How We Can Minister

Preparation: Read Bishop Gerald Causse’s talks from the April 2018 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Entitled, It Is All about People. 

Materials:

Basket full of items such as cans of food or bags of flour or you could simply use a large pile of books.

Markers

Paper

Opening Song: If the Savior Stood Beside Me 

Opening Prayer:

Gain Attention:

Place a basket full of cans of food in front of the family. Have each child come up and take turns trying to move the basket to a designated location. Allow them to struggle for a bit and ask if there is another way we can get the cans to the location. Then have each children take a can or a two at a time to the designated location.

Instruction:

Read this quote by President M. Russell Ballard,

“What is most important in our Church responsibilities is not the statistics that are reported or the meetings that are held but whether or not individual people—ministered to one at a time just as the Savior did—have been lifted and encouraged and ultimately changed.”

Explain that just as the children could not move the basket of cans all at once we cannot take care of those around us in our wards, neighborhood, and family all at once. We must take care of them one at a time as the Savior did.

Read this Quote by Bishop Causse you may even want to pause after each question he poses and have the family answer:

“Have you ever asked yourself what it would be like if the Savior Visited your ward or branch next Sunday? What would He do? Would He be worried to know if the visual aid were good enough or if the chairs were positioned properly in the classroom? Or would He find someone He could love, teach and bless? Perhaps He would seek out a new member or a friend to welcome, a sick brother or sister in need of comfort, or a wavering young person who needed to be lifted and encouraged.

What classes would Jesus visit? I wouldn’t be surprise if he visited the Primary children first. He would probably kneel down and speak to them eye to eye. He would express His love to them, tell them stories, congratulate them on their drawings, and testify of His Father in Heaven. His attitude would be simple, genuine, and without affection. Can we do likewise?”

Give each family member a piece of paper or you could even have them write on the outside of a can of food. Instruct them to write down the name of an individual they will minister to or an idea of a way they plan to minister one by one this week. You may also want to come up with a way you can minister one by one as a family this week.

Read this quote from Bishop Causse’s talk,

“I promise you that as you strive to be one the Lord’s agenda, nothing will become more important than finding those people you can help and bless. At church you will focus on teaching individuals and touching their hearts. Your concern will be to foster a spiritual experience rather than organize a perfect activity, to minister to your fellow members rather than check a box for the number of visits you have made. It will not be about you but about them whom we call our brothers and our sisters.

[The Church of Jesus Christ’s] strength and vitality come from the daily actions of millions of His disciples who strive each day to follow His supreme example by caring for others.”

Conclude with your Testimony

Activity Ideas:

• ·        Make a treat to share with another family and doorbell ditch it
• ·        Go for a bike ride
• ·        Make card to send to others to brighten their day

Treat Idea:

Make s’mores in the microwave.