Ministering—“That Ye Love One Another; as I Have Loved You”

See how ministering changes lives

Sister Yee begins with her father’s story to show that simple, faithful ministering can help someone turn to God, change deeply, and bless an entire family.

Bless this ministering couple for helping my dad. They didn’t judge him for where he was in his life. They walked with him and helped him to develop his relationship with God.

Because these humble and devoted disciples of the Savior quietly ministered to a seemingly lost and dejected man, my family and I have been eternally blessed.

When we choose to minister in our inspired assignments and our daily interactions, we are helping to bless someone’s father, someone’s sister, someone’s son.

When we minister, we are helping to answer each other’s prayers. We are the Savior’s hands.

• Ministering can begin with simple invitations and consistent presence.
• Christlike ministering does not judge people for where they are.
• Ministering helps people strengthen their relationship with God.
• The effects of ministering often extend beyond one person to bless entire families.
• Ministering allows disciples to become instruments in answering prayers.

• When have you seen a small act of kindness or steady friendship bless someone over time?
• Have you or your family ever been blessed by someone who ministered without judging?
• What experience have you had with an invitation that helped you come closer to God?
• When have you recognized that someone was an answer to your prayer?
• Can you share a time when another person’s quiet service changed the direction of a life?

Choose to love as the Savior loves

The talk teaches that even when we cannot solve every problem, we can always choose to love and minister as Jesus Christ would.

We may not be able to fix difficult or heartbreaking circumstances as we hope; some changes are not ours to make. But we can choose to love and minister as the Savior would.

Ministering is truly loving and caring for others as the Savior would.

It is a way of being; it is the way of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is not a program or a checklist; ministering is the essence of who God is and who we can become as we follow Him.

• Ministering is centered on love, not merely solving problems.
• Some burdens cannot be removed immediately, but people can still be loved.
• Ministering reflects the character of Jesus Christ.
• True ministering is not mechanical; it is a Christlike way of living.

• When have you been unable to fix a situation but still been able to help someone feel loved?
• What has helped you learn that presence can matter as much as solutions?
• Can you share a time when someone ministered to you in a simple but Christlike way?
• When have you felt prompted to care for a person rather than just complete a task?

Honor covenants through ministering

Sister Yee explains that ministering is part of our baptismal and temple covenants and is one way we take upon ourselves the Savior’s name.

We are not called to or released from ministering.

It is part of fulfilling the covenants we made at baptism and in the temple.

We covenanted to take upon us the Savior’s name—becoming as He is as we sacrifice and consecrate our lives to Him.

When we minister as He would, we begin to think, feel, and love as He would.

• Ministering is a covenant responsibility, not just a church assignment.
• Disciples take upon themselves the name of Christ by serving as He serves.
• As members minister in Christlike ways, they become more like Him.
• Ministering is part of lifelong discipleship.

• How has serving others helped you better understand your baptismal or temple covenants?
• When have you felt that ministering changed your heart, not just someone else’s circumstances?
• Can you share an experience when service helped you feel closer to the Savior?
• What does taking upon yourself the name of Christ mean to you in everyday relationships?

Minister one by one as the Savior does

The talk emphasizes that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ work personally with individuals, and disciples should follow that same pattern of caring for ‘the one.’

Our Father in Heaven carries out His eternal work by ministering to the individual needs of His children one by one.

The Savior showed us this pattern often during His mortal ministry as He compassionately blessed, healed, and cared for “the one.”

He invites us to do likewise—to minister in individual and personal ways, ways that help us to feel the love of God.

When we feel loved and seen by Him, it changes everything.

And when we bless the one, we bless the whole.

• God’s work is personal and individual.
• Jesus Christ modeled one-by-one ministering during His mortal ministry.
• People are changed when they feel seen and loved by God.
• Blessing individuals strengthens families, wards, and the Church as a whole.

• When have you felt seen personally by the Lord through another person?
• Can you share a moment when focusing on one person made a significant difference?
• What experience has taught you that individual care matters deeply?
• When have you been prompted to notice someone who might otherwise be overlooked?

Draw love from the Savior’s Atonement

Sister Yee roots ministering in the Atonement of Jesus Christ, showing that His sacrificial love is both the model and the source of our ability to love others.

The Savior shows us the ultimate individuality of God’s love through His atoning sacrifice and the divine capacity He has to heal and minister to you and me on an intimate level.

Jesus Christ chose to suffer for our sins and to atone in indescribable agony that we might be saved and receive divine succor.

All this He did without the assurance that we would love Him in return.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This is the kind of love He has for you and me. And this is the kind of love He desires us to have for each other: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.”

Through the Savior’s Atonement we can come to love in ways that may feel impossible.

• The Atonement reveals the deeply personal nature of God’s love.
• Christ loved and sacrificed for us while we were still imperfect.
• The Savior commands His disciples to love others as He loves them.
• Through His grace, disciples can develop a love that exceeds natural capacity.

