Elder Linder

Part 5 of “The Devoted Life: Exploring the Path of Discipleship”

In our exploration of discipleship this week, we’ve examined what it means to be a disciple of Christ, discussed the cost of discipleship, learned about walking by faith, and considered how to face opposition. Today, we’ll focus on how discipleship finds its purest expression in ministering to others.

In one of his most memorable teachings, King Benjamin declared, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). He doesn’t separate service to God from service to others because they’re inseparably connected. This principle reveals something crucial about authentic discipleship: it naturally flows outward in love and service to others.

The Savior exemplified this principle perfectly. The gospels repeatedly use the phrase “moved with compassion” (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; Mark 6:34) to describe Jesus’s motivation for serving others. Whether healing the sick, feeding the hungry, or teaching the confused, His ministry was characterized by noticing and responding to individual needs. As His disciples, we’re called to follow this pattern.

This call to minister is beautifully captured in the Lord’s instruction to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5). Each phrase in this verse suggests personal, individual ministry—the kind that requires us to notice and respond to specific needs.

When we truly understand this principle, ministering becomes less about programs and assignments and more about developing Christlike love for others. It’s not just about doing good things—it’s about becoming more like the Savior, who “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) as a natural expression of His character.

President Russell M. Nelson has taught: “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.” This organized effort to minister, however, should flow from genuine discipleship rather than mere duty.

Consider how the Savior’s ministry was marked by:

• Noticing individual needs
• Responding with compassion
• Taking time for personal connection
• Meeting both temporal and spiritual needs
• Inviting others to grow

As disciples seeking to minister as He did, we can ask ourselves:

• What talents, resources, and abilities has the Lord blessed me with that I could use to serve others?
• When was the last time I prayed specifically to recognize opportunities to minister?
• Who might need not just help, but hope and encouragement right now?
• Which of my neighbors or ward members haven’t I connected with recently?
• What promptings have I received lately about someone that I haven’t acted on yet?

Sometimes we hesitate to minister because we feel our offerings are inadequate. But remember what we learned about the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4) and the Brother of Jared’s stones (Ether 3:1-6)—the Lord can magnify our smallest efforts when offered with pure intent.

Today, I invite you to look for opportunities to minister in your daily path. It might be as simple as:

• Sending an encouraging message
• Offering a specific prayer for someone
• Taking time to truly listen
• Sharing an uplifting thought
• Meeting a practical need

Remember, ministering isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about consistent, caring efforts to lift and strengthen others. As we follow the Savior’s example of noticing and responding to individual needs, we’ll find our discipleship deepening and becoming more authentic.

I testify that as we minister to others, we draw closer to the Savior. In serving His children, we come to know Him better and become more like Him. True discipleship and ministering are inseparable—each strengthens and enriches the other.