Continue to Minister in Our Families

Jan 2011
by Elder Anthony D. Perkins of the Seventy
Asia Area President

Our presidency has communicated a three-fold vision for the Asia Area. First, “rescue one by one” through daily efforts to build faith in and testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Second, “priesthood ordinances and covenants” by which souls come unto Christ and feel the power of godliness. Third, “His Church established” with faithful individuals, happy families, unified wards and branches, strong stakes, and busy temples.

Perhaps the most important place to “rescue one by one” is within our own families. Traveling throughout the Asia Area, I meet many Saints who are the only Church member or only active member in their home. They deeply desire that parents, siblings, spouses, and/or children join them in full activity in the household of God. Often, members in such circumstances ask me, “How can I help my family accept and live the gospel?” My counsel is that given by Jesus Christ to the Nephites:

“… continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them” (3 Nephi 18:32).

We can receive comfort and take courage from scriptural accounts of individuals who displayed the faith to “continue to minister” for extended periods of time to their non-member or less-active family members, even if their loved ones did not choose to accept and live the gospel.

1. Child to parent. When Abraham was a young man, he lived in the wicked city of Ur. Ur was filled with people who no longer believed in God and worshipped idols made of wood and stone (see Abraham 1:5-11). Abraham learned of the gospel and was ordained to the priesthood by Melchizedek. Abraham loved his family and friends and tried to teach them the truth, and he invited all of Ur’s citizens to repent.

The people became angry and plotted to take his life, and even his father Terah joined in the plan to offer Abraham as a sacrifice to the idols. An angel appeared to save Abraham (see Abraham 1:15), and then a terrible famine came upon the land. Abraham later records, “… my father was sorely tormented because of the famine, and he repented…” (Abraham 1:30).

Throughout the remainder of his life, Abraham continued to minister to and pray for his father who struggled with the sin of idol worship (see Abraham 2:5, 17). Abraham is an example to us of patiently extending love and concern to our parents over decades.

2. Sibling to sibling. The prophet Nephi exemplifies long-suffering and faith in inviting our brothers and sisters to hear and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout the Book of Mormon’s early chapters, we read of Nephi teaching and testifying to his brothers, and promising the blessings that will come to them from obedience.

When his two older brothers reject his testimony and physically abuse him, Nephi “frankly forgives” them (see 1 Nephi 7:21). When they doubt the truthfulness of the gospel, he reminds them of the Lord’s promises: “If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you” (1 Nephi 15:11).

Even though Laman and Lemuel chose not to believe in and live the gospel, Nephi inspires us to keep inviting our siblings to hear the word of God. We must have faith that their hearts will soften towards us and our religion, as Esau did towards his brother Jacob (see Genesis 32:9-12; 33:4).

3. Spouse to spouse. Lamoni was a wicked king in the Book of Mormon who marveled at the missionary Ammon’s physical power, listened in faith to gospel lessons, and deeply desired to repent. After praying for mercy and forgiveness, he fell to the earth as if dead for two days and two nights (see Alma 18).

His servants said he should be buried, but Lamoni’s wife, the queen, said, “… to me he doth not stink” (Alma 19:5). Ammon told her that Lamoni was under the power of God and his mind was being changed from darkness to light. The queen believed Ammon, did not bury Lamoni, and “… watched over the bed of her husband…” (Alma 19:11). Lamoni did arise the next day, and both he and his wife gained testimonies of Jesus Christ (see Alma 19: 13, 29).

Although Lamoni’s wife waited only one day, she still offers a pattern of being patient until our spouse becomes converted unto the Lord. Like her, we should avoid thoughts that our loving spouse “stinks” and be willing to “watch over” our husband or wife for some period of time until he or she is “overpowered by the Spirit” (Alma 19:13) and gains a personal testimony.

4. Parent to child. Alma the Elder was a powerful Book of Mormon prophet who reestablished the Church among the Nephites at a critical time in their history. Nevertheless, his own child, also named Alma, did not believe what his father taught (see Mosiah 26:1-4) and he went about seeking to destroy the Church (see Mosiah 27:8-10).

To help his rebellious son, Alma did the only thing he could do – pray. In answer to his fervent prayers, an angel visited Alma the Younger and said, “… thy father… has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come…” (Mosiah 27:14). The son Alma determined to repent of his sins and later became a powerful missionary and prophet who taught pure doctrine and influenced many people for good.

Alma, the father, shows the importance of continuing to minister in love to straying children no matter how disobedient their attitude and behavior might be. In his time of deepest need, Alma the Younger remembered the teachings of his father and used this counsel to repent (see Alma 36:16-20). Another Book of Mormon figure, Enos, also remembered his father’s teaching at a time when he felt the need to change his life (see Enos 1:1-8). Similarly, we too can love our children and pray for the day when they will choose to follow the Savior and His living prophets.

I have a firm testimony that family members can come to accept the gospel, change their lives, and receive saving priesthood ordinances and covenants. The account of my own father illustrates how important it is for family members to “continue to minister” in patience for years.

My father was raised in the Church but departed from the gospel path at age 15. For the next 40 years, his acceptance of the gospel was the subject of many prayers by his mother, his younger sister, his wife, and his five children. We invited him to all Church activities and extended our love to him even when he chose not to accept our invitation. We always expressed gratitude for the fine son, brother, husband, and father he was to us.

Ultimately, the unwavering example of his family and the courageous invitation of an inspired home teacher spiritually rescued my father. He received the Melchizedek Priesthood and our family was sealed in the temple for time and eternity. About 15 years later, in August of 2010, I had the privilege of ordaining my 71-year-old father as a bishop. Now he is engaged in the Lord’s work to “rescue one by one” and bring souls to Christ through priesthood ordinances and covenants, just as he was rescued from inactivity.

We must never lose hope that members of our family will accept and live the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the Savior’s counsel to “continue to minister” and His promise of “ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.” I testify our Heavenly Father loves all of His children and desires that each one return to His presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ■