Lesson Prepration Guide for "The Power of Ministering to the One"

In his General Conference talk, Elder Peter M. Johnson of the Seventy emphasizes the profound impact of ministering to individuals with love and compassion, following the example of Jesus Christ. He highlights the importance of becoming devoted disciples of Christ by focusing on personal connections, especially in challenging times. Elder Johnson encourages members to prioritize their discipleship and find strength and renewal through temple worship, living the doctrine of Christ, and partaking of the sacrament.

Ideas for Opening the Lesson

Begin with a personal story about a time when someone ministered to you in a meaningful way and how it impacted your life.
Show a short video clip or share a story from Church history about ministering to the one, such as the story of the Good Samaritan.
Ask class members to reflect on a time when they felt alone or unseen and how someone’s kindness made a difference.
Invite a class member to share their testimony about the power of ministering to others and how it has strengthened their faith.
Start with a brief discussion on what it means to be a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and how ministering plays a role in that journey.

Topics

Minister to the One with Compassion

Elder Johnson highlighted the importance of ministering to individuals with compassion, kindness, and without judgment, as exemplified by Jesus Christ. Ministering in this way helps others come unto Christ and feel His love.

Ministering in the Savior’s way involves compassion, kindness, patience, and love without judgment.

How can we ensure our ministering efforts are filled with compassion and kindness?
What are some examples from your life where you have seen or experienced ministering without judgment?
Why is it important to focus on the individual when ministering?
How can we better invite others to come unto Christ through our ministering efforts?
What changes can you make in your ministering approach to better align with the Savior’s example?

Find Christ in the Temple

Elder Johnson emphasized that regular worship in the temple helps us focus on Jesus Christ and become more devoted disciples. The temple is a place where sincere seekers of Christ will find Him.

Regular worship in the temple will help us. In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ.

How has regular temple worship impacted your relationship with Jesus Christ?
What can we do to prioritize temple attendance in our busy lives?
How can the temple help us become more devoted disciples of Christ?
What experiences have you had in the temple that strengthened your faith?
How can we encourage others to seek Christ in the temple?

Learn from Christ’s Example of Ministering

Elder Johnson shared stories from the scriptures, such as the Samaritan woman at the well and the lame man healed by Peter and John, to illustrate how Christ and His apostles ministered to individuals with love and compassion.

We learn from Jesus Christ the power of ministering to the one with love and without judgment.

What lessons can we learn from Christ’s interaction with the Samaritan woman?
How did Peter and John’s ministering to the lame man demonstrate Christ-like love?
What are some modern-day examples of ministering that reflect Christ’s example?
How can we apply these scriptural examples to our own ministering efforts?
Why is it important to minister with love and compassion, especially to those who feel unseen?

Overcome Feelings of Discouragement Through Ministering

Elder Johnson shared his personal experience of feeling discouraged and how the loving ministering of a companion helped him overcome those feelings and recognize the Holy Ghost again.

Each night as he witnessed my feelings of doubt and uncertainty, he would simply say to the younger Elder Johnson, "I love you."

How can we help others who are feeling discouraged or alone?
What role does love play in helping someone overcome feelings of doubt?
How can we be more aware of those around us who may be feeling unseen?
What personal experiences have you had where someone’s ministering helped you overcome discouragement?
How can we better recognize opportunities to minister to those in need?

Live the Doctrine of Christ to Minister Effectively

Elder Johnson taught that living the doctrine of Christ creates spiritual momentum and enhances our ability to minister to others. This involves daily study of the Book of Mormon and partaking of the sacrament.

Living the doctrine of Christ can produce the most powerful virtuous cycle, creating spiritual momentum in our lives.

What does it mean to live the doctrine of Christ?
How can living the doctrine of Christ enhance our ability to minister?
Why is daily study of the Book of Mormon important for our spiritual growth?
How does partaking of the sacrament strengthen our discipleship?
What are some practical ways we can incorporate the doctrine of Christ into our daily lives?

Additional Discussion Questions

What are some barriers that might prevent us from effectively ministering to others, and how can we overcome them?
How can we create a culture of ministering within our ward or branch?
What role does prayer play in our ministering efforts?
How can we better recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost in our ministering?
What impact does ministering have on our own spiritual growth?
How can we involve our families in ministering efforts?
What are some ways we can minister to those who are not members of our faith?
How can we ensure our ministering is guided by love rather than obligation?
What can we learn from the Savior’s interactions with those who were marginalized or outcast?
How can we measure the success of our ministering efforts?