"IN SERVICE"

Service is defined as "dedication of oneself to righteousness." In the Gospel, this means accepting its teachings, obeying its laws, and accept a calling in one of its organizations. In the Mormon Battalion, it means much the same: accept its purpose and by-laws, obeying its rules, and accepting a calling within its organization. Admittedly, our allegiance to the Gospel is more important; however, we can give full loyalty to the Church and still display a loyalty to the Mormon Battalion by supporting its defined purpose and its by-laws. We recall the words of Mosiah, "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." But what kind of service do we render?

True, in the Gospel we believe that we must "serve God with all your heart, might, mind, and strength," if we are to stand blameless at the last day. In the Battalion, we should consider it an opportunity, if not a law, that we serve our fellow men with all our heart and mind, that we may avoid any blame for being less than devoted and unfaithful--and also avoid the awful feeling of having lost the respect and trust of our fellows.

Exercising the analogy with the Gospel again: By keeping the commandments, men serve God. By failing to keep them, man serves the Devil. In the Battalion, by accepting Service and DOING IT, a person receives the reward of knowing that he has done what he promised to do! The accolades from his fellow soldiers is a true, but lesser reward. Being at peace with oneself is one of the great blessings of mortality. But if a soldier accepts a calling and does not achieve doing it, he not only disappoints his fellow men, but he loses some of his character, some of his honesty, some of the TRUST that was placed in him. He becomes miserable and unhappy with himself.

The Mormon Battalion exemplified TRUE SERVICE. By answering the call of a prophet, they accepted not only the task, but the end of the task. They went with confidence that their reward would be happiness and peace, either "Out in the West," or in Heaven. They endured hardships that no other soldiers would have tolerated: half rations (later, almost no rations); a doctor who hated the Mormon soldiers so much that he cursed them as he poisoned them; the deliberate plan to murder them and their families if they did not enlist; the treachery of politicians, governors, presidents, and fellow officers (Smith & Sanderson). With such awesome trials, it is evident that the Battalion put Service to God above the actual trek to California. But Faith makes Service amenable. They had been told that they would not fight the enemy; that their only battle would be with wild beasts (the bulls). They had the Priesthood and set-apart leaders to direct and encourage them. In the Battalion, we have leaders who are dedicated to the cause; therefore, entitled to inspiration. Do we believe that? If so, it will be exemplified in our Service.

One might ask, "What did it accomplish?" The results are history. The successful conquest of Northern Mexico (which means the winning of the loyalty of the Mexicans in California). They were better than "a host of bayonets," as Governor Stevenson reported to Washington. Their roads became highways and opened the Pacific Slope to colonization. Their discovery of gold brought men from different nations and continents--and added to the "people" of this Nation many souls from different lands. They made it possible to add the Southwestern States to the Union. And they made it legal for the Saints to enter the Utah territory and establish God's Kingdom here! All this is made possible by the willingness of ordinary men to commit to Service. But only is this true when men believe that they are in the service of God. In the Mormon Battalion, we are fulfilling prophecy; therefore, are we not in the service of God? Let us live and SERVE faithfully.