Frankly, I’ve been a little concerned about the way the new concept of “ministering” has been introduced and received in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Much of the discussion of moving from being a home or visiting teacher to a minister has stressed that ministers operate by the Spirit and show up when there is a great crisis, need, or problem of some sort. Frankly, a number of people, both ministers and those being ministered to, have sighed relief and said either, “Well, my people are active and don’t have big problems so they don’t need a regular visit and certainly not a regular lesson.” Or, “We are an active and very involved family in the Church; we have few problems and we are relieved, we don’t need to be bothered every month.”
Wanting to be faithful, wanting to magnify my calling, and most of all wanting to understand the real nature of my duty I went to work. Much of the discussion has revolved around the administrative natures of the changes, almost none of which helped me as an individual minister. I decided to see what the Lord has said about ministering in the church. I found half a dozen passages which were very helpful. They defined ministering in other terms, terms which surfaced again and again. They included, “watch over,” “be with,” “strengthen,” “nourish,” “shepherd,” “love,” “care for,” and “remember.”
Below I reproduce those passages with some emphasis to highlight things I think expand our understanding of both the term “minister,” and those individual words themselves. Below that I will have an observation or two.
Mosiah 23:18 18) Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.
Alma 5: 59-61 59) For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him. 60) And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.61) And now I, Alma, do command you in the language of him who hath commanded me, that ye observe to do the words which I have spoken unto you.
Moroni 6:4 4) And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
D&C 20:38, 42 38) The duty of the elders, priests, teachers, deacons, and members of the church of Christ.... 42) And to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the church;
D&C 20: 53-55 53) The teacher's duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;54) And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking; 55 And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty.
Most impressive to me was a revelation given to Sidney Rigdon to watch over Joseph Smith:
D&C 35:18-19 18) And I have given unto him [Joseph Smith] the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world, and the things which shall come from this time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not, another will I plant in his stead. 19) Wherefore, watch over him that his faith fail not, and it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that knoweth all things.
And I liked this from Elder Holland:
Indeed, the report that matters most is how you have blessed and cared for those within your stewardship, which has virtually nothing to do with a specific calendar or a particular location.What matters is that you love your people and are fulfilling the commandment ‘to watch over the church always.(1)
Reflections upon the above passages:
It seems to me that the Lord has always been concerned for the spiritual welfare and progress of his people, from convert to someone like me with a foot and a knee in the grave. So he organized things so properly authorized people would be given stewardship over various groups to see that spirituality was developed, maintained, and increased and his children received attentive, loving ministrations throughout their lives. Those groups include every family and individual, as well as quorums, Relief Society, Young Men and Women, Primary, Wards, Stakes, and Regions.
When rightly understood, I believe, these and other passages suggest that everyone needs someone to regularly remember, be with, watch over, nourish, strengthen, love, and bless them. Watching over is not snupervising; it includes at least acting like a shepherd to watch for potential dangers and evils and help provide protection like a shepherd does for its flock. It is to “keep them in the right way ... continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ.” It is to “see there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking.” The word “always” also shows up in the context of watching over the church. Ministers nourish the Saints. President Nelson said, “Just as the body requires daily food for survival, the spirit needs nourishment as well. The spirit is nurtured by eternal truth.”(2) To nourish involves providing things pertaining to righteousness, and with the good word of God. The metaphor "nourish" implies at least necessity, regularity, consistency, and quality.
So I ask, “How can my ministers be with me, strengthen and nourish me, bless me, watch over and care for me, teach, exhort, and love me if they are not regularly in my home and my life? If they only show up when the Spirit prompts them that I have some emotional or physical crisis, problem, or need, how can they assist me in the ongoing sustaining of my spiritual life and testimony, my steady progress in things pertaining to righteousness, and protection from Satan’s doctrines, philosophies, and tactics, from his “ravening wolves?” How much care and love will I receive from infrequent visits or messages only when it is thought I’m in special need? These scriptures tell me I (and everyone else) am in constant need of strength, nourishment, encouragement, love, being cared about and watched over. My goodness, if Joseph Smith needed Sidney Rigdon to be assigned to watch over him “that his faith fail not,” who am I to say to my “minister,” I’m doing well, I don’t need your visit? Who am I to say that my family does not need to be taught, exhorted, and even have the gospel expounded to them regularly by a caring friend? People who think these things can be passed over are self-deluded and in greater need than they know.
BTW, happy Fathers Day!
Let’s think together again, soon.
Notes:
1. Jeffrey R. Holland, “Emissaries to the Church,” Ensign (November 2016): 62.
2. Russell M. Nelson, Accomplishing the Impossible, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2015), p. 42.
