“How can I minister to someone with a disability and their family?” Disability Services: Leaders (2020)
“How can I minister to someone with a disability and their family?” Disability Services: Leaders
How can I minister to someone with a disability and their family?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained: “We may not be able to alter the journey, but we can make sure no one walks it alone. Surely that is what it means to bear one another’s burdens.”1
One of the best ways to minister and help members with disabilities, their families, and other caregivers is by being a friend. Often these individuals and families carry great physical, financial, and emotional burdens. Having a friend or someone they can rely on in the ward may be very important in helping them remain active in the Church despite the overwhelming challenges they face. When we become a friend, we can also help bear one another’s burdens (see Mosiah 18:8–9).
The Lord can help you know what to do as you get to know the members to whom you minister, become familiar with their needs, and turn to the scriptures and pray. Remember that members with a disability and their families are generally the best resource on their disability. They know about the strengths and challenges that come with a specific disability and can often help you identify where help is needed.