You don’t have to do this
alone. Counseling together can provide the help you need to help others.
God has invited you to minister to an individual or family
in your ward or branch according to their needs. How do you find out
what those needs are? The principle of counseling, which has been such a
focus in the Church, is key.
After discussing what we might consider counseling about, we will explore:
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Counseling with Heavenly Father.
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Counseling with the assigned individual and family.
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Counseling with our companion.
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And counseling with others assigned to the same individual or family.
Counseling with our leaders is also essential. A future Ministering Principles article in the Ensign will explore counseling with leaders as well as the role of ministering interviews in that process.
What We Counsel About
Understanding needs is essential to ministering to one another. But what forms can those needs take, and is there something more than needs that we should find out?
Needs can come in many forms. Those
we serve may face challenges that are emotional, financial, physical,
educational, and more. Some needs are higher priority than others. Some
we will be equipped to help with; others may require us to enlist help
ourselves. In our efforts to help meet temporal needs, don’t forget that
our call to minister includes helping others progress along the
covenant path, preparing for and receiving the priesthood ordinances
essential for exaltation.
In addition to counseling about an
individual’s or family’s needs, we should seek to learn their strengths.
What don’t they need help with? What abilities and gifts do they have
that could bless others? How are they uniquely suited to help build the
kingdom of God? An individual’s strengths may be as important to
understand as his or her needs.
1. Counseling with Heavenly Father
Silhouette of temple by Connie Bridge; other images from stock.adobe.com and Getty Images
One of the central tenets of our faith is that Heavenly Father speaks to His children (see Articles of Faith 1:9).
When we receive a new assignment to minister to someone, we should
counsel with Heavenly Father in prayer, seeking insight and
understanding into their needs and strengths. That process of counseling
through prayer should continue throughout our ministering assignment.
2. Counseling with Individuals and Families
How and when we approach the
individuals and families we are called to serve may vary depending on
the circumstances, but counseling directly with the individual or family
is essential for building relationships and understanding their needs,
including how they want to be helped. Some questions may need to wait
until a meaningful relationship has developed. While there’s no one
right way to do that, consider the following:
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Find out how and when they prefer to be contacted.
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Learn about their interests and backgrounds.
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Come with suggestions for how you could help, and ask for their suggestions.
As we build trust, consider discussing individual or family needs. Ask questions as prompted by the Holy Ghost.1 For example:
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What are the challenges they face?
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What are their family or individual goals? For example, do they want to be better at holding regular family home evening or be more self-reliant?
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How can we help them with their goals and challenges?
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What gospel ordinances are coming up in their lives? How can we help them prepare?
Remember to offer specific help,
such as, “Which night can we bring a meal to you this week?” A vague
offer, like, “Let us know if there’s anything we can do,” is not very
helpful.
3. Counseling with Our Companion
Because you and your companion may
not always be together when you interact with the individual or family,
it is important to coordinate and counsel together as you seek
inspiration as a companionship. Here are some questions to consider:
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How and how often will you communicate with each other as a companionship?
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How can you each use your individual strengths to minister to family or individual needs?
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What things have you learned, what experiences have you had, and what promptings have you received since the last time you spoke about the individual or family?
4. Counseling with Others Assigned
It may be good from time to time to speak with others who are assigned to minister to the same individual or family that you do.
Communicate to Solve Challenges
Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong of the Seventy applies an account from Mark 2
to our day to illustrate how counseling together made it possible for
four people to figure out how to allow a man with palsy to be in the
presence of Jesus.
“It might happen like this,” said
Elder Wong. “Four people were fulfilling an assignment from their bishop
to visit, at his home, a man who was sick with palsy. … In the most
recent ward council, after counseling together about the needs in the
ward, the bishop had given out ‘rescuing’ assignments. These four were
assigned to help this man. …
“[When they arrived at the building
where Jesus was,] the room was too crowded. They could not get in
through the door. I am sure they tried everything they could think of,
but they just could not get through. … They counseled together on what
to do next—how they could bring the man unto Jesus Christ for healing. … They came up with a plan—not an easy one, but they acted on it.
“… ‘They uncovered the roof where
he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein
the sick of the palsy lay’ (Mark 2:4). …
Invitation to Act
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles urged, “Counsel together, use all
resources available, seek the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, ask the
Lord for His confirmation, and then roll up your sleeves and go to work.
“I give you a promise: if you will follow this pattern, you will receive specific guidance as to the who, what, when, and where of providing in the Lord’s way.”3
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