Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry is the purest model of ministering. We learn that He “went about doing good,”[1] noticing the unnoticed, lifting the weary, and healing the broken. He paused for the woman who touched His garment in faith and desperation, even when surrounded by a crowd.[2] He spoke with compassion to the Samaritan woman at the well, offering her living water and dignity.[3] He wept with Mary and Martha before raising Lazarus, showing that ministering includes mourning with those who mourn.[4]
President Russell M. Nelson taught that ministering is meant to reflect that same spirit of loving, lifting, and serving one another; it is not something we do to complete a task or an assignment, but a higher way of being—seeking inspiration, acting with love, and responding to real needs.[5] Instead of asking, “Did I complete my visit?” we should ask, “Did I help meet a need? Did I lift a burden? Did I follow the Spirit?” It means observing more than speaking and serving more than reporting.[6] It is something that empowers us, ordinary men and women, to make an extraordinary difference in our lives together as God’s children. This change invites inspired creativity.
We may worry that this form of ministering requires grand acts or major effort,[7] but the Lord’s pattern is clear: “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”[8] A thoughtful prayer, a sincere message, a quiet act of service, or a moment of listening can be powerful expressions of Christlike care. There is no single right way to minister. It usually begins with a quiet prompting or observation—an impression to send a message, make a visit, or offer help. What matters is that we act quickly with love and spiritual sensitivity.
“By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”
Alma 37:6
One night, I felt a strong prompting to reach out to a couple my wife and I have been assigned to minister to. When I called, it became clear why that feeling had come. They had been facing a very difficult week. The husband had been experiencing ongoing pain and weakness in his left arm and leg, making even simple daily tasks challenging. They were deeply concerned, yet their situation had forced them to delay seeking medical attention. I immediately made plans to meet them the next morning and go with them to a clinic so he could receive the care he needed. I could sense the relief in their voices as the call ended, and I felt deep gratitude for the prompting of the Spirit. We spent half of the next day at two different medical centers getting the treatment and medicine the husband needed, and I left grateful that the Lord had allowed me to help in a moment of real need.
One of the beautiful truths of ministering is that it changes hearts on both sides. When we serve, we grow and draw closer to the Savior. When we lift others, we are also lifted and more attuned to the whisperings of the Spirit. When we minister, we become His hands, His voice, and His presence in the lives of others. It is one of the Lord’s ways of ensuring that no one is forgotten, no one is left to struggle alone, and no one is beyond the reach of Christlike love.
In summary, ministering means observing, lifting, listening, and serving. It is to act with intention and compassion, to follow the Spirit, and to quietly make a difference—one person, one moment, one inspired act at a time. It is a covenant responsibility and a sacred opportunity.
President Nelson promised that as we embrace this holier approach, we will experience increased joy and spiritual power.[9] Ministering opens the door for heaven to work through us—and often, heaven works on us in the process.
[1] Acts 10:38.
[2] See Mark 5:25–34.
[3] See John 4:5–26.
[4] See John 11:33–35.
[5] See Russell M. Nelson, “Ministering with the Power and Authority of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 68–70, 75.
[6] See Jeffrey R. Holland, “Be With and Strengthen Them,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 102.
[7] See Jean B. Bingham, “Ministering as the Savior Does,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 104.
[8] Alma 37:6.
[9] See Russell M. Nelson, “Ministering with the Power and Authority of God,” 69–70.