President Gordon B. Hinckley on joy in selfless temple service

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008.

"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others....

"I want to commend those of you who are eligible to go to the temple and who go. In this work in the House of the Lord is found the very essence of selfless service. In my judgment, one of the miracles of our day is the great consecration of time and effort on the part of hundreds of thousands of busy people, including many of you busy students, in behalf of the dead. Those of you who engage in this service know that out of it all comes a sweet and satisfying feeling. It becomes literally a medicine to cure many of the ailments of our lives. From such experience we come to realize that only when we serve others do we truly serve the Lord."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Forget Yourself," BYU fireside, March 6, 1977
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This address by President Hinckley to an audience of college students focused on the blessings of service—we must "lose ourselves in the service of others" in order to have a full and rich life. As we are observant and become aware of needs around us, there will be countless opportunities to give and act in kindness and charity.

In this excerpt from the talk, he focuses on the blessings of temple service, where we experience "the very essence of selfless service"—acts given for the benefit of those who are unseen, who don't immediately return gratitude or repayment to us.

From this great service in the temple "comes a sweet and satisfying feeling... medicine to cure many of the ailments of our lives." That is a tender promise, one that I have found to be true!