and I'm sure I'm not alone! The answer is surprisingly simple.

Q—How can I serve when I'm busy?

Hey, give those scrolling muscles a break!

Did you notice the nifty way to quickly (and automatically) scroll all the way up to the top of a page? No? Well then, read on!

Don't be a slave—be an angel!

Don't Be a Slave

Lately I've been increasingly interested in service and humanitarian work (hence the creation of this site). Being fascinated by the etymology of words and wanting to learn what service really is, I headed over to Merriam–Webster.com and scrolled right past the definition to check out the origin: apparently the word service originally comes from the Latin servus meaning "a slave." As disappointing as this revelation was, it unfortunately wasn't surprising.

The easy cure for worry

President Gordon B. Hinckley (one of the prophets of the LDS church) was an absolutely profound and service-oriented man who made brilliant little quips. Today I would like to share a little gem of his. When we are struggling, the best cure is to give ourselves purpose by getting outside of ourselves and helping someone else.

“The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.”
—GORDON B. HINCKLEY // STANDING FOR SOMETHING: 10 NEGLECTED VIRTUES THAT WILL HEAL OUR HEARTS & HOMES

Anchored to What You Want

If you've checked out the Service Project Ideas page previously you may have worn out your pointer finger scrolling through all the great ideas. Now you can instantly jump to the section you'd like to read!

A better experience (coming soon!)

Thanks to some great feedback I have received, I am working to improve your experience on Service Simple! Look out for the following in the near future:

Service Saying

Happy Sunday everyone! I go to my LDS church every Sunday as a service to myself. The things I learn from the teachers, other people, and from the spirit uplift and help me. Service includes the ways you help other people, but don't forget that while it's important to serve, it's also important to be served!

"There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed."
—WOODROW WILSON

Superb Service Sites: Hidden Gems of the Service World

I would like to call to your attention some little gems I have found and placed in a section of my blog called "Superb Service Sites." (For desktop viewers, you can always find it on the righthand side of this site --> ) This is the place where I put links to external sites I like and feel are great resources.

Service is a lifestyle

I like this video about a young high school girl and how she got involved and found joy in serving. She says, "Service is not just a series of acts, but a lifestyle."

New Content!

I just spent many hours majorly updating this site! There are tons of new service project ideas, a handful of new charities and organizations, and many new opportunities for volunteerism. I have also added a new section under Volunteerism for Eagle Scouts, as well as a list of upcoming events in the Utah County area. Check it out!

Service Saying

Why should you get involved in service? If you can't find the motivation, here's a good reason to help you get started:

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
—MAHATMA GANDHI