Digital Only: Young Adults
Being Ministered to Helped Me Deepen My Commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
After I joined the Church, the ministering efforts of the members became as important as the lessons with the missionaries.
Photograph posed by models
When I first joined the Church, many parts of it were confusing. I knew basic principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which were taught to me by wonderful missionaries, but nobody taught me about the organization of the Church. Elders quorum, Relief Society, institute, and many other programs and principles were unknown to me. I only knew that I should come to church on Sundays, study the scriptures, and pray.
I was lucky, though, to have friends who helped me navigate my early uncertainty. Missionaries may have introduced me to the gospel, but it was through Christlike ministering from many members that I was able to continue to strengthen my testimony.
Here are just a few of the people who blessed my life through their ministering efforts.
1. The Family Who Included Me
One of the first families that made an impression on me were longtime members in the branch I attended near my home in Malaysia. When they saw me at church each Sunday, they greeted me with big smiles on their faces. They also guided me through the classes and showed me where to go and even picked me up and drove me to church at times. Eventually they started inviting me to have dinner over at their place too. This family really embraced the gospel in their lives, and they showed their devotion to Jesus Christ through genuine care and love for me. Because of their ministering, we became close friends, and I felt so much more unified with the branch and like we were one big family.
2. The Young Adults Who Were in Similar Circumstances
I also received a lot of help and support from other young single adults. I got really close with most of them early on in my conversion because most of us were the only members of the Church in our families. With the circumstances we were in, we relied on each other for understanding and provided a safe haven for each other. We would often meet up for meals and activities. Being in each other’s company, sharing our love for the gospel, and supporting each other helped me deepen my faith and look forward to some of the social aspects of church.
3. The Couple Who Embraced Ministering as More Than a Calling
The ministering efforts of one couple also made me feel like I had family members in the Church. I honestly considered them my grandparents in the Church—they treated me the way they would have treated a grandchild.
Of course, they were the young adult advisers in the district and it was their calling to minister to the young adults, but they never treated their responsibilities as a simple calling. They went above and beyond to find opportunities to care for us as young adults. If I or any other young adults in the area needed someone to talk to, someone to give us advice, or just a shoulder to lean on, this couple was there for us.
One particularly helpful exercise that the sister would do with me before my mission was to have us read one general conference talk each day and share our thoughts about it. We did this for months, up until the day before I left for my mission. The days leading up to missionary service can be stressful and hard, but I believe that her patience and willingness to do this exercise with me every day helped me get to where I am now.
Ministering Makes a Difference
Effective ministering can change a person’s life forever—I am proof of that—especially as we are willing to accept help. As it says in Alma 37:6, “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” And it’s true. The small acts of service that I received, like being invited to dinner by that loving family in my branch, receiving support from other young adults, and having the opportunity to read conference talks with that sister, made all the difference. Ministering isn’t meant to be difficult; it’s the simple acts of love and kindness that can turn around someone’s life by 180 degrees.
Because of these members’ willingness to see my needs and show me love, I had enough support to build my testimony, and I am serving a mission right now. The words of President Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, are true: “After all is said and done, true ministering is accomplished one by one with love as the motivation.” 1 And I know that as we rely on the Spirit to guide us, we can minister as Christ did and bring others to Him.