--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical…" description: "\"It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for our own good. The Lor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/marion-g-romney-14092_celestial_it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxica_3010150.png" --- # It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we… ![“It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for our own good. The Lord has said, 'He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.' (Matt. 10:39.) We lose our life by…” quote by Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/marion-g-romney-14092_celestial_it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxica_3010150.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/marion-g-romney-14092_celestial_it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxica_3010150.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/marion-g-romney-14092_celestial_it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxica_3010150.png) > “It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for our own good. The Lord has said, 'He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.' (Matt. 10:39.) We lose our life by serving and lifting others. By so doing we experience the only true and lasting happiness. Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.” [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True happiness comes from self‑sacrifice and serving others, not from personal gain. **In simple terms:** Service brings lasting joy. Key Takeaway Serve others to find true happiness. Themes service self‑sacrifice spiritual fulfillment Mood inspirational spiritual Type religious motivational When to use this quote - missionary work - community service - family support Key Concepts Christian doctrine altruism Questions to Reflect On - How does serving others change your life? - What sacrifices have you made for others? A Different Perspective Service can be exhausting and may be misunderstood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Celestial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celestial/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Lasting happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting-happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifting/) [Lifting others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifting-others/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Paradoxical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradoxical/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) ## Related quotes > [“We lose our life by serving and lifting others. By so doing we experience the only true and lasting happiness. Service is not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/we-lose-our-life-by-serving-and-lifting-others-by-so-doing-we/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/service-is-not-something-we-endure-on-this-earth-so-we-can-earn-the/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [Since I was 15 years old I have dedicated my life to serving women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/since-i-was-15-years-old-i-have-dedicated-my-life-to-serving-women/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [“Then come. Let me send you to see if you have lived your life serving a deity or a dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-hick/then-come-let-me-send-you-to-see-if-you-have-lived-your-life-serving/) [Shaun Hick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-hick/) > [Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to live his life serving others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/martin-luther-king-jr-tried-to-live-his-life-serving-others/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Asks an orphaned childhood, I am a sign of someone's sin, or I'm result of mistake of youth their mother's . Whatever. I haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/asks-an-orphaned-childhood-i-am-a-sign-of-someone-s-sin-or-i-m-result/) Mak\_786 > [A person's life is limited but serving the people is limitless. I want to devote my limited life to serving the people limitlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-person-s-life-is-limited-but-serving-the-people-is-limitless-i-want/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Things change when you give your life to serving God, and that can be scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/things-change-when-you-give-your-life-to-serving-god-and-that-can-be/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [If there is someone in your life who is not serving you or making you better, give yourself permission to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/if-there-is-someone-in-your-life-who-is-not-serving-you-or-making-you/) [Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/) > [The only joy in this hard life is serving others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-only-joy-in-this-hard-life-is-serving-others/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [You must keep a careful, correct perspective on life that this is not about me but about me serving my gift to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/you-must-keep-a-careful-correct-perspective-on-life-that-this-is-not/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [I went to college and law school with the help of the GI Bill. That experience moved me so much, I dedicated the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-went-to-college-and-law-school-with-the-help-of-the-gi-bill-that/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [If we cannot know what's possible, then we are free to do that which is pulling our hearts and that which is life serving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-moore-lapp/if-we-cannot-know-what-s-possible-then-we-are-free-to-do-that-which/) [Frances Moore Lappé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-moore-lapp/) > [I have devoted my life to serving the people of New Jersey and am forever thankful for all who have stood by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-menendez/i-have-devoted-my-life-to-serving-the-people-of-new-jersey-and-am/) [Bob Menendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-menendez/) > [“Some people say, “Once you learn to be happy, you won't tolerate being around people who make you feel anything less.” My Christ says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/some-people-say-once-you-learn-to-be-happy-you-won-t-tolerate-being/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Marion G. Romney > [There is an interdependence between those who have and those who have not. The process of giving exalts the poor and humbles the rich.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/there-is-an-interdependence-between-those-who-have-and-those-who-have/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [“Try to live…so that you can have the Spirit with you in all your activities. Pray for the spirit of discernment that you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/try-to-live-so-that-you-can-have-the-spirit-with-you-in-all-your/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [“We must live so that men seeing us will know that we are living by the principles of eternal life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/we-must-live-so-that-men-seeing-us-will-know-that-we-are-living-by/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [The prime duty of help to the poor by the Church is not to bring temporal relief to their needs, but salvation to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/the-prime-duty-of-help-to-the-poor-by-the-church-is-not-to-bring/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxical-to-me-that-we-must/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [The key to happiness is to get the spirit and keep it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/the-key-to-happiness-is-to-get-the-spirit-and-keep-it/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [But you don't need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/but-you-don-t-need-to-worry-the-lord-will-never-let-his-mouthpiece/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [Prayer is the instrument of miracles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/prayer-is-the-instrument-of-miracles/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [The whole problem is spirituality-not finances. Spiritually strong = welfare strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/the-whole-problem-is-spirituality-not-finances-spiritually-strong/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [How can we give if there is nothing there?... Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Teaching cannot come from the unlearned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/how-can-we-give-if-there-is-nothing-there-support-and-understanding/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [Peace has been variously defined, but perhaps we might think of it as 'harmony within one's self, and with God and man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/peace-has-been-variously-defined-but-perhaps-we-might-think-of-it-as/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [The efficacy of our prayers depends on how much we care for one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/the-efficacy-of-our-prayers-depends-on-how-much-we-care-for-one/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [“I believe in study. I believe that men learn much through study. As a matter of fact, it has been my observation that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/i-believe-in-study-i-believe-that-men-learn-much-through-study-as-a/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [While the Lord will magnify us in both subtle and dramatic ways, he can only guide our footsteps when we move our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/while-the-lord-will-magnify-us-in-both-subtle-and-dramatic-ways-he/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) > [“When we resist the counsel of the Lord, we manifest stubbornness and rejection of his inspired guidance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/when-we-resist-the-counsel-of-the-lord-we-manifest-stubbornness-and/) [Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) [Explore all 48 Marion G. Romney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/) ## More Celestial quotes > [It shows you exactly how a star is formed; nothing else can be so pretty! A cluster of vapor, the cream of the milky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-shows-you-exactly-how-a-star-is-formed-nothing-else-can-be-so/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Music. A meaningless acceleration in the rhythm of celestial experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/music-a-meaningless-acceleration-in-the-rhythm-of-celestial-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The stars begin to fade like guttering candles and are snuffed out one by one. Out in the depths of space the great celestial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-robert-harrison/the-stars-begin-to-fade-like-guttering-candles-and-are-snuffed-out/) [Edward Robert Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-robert-harrison/) > [A hidden spark of the dream sleeps In the forest and waits In the celestial spheres of the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/a-hidden-spark-of-the-dream-sleeps-in-the-forest-and-waits-in-the/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [What does it mean to be a Saint? In the Lord's Church, the members are Latter-day Saints, and they attempt to emulate the Savior,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-l-cook/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-saint-in-the-lord-s-church-the-members-are/) [Quentin L. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-l-cook/) > [Even if I knew nothing of the atoms, I would venture to assert on the evidence of the celestial phenomena themselves, supported by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/even-if-i-knew-nothing-of-the-atoms-i-would-venture-to-assert-on-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [The very serpents bite their tails; the bees forget to sting, For a language so celestial setteth up a wondering. And the touch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-very-serpents-bite-their-tails-the-bees-forget-to-sting-for-a/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-broken-in-spirit-as-he-is-no-one-can-feel-more-deeply-than-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I despise the proper constructions and cases, because I think it very unfitting that the words of the celestial oracle should be restricted by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-i/i-despise-the-proper-constructions-and-cases-because-i-think-it-very/) [Pope Gregory I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-i/) > [The most powerful influence exercised by the Arabs on general natural physics was that directed to the advances of chemistry ; a science for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/the-most-powerful-influence-exercised-by-the-arabs-on-general-natural/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Just as order gave life and beauty to the earth when it was dark and void, so it does to us. Obedience helps us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/just-as-order-gave-life-and-beauty-to-the-earth-when-it-was-dark-and/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Before thou callest a man hero or genius, investigate whether his exertion has features of indelibility; for all that is celestial, all genius, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/before-thou-callest-a-man-hero-or-genius-investigate-whether-his/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I work in celestial mechanics, but I am not interested in getting to the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marston-morse/i-work-in-celestial-mechanics-but-i-am-not-interested-in-getting-to/) Marston Morse > [Every wild apple shrub excites our expectation thus, somewhat as every wild child. It is, perhaps, a prince in disguise. What a lesson to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/every-wild-apple-shrub-excites-our-expectation-thus-somewhat-as-every/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 353 Celestial quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celestial/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those things which are for our own good. The Lord has said, 'He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.' (Matt. 10:39.) We lose our life by serving and lifting others. By so doing we experience the only true and lasting happiness. Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marion G. Romney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxical-to-me-that-we-must-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Celestial" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxical-to-me-that-we-must-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/marion-g-romney-14092_celestial_it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxica_3010150.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/marion-g-romney-14092_celestial_it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxica_3010150.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c26/marion-g-romney-14092_celestial_it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxica_3010150.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical to me that we must constantly have the Lord command us to do those…” — Marion G. Romney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marion G. Romney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It has always seemed somewhat paradoxical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxical-to-me-that-we-must-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/it-has-always-seemed-somewhat-paradoxical-to-me-that-we-must-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```