“Study #2” by Jenni Currit

In the fall we had a stake leadership training titled “The Art of Ministering” where we were invited to think of ministering, not as a program with rules and mechanics, but as an art with creativity and humanity. With that in mind I would like to share a piece of my own art and music to illustrate two important lessons that apply to ministering that I have learned in my artistic endeavors.

First: To create art we learn by studying the masters.

Out of nowhere over last Christmas break my son expressed a desire to learn how to paint. I do math, I don’t do paint. But, excited at the interest he was showing, we drove to the craft store and found ourselves instantly paralyzed by the aisles and aisles of paint supplies. I had to hang my head at Michael’s and admit to my son that I didn’t know the difference between painting with oil vs acrylic paints. Finally, after much help from the staff, armed with some brushes, paint and small canvases we hurried home and set up. I instinctively began looking for images to help me learn how to use light, color and perspective. For my second painting I took a photograph of a painting of flowers I had seen and attempted to copy it. I loved the challenge of matching the colors and looking closely for details. I looked at my photograph a thousand times before I felt that the colors, shapes and lines were right. It is a solidly amateur piece of art but it is mine and it makes me happy.

At the end of 3 Nephi Christ says, “the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do”. We invite you to join with the sisters of the Seattle North Stake to look at  3 Nephi again, to see the works of Christ in a new way that we may then be inspired to minister in His way and to step up to the challenge extended last year by our prophet to “minister in a bold, new way.”

It is my hope that as we read 3 Nephi together we will see the Savior as the master artist and return again and again to his words and actions to look for the colors, the textures, the details, and the strokes of love that he used in his ministry.

Second: We shouldn’t let our fear of imperfection stop us from creating and sharing art.

Several years ago, in my living room using the microphone on my computer, Lisa Heckathorn (Elliott Bay Ward) and I recorded a medley of hymns that I am sharing here. It was created as a gift to my parents as they left the country to serve a mission.  It is far from perfect and both of us are aware of the weaknesses of the recording. We weren’t able to silence the white noise, or get all of the notes and timing perfectly to our liking but when I listen to it from time to time I am reminded of the joys of making music with a friend as well as the message of the arrangement that the grace of God and our sisterhood are intricately intertwined. Although it is imperfect it was an act of service and love that still brings the spirit into my home when I listen to it.

In our journey to minister and love as Christ did we are all amateurs. We are clumsy, awkward, and painfully aware of our weakness. But, as we stumble we learn, in spite of our awkwardness miracles happen and by the grace of God our weakness is miraculously transformed into strength. Let us approach our ministering unafraid of imperfection, or mistakes and move forward with confidence that the Savior can take us, “one by one,” and teach us to be as he is.  

Before diving into the reading take this week to ponder and record your thoughts on “The Art of Ministering” and what you hope to learn as you study Christ’s life .

Let us make our ministering a fearless art.

With love,
Jenni Currit, Stake Relief Society President