“We Follow the Master Minister,” Liahona, Oct. 2024.
We Follow the Master Minister
Jesus Christ is our perfect example of compassionate ministering to all.
Ideal Christ, by Hiram Powers, Smithsonian American Art Museum, museum purchase in memory of Ralph Cross Johnson
As I attend stake conferences throughout the Church, I have the wonderful opportunity to go with stake presidents to visit and minister to individual members and families. On these ministering visits, I sometimes wonder what to say and do, especially when those I visit are going through difficult challenges. But instead of focusing on what I might say or do, I have found that focusing on the Master minister—our Savior, Jesus Christ—helps me most when ministering to others.
As in all good things, He is our perfect example. When we leave our homes—and get out of our comfort zones—to minister to those around us as He would, the Savior will guide us in our efforts. Our ministering will then become more meaningful than anything we could possibly say or do on our own.
Do Not Pass By
When asked, “Who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:29), Jesus took the opportunity to share a parable. He told of a man on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho who “fell among thieves” and was robbed, beaten, and left “half dead” on the road (Luke 10:30).
Soon a priest came by. The priest must have seen that the man was in critical condition, but he did not stop to help. He “passed by on the other side” of the road (Luke 10:31). Next, a Levite “looked on” how badly the man was injured. He too “passed by” (Luke 10:32). Then a Samaritan came. Jesus described the Samaritan as having something the priest and Levite did not have: the Samaritan “had compassion on [the man]” (Luke 10:33) and “went to him, … bound up his wounds, … and took care of him” (Luke 10:34).
Le Bon Samaritain (The Good Samaritan), by François Sicard
The parable of the good Samaritan is not just about priests, Levites, or Samaritans. It’s really about us. We have brothers and sisters left wounded on the side of the road of life. They can be anyone—friends, family, neighbors, community members, and even those sitting in the chapel with us on Sunday. Do we see them and pass by? Or do we minister to them with compassion as the good Samaritan did? Most we see will not have visible wounds. Many suffer silently and do not ask for help. The only way to be sure in our approach is to meet others with the love and compassion that the Samaritan showed. Christlike ministering means giving compassion to all.
Pray to See the Needs of Others
While Jesus walked through a crowd, a woman suffering for 12 years from an issue of blood reached out to Him in faith. When she touched the hem of Jesus’s garment, He felt that power or “virtue [had] gone out of [Him].” Jesus turned to the woman and said, “Be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (see Luke 8:43–48).
When “one sick of the palsy” was brought to Jesus through a roof by his friends, Jesus first healed the paralytic spiritually. “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee,” He said. In response, the scribes accused Jesus of blasphemy. To help those present understand that He has “power on earth to forgive sins,” Jesus told the man, “Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” Immediately, the man “arose … before them all” (see Mark 2:3–12). Christ’s power to heal the sick physically was the same power He used to heal the spiritually sick.
These two instances—and many others—show that the Savior perfectly understands both the temporal and spiritual needs of others and ministers to them according to those needs. We can do the same. While we cannot perfectly see the needs of others, as the Savior does, we can pray for the ability to see those needs, for guidance in how to address them, and to be the answer to someone else’s prayer.
Once we see, we must also act with compassion. What is the point of seeing if we don’t do anything? If we see and do nothing, we can lose our spiritual vision. As we act, even in small ways, we will receive more of the Savior’s light to better see and minister to those around us.
Be with Them
At times, we may be hesitant to minister to others. We may worry how others will react or how receptive they will be. This has happened to me. In those moments, the most important thing we can do is be with them and love them. Again, the Savior is our perfect example.
Just before the resurrected Savior appeared to the Nephites, they had experienced many catastrophes and profound darkness. They were desperate for relief. The Savior could have just spoken to them from heaven and told them what they needed to hear (see 3 Nephi 9–10), but He appeared to them and went among them. He taught them and prayed with and for them. (See 3 Nephi 11–19.)
The Savior also asked them: “Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy. …
“And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth … with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him” (3 Nephi 17:7, 9; emphasis added).
If you are unsure or anxious about ministering to others, do not worry so much about what to say or do. Start by just being there. President Russell M. Nelson has taught that “good inspiration is based upon good information.” As you are with them, you will learn about them and know when to visit when they are sick, when to offer and give priesthood blessings, when to listen and “bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light,” “mourn with those that mourn; … comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:8–9), and rejoice with those who rejoice! Do not hesitate. You will be inspired in what the Savior needs you to say and do as you minister.
Follow His Pattern
The first action the Savior took when He appeared to the Nephites was to tell them to “arise and come forth unto [Him]” and to “thrust [their] hands into [His] side, and … feel the prints of the nails in [His] hands and … feet” (3 Nephi 11:14).
The Savior did not want them to just see Him. They had already witnessed Him “[descend] out of heaven … and [stand] in the midst of them” (3 Nephi 11:8). He wanted each of them to come unto Him and to feel and know Him and what He had done for all the world. “And this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth” (3 Nephi 11:15; emphasis added).
He also called twelve disciples and “gave unto them power to baptize” (3 Nephi 11:22) and taught the doctrine of baptism (see 3 Nephi 11:23–27). He then commanded the Nephites to stop all contention. “Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another,” He said, “but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away” (3 Nephi 11:30).
In many ways, the Savior’s ministry in the Book of Mormon serves as a pattern for our own ministering. We can help our brothers and sisters come to Jesus Christ, encourage them to be baptized and obtain the other ordinances of salvation, and love them and be peacemakers, as the prophet has taught us.
At times it won’t be easy to reach out to others. We may even find ourselves in our own trials that make it more difficult to feel motivated to minister in the Savior’s way. Trials and difficulties happened to the Redeemer in His ministry. As we take upon ourselves His name and stand as witnesses of Him (see Mosiah 18:9), we will be asked to walk as He did and reach out and love those with whom we come into contact.
If we will follow Jesus Christ—the Master minister—and minister to others as He would, He will strengthen and empower us. Through our ministering, we can bless others’ lives and find peace and joy for our own.