The Lord Jesus Christ Teaches Us to Minister
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- What does Elder Uceda mean when he refers to Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd?
- How does Elder Uceda use the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to illustrate the concept of ministering?
- What personal experience does Elder Uceda share to highlight the importance of ministering to individuals?
- What role does the concept of "one" play in Elder Uceda's talk?
- How does Elder Uceda connect the teachings of President Russell M. Nelson to the concept of ministering?
Topics
Understanding the Role of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd
Elder Uceda emphasizes the role of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd, highlighting His loving, caring, and nurturing nature. He draws on various scriptures from the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants to illustrate this role.
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. …
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
“Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd.”
- How does Elder Uceda describe the role of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd?
- What scriptures does Elder Uceda use to illustrate the role of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd?
- What attributes of the Good Shepherd does Elder Uceda highlight?
- How can you emulate Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, in your own ministering efforts?
- What attributes of the Good Shepherd can you work on developing in your own life?
Applying the Parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son to Ministering
Elder Uceda uses the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to illustrate the concept of ministering. He emphasizes the importance of caring for individuals one by one, just as the shepherd sought the lost sheep, the woman sought the lost coin, and the father welcomed back the prodigal son.
He responded by presenting three beautiful stories that we have come to know as the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the prodigal son.
The key number in each of these stories, however, is the number one.
- How does Elder Uceda use the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to illustrate the concept of ministering?
- What is the significance of the number "one" in these parables, according to Elder Uceda?
- How can you apply the lessons from these parables in your own efforts to minister to others?
- How can you show love and compassion to "the one" in your own life?
Learning from Personal Experiences of Ministering
Elder Uceda shares a personal experience of ministering to a man in Guatemala who had stopped attending church. This experience illustrates the importance of reaching out to individuals, showing them love and understanding, and helping them feel valued and needed.
Suddenly, I heard myself saying, “Brother Florian, as a servant of the Lord, I apologize for our not being there for you. Please, forgive us. Give us another chance to show you that we do love you. That we need you. That you are important to us.”
The following Sunday he was back. He had a long conversation with his bishop and remained active. A few months later he passed away—but he had come back. He had come back.
- What personal experience does Elder Uceda share to highlight the importance of ministering to individuals?
- What impact did Elder Uceda's ministering efforts have on the individual he reached out to?
- How can you show love and understanding to those who may feel out of place or criticized?
- What steps can you take to help others feel valued and needed in your own ministering efforts?
Emphasizing the Importance of Ministering in Our Day
Elder Uceda references the teachings of President Russell M. Nelson to emphasize the continued importance of ministering in our day. He highlights the need for an organized, directed effort to minister to individual children of God and their families.
“A hallmark of the Lord’s true and living Church will always be an organized, directed effort to minister to individual children of God and their families. Because it is His Church, we as His servants will minister to the one, just as He did. We will minister in His name, with His power and authority, and with His loving-kindness.”
- How does Elder Uceda connect the teachings of President Russell M. Nelson to the concept of ministering?
- What does President Nelson say about the role of ministering in the Lord's true and living Church?
- How can you make your ministering efforts more organized and directed?
- How can you minister to individuals in the name of Christ, with His power and authority, and with His loving-kindness?
Recognizing the Urgency and Love in Ministering
Elder Uceda emphasizes the urgency and love that should be present in our ministering efforts. He draws on the parables and his personal experience to illustrate the deep love and compassion that should motivate our efforts to reach out to and care for others.
Can we feel the urgency in the heart of the man who lost only one sheep? Or the urgency in the heart of the woman who lost just one coin? Or the ineffable love and compassion in the heart of the prodigal’s father?
I testify that with our Savior’s help, we can love His precious sheep and minister to them as He would.
- How does Elder Uceda describe the urgency and love that should be present in our ministering efforts?
- What examples does Elder Uceda use to illustrate these feelings of urgency and love?
- How can you cultivate a sense of urgency and love in your own ministering efforts?
- How can you show love and compassion in your efforts to reach out to and care for others?
