Lessons of 2025
Lesson No. Thirty-Three

Selfless Service Builds Strong Faith and Firm Minds

The world is inclined toward weak faith and fragile minds. The dictionary defines the word “weak” as “liable to yield, break, or collapse under pressure or strain.” The word “fragile” is defined as “easily broken, shattered, or damaged; delicate; brittle; frail, lacking in substance, flimsy.”

A result of weak faith and fragile minds. In 2020 the Department of Defense released shocking data indicating that 77% of 17- to 24-year-olds nationwide were unable to qualify for military service. This challenge stemmed from three key drivers: recruits were not academically prepared, they were far over weight standards or they had a record of crime or drug abuse.

And it is likely the root causes of this ineligibility have grown worse. It’s important to note that the study was completed in 2020, and therefore, does not capture the full impact of COVID-19.

The factors fueling America’s growing military ineligibility problem carries far broader implications. Those who can’t qualify for military service will not be qualified for police service, etc. Every sector of society is actively competing for the 23% of 17- to 24-year-olds who are healthy, well-educated and have a clean record.

Utah is not immune from this problem. Here there is large percentage of young people who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but Utah is at the national average of 77% of 17- to 24-year-olds who are unprepared to serve.

The solution to weak faith and fragile minds is selfless service. Many of our daily activities focus on individual performance and personal wellbeing, whereas service focuses on others. Selfless service builds strong faith and firm minds.

The following are examples of selfless service that builds strong faith and firm minds:

1. Missionary service builds strong faith and firm minds because it is an opportunity for selfless service. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints selfless missionary service is fundamental and follows the perfect example of the Lord. It is a world-wide service, and there is a wide variety of ways and places to serve. It is a priesthood responsibility for young men to serve a mission. Young women and seniors are encouraged and invited to serve. As a young man serving in the British Mission and as president of the Kentucky Louisville Mission, missionary service changed my life, and it has brought me great blessings.

2. Military service builds strong faith and firm minds because it is another opportunity for selfless service. I began my military career 2.5 years after returning from my mission in London and six months before Susan and I were married. As there are excellent missionaries who follow mission rules, there are excellent airmen who follow the United States Air Force three Core Values of Integrity First; Service before Self; Excellence in All We Do. My 36 years of service in the United States Air Force f changed my life and brought great blessings.

3. Temple service builds strong faith and firm minds because it is a very unique opportunity to give selfless service. In the temple, more than anywhere else, we learn to see with “the eye of faith” (Alma 5:15; 32:40; Ether 12:19). Furthermore, temple service and worship brings “a fulness of the Holy Ghost” (D&C 109:14-15). This is a powerful concept, and it is the only place in all scripture where this phrase is found. A fullness of the Holy Ghost suggests that the power of the Holy Ghost and the attendant blessings will flow into every dimension of our lives. It should be with us as it was with the Twelve Nephite Disciples who most desired that the Holy Ghost be given them” (3 Nephi 19:9).

We Can Chose to have Strong Faith and a Firm Mind or Weak Faith and a Fragile Mind. In the world we live in there is a great abundance of weak faith, doubt, fear, and fragile minds, and there is a severe lack of strong faith and firm minds. This condition is most often the result of pride and contention, and it is serious threat to personal, community, and national stability.

Those who have strong faith and firm minds, developed by selfless service to the Lord and to others, find peace and joy in this life, and they will have eternal life in the world to come. Let’s resolve to actively look for opportunities to give selfless service and thereby build strong faith and firm minds.

Released on August 31st. 2025.