19 Now behold, Helaman and his brethren were no less serviceable unto the people than was Moroni; for they did preach the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words.
Today in my Book of Mormon class we were talking about Sam's contributions to his brother Nephi and to the work of the Lord. He isn't talked about as much but from what is included in the Book of Mormon, he was always faithful to his brother Nephi. He didn't have the notoriety that Nephi did, but his reward is no less than Nephi's. Someone in the class compared Sam to Hyrum Smith. Both were older brothers to the prophet. Both loved, supported, and served. Both were less known. Both had an equally important job in building up the kingdom of God and their more famous brother and the blessings they receive will great, too.
It reminds me of something Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley has said on more than one occasion:
No calling in this church is small or of little consequence. All of us in the pursuit of our duty touch the lives of others.
....You have as great an opportunity for satisfaction in the performance of your duty as I do in mine. The progress of this work will be determined by our joint efforts. Whatever your calling, it is as fraught with the same kind of opportunity to accomplish good as is mine. What is really important is that this is the work of the Master. Our work is to go about doing good as did He.
Gordon B. Hinckley, “This Is the Work of the Master,” Ensign, May 1995, 69
I'm sure I can find more times when he has said something to this effect. It is true that it is not where we serve but how we serve.
There are many examples in the scriptures and I will start to make a list (and add to it from time to time) of lesser known but "no less serviceable" builders of the Kingdom:
1. Sam (Book of Mormon)
2. Zoram (Book of Mormon)
3. Nephi's righteous sisters (Book of Mormon)
4. Omner, Himni, and other brethren (Book of Mormon, Alma 22: 35)
5. Alma (the elder) and his fellow laborers (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 26:38)
6. "their numbers which they had selected" They=the Sons of Mosiah (Alma 17:8)
7. Alma, Amulek "and also many more who had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout all the land" (Alma 16:15)
8. (Jan. 28, 2011) I found another one. When Jesus appears to the people of Ancient America, he has Nephi come forth, but after that: 22 And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. Maybe it was the 12 Disciples that are mentioned later on, but maybe it was others who are not known to us, but are known to God.
9. (Nov. 28, 2011) 23 And it came to pass that Nephi went forth among the people, and also many others, baptizing unto repentance, in the which there was a great remission of sins. And thus the people began again to have peace in the land.
10. (March 28, 2012) Jacob 1:8 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.
You hear a lot about Jacob here but barely a mention of Joseph, who was also called to be a teacher among the people. I am sure he worked as hard as Jacob did, but he didn't get as much recognition.
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