Fear over Service

There are many reasons why people don’t fulfill their ministering assignments*. But one excuse in particular stands out to me. I have often heard many different sisters express that they are afraid to minister. Their fear comes because they don’t know their assigned sisters very well, and they are afraid of the awkwardness that can be present.

You are not alone in your anxiety! But you should not let your fear stop you!

Think about this: you are going to associate with people that you haven’t met before for the rest of your life! We meet new people when we go to a job interview, or meet co-workers for the first time, or go on dates, or attend parties, etc. Ministering is good and needed practice for the skill of making good impressions on people.

More important than that, however, is the fact that the Lord has asked that we do it. And He has good reason why.

Julie B. Beck stated the following (which can be applied to the brethren too), “A sister in this Church has no other responsibility, outside of her family, that has the potential to do as much good as visiting teaching [which is now renamed ministering].” (Julie B. Beck, "Relief Society: A Sacred Work," Ensign, November 2009, 110–14).

It’s such an important calling to serve others. It helps to take it step by step because “by small and simple things are great things come to pass.” (Alma 37:6)

My phenomenal friend Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt shared the following during the 2018 BYU Women’s Conference: “Christ speaks love to us...in the ordinary. This is Christ’s pattern. His whole life was spent in loving people where they are...He used bread, fish, and lilies to teach profound doctrines. He healed while walking through streets and He loved always.”

As amazing as Christ was, He showed love for other people through very simple and ordinary actions. We can do the same.

You don’t have to consider yourself to be the most friendly person in the world to be good at ministering to others. It takes ordinary actions like saying hello whenever you see them, sending a text, writing a birthday card, sharing a meaningful General Conference quote or scripture, or getting together to watch a movie or play games. “[Ministering] looks like becoming part of someone’s life and caring about him or her.” (Jean B. Bingham, “Ministering as the Savior does,” April 2018 General Conference)

For me, I feared ministering because I felt pressured to win other women’s friendship and trust, and I was afraid they wouldn’t like me for whatever reason. I do better when I stop worrying about myself and focus on the needs of other people--meaning my companion, our sisters we are assigned to, and even the sisters that are assigned to minister to me. Is it going to be awkward sometimes? Sure. But you will be blessed for your service and your love for other people will grow.

I testify that by truly caring about others, you forget about your own anxieties and fears. May we answer our calling to minister by saying,

Lord, we will answer thee gladly,

"Yes, blessed Master, we will!

Make us thy true under-shepherds;

Give us a love that is deep.

Send us out into the desert,

Seeking thy wandering sheep."

(Hymn 221 Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd)

*In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we as members are assigned to serve and befriend specific people. We do so with an assigned companion.