• When have you felt the Savior’s love for you personally?
• Can you share an experience when the Atonement helped you love or forgive someone?
• When has Christ’s example changed the way you treated another person?
• What experience has taught you that divine help can make difficult love possible?

Exercise faith when ministering feels uncomfortable

The talk acknowledges that ministering often requires sacrifice and vulnerability, but teaches that the Lord helps those who act in faith.

Choosing to minister isn’t always convenient or comfortable.

It requires sacrifice, faith, vulnerability, and trusting things will work out as we let God prevail.

When we pause and choose to care for someone over something, His Spirit and love can enter in and we can receive the peace and perspective that we really need.

A young sister shared that she often feels nervous about ministering because she doesn’t know how others will respond.

She smiled and said, “I go—and it usually turns out much better than I thought.”

She exercises faith, and the Lord helps her.

• Ministering may stretch disciples beyond convenience and comfort.
• Fear of awkwardness or rejection can be overcome through faith.
• Choosing people over tasks invites the Spirit.
• The Lord blesses those who act despite uncertainty.

• When have you felt nervous to reach out but were glad you did?
• Can you share a time when acting in faith led to a better outcome than you expected?
• What sacrifice have you made to care for someone else?
• When has choosing a person over your schedule brought spiritual peace?

Trust the Lord to help you fulfill your assignment

Sister Yee teaches that members do not minister alone; the Lord provides help, revelation, priesthood power, and authority as they serve in covenant faithfulness.

As we minister in faith, we do not go alone. The Lord will be with us.

He will “provide [the] means whereby [we] can accomplish the thing which he has commanded”—including the blessing of God’s priesthood power as we keep our covenants and His priesthood authority to represent Him through our assignment.

The Lord knows the hearts of those we minister to. He loves them and He loves you. He will help you to bless them in the ways they need.

Think of the significance of our ministering assignments.

Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies receive revelation from the Lord to extend inspired assignments to you and me—assignments to represent Him and labor with Him in caring for God’s children.

We are invited to give “the God and Father of us all a helping hand with His staggering task of answering prayers, … drying tears, and strengthening feeble knees.”

• The Lord accompanies those who minister in faith.
• God provides means to accomplish what He commands.
• Ministering assignments are inspired and significant.
• Members represent the Savior in caring for God’s children.
• Ministering is part of God’s work of answering prayers and comforting souls.

• When have you felt the Lord help you know how to serve someone?
• Can you share an experience when an assignment proved to be inspired?
• When have you seen God provide a way for you to do something difficult?
• What experience has helped you see ministering as representing the Savior?

Find belonging, joy, and healing through ministering

The talk promises that ministering blesses both the giver and the receiver, bringing belonging, purpose, healing, and joy through Jesus Christ.

Ministering by the Spirit invites the Savior’s healing into our lives and the lives of those we minister to.

I often find peace, clarity, healing, and purpose when I minister. I find the Savior when I minister.

If you want to feel grounded, gain a sense of divine belonging, and make a real difference in the world, I invite you to follow the Savior and minister in His name.

Never was the need greater than now for souls to be lifted, strengthened, and healed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

So many of us desperately need to feel of His love.

When we offer His love and belonging to others, we will find it ourselves.

The Savior promised, “Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

I believe our Father in Heaven wants you to be happy. He loves you. His work, including ministering, is designed to bring you and me the greatest joy we can experience.

I testify that ministering not only “brings forth the blessings of heaven,” it is the way of heaven.

• Ministering invites healing through the Savior into both lives involved.
• Serving others helps disciples find peace, clarity, and purpose.
• Ministering creates divine belonging.
• As people give Christlike love, they receive it more fully themselves.
• God’s work of ministering is designed to bring joy.

• When have you felt peace or healing while serving someone else?
• Can you share a time when helping another person strengthened your own faith?
• When have you found a sense of belonging through service?
• What experience has shown you that losing yourself in service helps you find joy?
• When have you felt the Savior more clearly because you were ministering?

Expand your love beyond familiar circles

Sister Yee teaches that the Savior ministered beyond His closest relationships and that ministering assignments help disciples ensure that no one is forgotten.

The Savior did not limit His ministering to His family and close associations. He ministered to all and invites us to do the same.

We receive ministering assignments to grow our capacity to love others and to ensure no one is forgotten.

We pray for them, care for their needs, and strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.

• Christlike love reaches beyond natural friendships and family ties.
• Ministering assignments help members love more broadly.
• The purpose of ministering includes remembering and strengthening every soul.
• Ministering includes prayer, care, and helping others build faith in Jesus Christ.

• When have you been blessed by someone outside your usual circle of friends?
• Can you share an experience of learning to love someone you did not know well at first?
• When has a ministering assignment expanded your compassion?
• What experience has taught you the importance of making sure no one is forgotten?