Inspired Ministering

The assigned lesson topic for today was "Inspired Ministering" given during the Priesthood session by President Henry B. Eyring. Sister Kristin Collins (our mission president's wife) was so excited because she had prepared for today's discussion by listening to the talk every day this week as she exercised (Impressive! That was so motivational to me!) Our instructor, Sister Joanna Beck, then had to confess that she was not going to spend much time on the actual lesson! We all had to laugh but I'm sure Sister Collins was extra blessed this week from her persistent preparation.

Sister Beck then started with the example from President Eyring's talk of a persistent home teacher who was not welcomed yet he continued to reach out to an inactive and disinterested sister who was here from another country. During a crisis moment, this sister asked this home teacher for help with her 12 year old son. The home teacher reached out to the bishop and relief society and the ward rallied around this young man for a month. Because of this young man's experiences he continued to attend church even after his mom was able to return. President Eyring forecasted: "Now let us look into Eric’s future. We will not be surprised if he becomes a leader in the Church in his mother’s home country when his family returns there—all because of Saints who worked together in unity, under the direction of a bishop, to serve out of charity in their hearts and with the power of the Holy Ghost."

During women's conference, Sister Eubank shared a statement from Lucy Mack Smith, “We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instructions that we may all sit down in heaven together.” That is the heart of ministering! 

Four sisters were asked to share their experiences with ministering with us;  Vernita Granger, Leslie Winward Wright, Jany Matson and Vicki Ashton. Due to time restraints we will hear Vicki's comments next month but we were blessed by the perspectives from the first three today. 

Vernita Granger shared how 38 years ago she had four little children under the age of six and had just gone through a divorce. She moved from a little town (Idaho Falls) in Idaho to a big town in Idaho (Pocatello). She had lost her home, had no child support and was struggling. But her new ward welcomed her in with open arms. She said she will be eternally grateful for the ministering of her new bishop who helped guide her in becoming who she is today. (This good bishop by the way also happens to be Leslie Winward Wright's dad!) She went back to school in an effort to be able to provide for her family. As she was beginning her fourth year, the bishop called her in. He told her of a single adult conference in Bountiful, Utah that he wanted her to go to. She had returned recently from another conference and had no desire to go. It wasn't a convenient time and she didn't see the need. Her bishop insisted that she needed to go. He had arranged for babysitting, gave her gas money and had already signed her up for the conference. She went. At this conference, she met her husband Brother Terry Granger! "We must cherish one another, WATCH OVER one another, comfort one another and gain instructions that we may all sit down in heaven together."

Sister Granger has also had the opportunity to be on the giving end of ministering. An inactive sister did not open the door when she knocked for an appointment. She felt that she should try again. She decided to leave and went to the grocery store. The feeling did not leave her so she returned and knocked again. This time, the sister opened the door in tears. She had just received the news that her husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer. These two sisters developed a friendship as they went through this tragedy together. "We must cherish one another, watch over one another, COMFORT ONE ANOTHER and gain instructions that we may all sit down in heaven together."

Sister Leslie Winward Wright moved to Arizona from that "big town" of Pocatello, Idaho. She did not love it. She knew this was where she was supposed to be but she was not enjoying the change. Her visiting teacher saved her. She basically told her "What are you going to do? You live here so just decide you like it!" So, she did! This visiting teacher continues to be a voice of reason for Leslie when she needs it. Leslie also said she discovered years later that her parents were ministering all along as she was growing up (Vernita's story is case in point!) Her dad had an inactive brother that he ministered to often several times a month for years. That man later served as a bishop. When Leslie was assigned in her last ward an inactive sister she thought this was her opportunity to minister like her dad did. She said her story has a different outcome since this sister has only attended church once in 12 years but she adores her! She was so concerned with the ward change and wanted to make sure this sister was taken care of. "We must CHERISH ONE ANOTHER, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instructions that we may all sit down in heaven together."

Leslie talked about the strength she has received from different visiting teachers and how she has received help and guidance from different visiting teachers. She said she knows some feel that they don't enjoy being "assigned" a friend but she has never felt that way. She has been blessed by these assignments. She mentioned a comment Sister Amanda Morphy Glenn made once when a friend remarked "You Mormons are so lucky. Wherever you move you have an army to help you!" 

Sister Jany Matson shared a recent experience she described as "ministering outside the box". She was having a surgery but it was a planned experience and she was prepared. Meals were in the freezer, she had her Book of Mormon for the recovery time in the hospital. She had tons of offers from friends and family offering help and assistance. But, she still had a feeling of emptiness. After the surgery she was only to return for part of church for the next couple of weeks. On the third week she was able to sit in sacrament meeting. A sister she did not know (our visiting sister from Utah, Janice Neerings) sat down next to her. They exchanged pleasantries and Jany felt a familiar desire to watch over her. She wanted to make sure she got to the restroom safely and knew where the next class was so introduced her to another sister since she would be teaching a different class. As they separated at the end of sacrament, Sister Neerings turned to Jany and said "You ministered to me today." Jany's emptiness was filled! She recognized that she had been missing her mother and mother-in-law and Sister Neerings was able to remind her of them. She did not even know what she was needing but our Savior did and he was able to bring them together. "WE MUST CHERISH ONE ANOTHER, WATCH OVER ONE ANOTHER, COMFORT ONE ANOTHER AND GAIN INSTRUCTIONS THAT WE MAY ALL SIT DOWN IN HEAVEN TOGETHER"

Sister Rachael Bonnell Inman concluded by encouraging us to let each other know when we are ministering to them since often people do not know when they have impacted us. 

I look forward to sitting down in heaven together with all of you dear sisters! You buoy me up every week!