As I have listened to several presentations in Elders Quorum on what it means to minister, I must say, that for the most part, I agree that ministering includes the activities suggested by the instructors and by members of the quorum. But I also know that while all these activities are included, there is a purpose that goes beyond the resulting benefits of these activities.
If I were to ask what is the greatest good we can do for those we minister to, how would you answer? I think of D&C 81:3-4. Joseph is told that his ministry (which is also our ministry) is in "proclaiming the gospel...among thy brethren." And then the Lord tells us why our ministry is to proclaim the gospel. "And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord" (emphasis added).
Note that it is His Gospel as defined by Him in 3 Nephi 27:13-21 that we are to proclaim, not our own version, or the version of others.
If our objective in ministering to each other is to do the greatest good and to promote the glory of our Lord, then it seems to me that we need to be in the best position to teach and encourage those we minister to, to learn and experience His gospel. In fact the scriptural references which define what it means to minister, include references that tell us that minister means to teach His gospel using His words, and acquaint them with His words. Here are a few:
"...and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers by him where they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer..." (1 Nephi 15:14).
"...I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write the things which I shall minister unto them..." (1 Nephi 13:34).
"...and I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory, and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him,,," (1 Nephi 11:28).
"...it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word..." (Jacob 4:1).
Ask yourselves what is the purpose of the Melchizedek Priesthood? He gives us the answer in D&C 84:19, "And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key to the knowledge of God" (emphasis added). Note the word 'administereth' which means to minister. And what does the Melchizedek Priesthood administereth? His Gospel, which He has defined in 3 Nephi 27:13-21, and not our own understanding of what the gospel is.
Another example is found in 3 Nephi 19:7-8 where Jesus says that the 12 disciples called by Jesus were to teach the people what the Lord had taught them. "And it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people. And when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken--nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken--behold, they knelt again and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus" (emphasis added). In other words we do the greatest good by using His words to proclaim His gospel.
A further example of ministering as teaching is found in Moroni 7:31. Concerning ministering angels Moroni says, "And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ..." (emphasis added). All our ministering efforts are but a means to this end!
So while ministering includes all that we were taught and discussed, it includes so much more and we should not lose sight of the Lord's definition of ministering as including teaching the word of God. And why the word of God? Because it is only through the word of God that men begin to exercise faith in Christ and look to Him, i.e.. the "greatest good." Alma and the sons of Molsiah bore witness that it was because of the power of the word of God that had been imparted unto them, that many were "brought before the alter of God to call on his name and confess their sins before him" (Alma 17:4), and "because of the word which (God had imparted unto Alma)...many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God" (Alma 36:26).
Just one last thought. If you were to answer the question 'how do I magnify my calling as a ministering teacher?" how would you answer? Jacob gives us a hint in Jacob 1. Jacob said that he and Joseph "labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest..." (Jacob 1:6-7). And further, "For I Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers (ministers) of this people, by the hand of Nephi. (Or in our case by the hand of our Elders' Quorum Presidency.) And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day" (Jacob 1:19 emphasis added).
Can we distinguish our ministering efforts from those of many Christian churches? We can if we resist the effort to just 'converse one with another" and "open (our) ears to hear...and look "towards the sound thereof." and "understand the voice" which says "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name--hear ye him" (3 Nephi 11:3-7.
In conclusion He has given us a way to know if we and others have come unto Him. He says, "...every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit (remember His words are His Spirit) cometh unto God, even the Father. And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me" (D&C 84:47-53 (emphasis added).
Can we afford to be ignorant of His words when our responsibility as ministers is to minister His words to those we love so that they can become more acquainted with His voice, or will we be content to minister without His words?
And do we have to be called as ministering teachers to minister His words and proclaim His gospel? God forbid. But should you answer yes, reread this post.