President Ballard’s Invitation to Act

At 11:41 in a video titled “Effective Ministering,” at the beginning of a segment titled “Invitation to Act,” President M. Russell Ballard says:

“I invite you to study 3 Nephi, by identifying every reference to the word “minister” in any of its forms and every reference to the phrase “one by one.” Once you have thoroughly identified these words and phrases, please consider what the Book of Mormon teaches about ministering. I also invite you to seek the Lord’s help to understand how ministering applies. All leaders and members of the church need to be careful not to just minister to those names on a list, but to minister to all of Heavenly Father’s children. My brothers and sisters, I testify that this is the work of the Lord. May he bless you to implement with power the counsel from the First Presidency.”

This post is an effort to make this search/endeavor easier for people by providing the pertinent references and verses.

In the headings below, the word “unit” simply represents the chapter divisions as they occur in the first 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon. It is a way to help differentiate between the way our current scriptures are organized/divided and how they were divided at the beginning. Personally, I have found those original chapter divisions to provide more cohesive literary units (thus the term that I am using) for my individual/personal scripture study.

In the verses provided, I am utilizing Royal Skousen’s “Earliest Text” of the Book of Mormon, which organizes each verse into what Skousen refers to as “sense lines.” I like this approach because it allows the mind to savor and ponder a bit of the verse at a time.

I’ve done my best to round up all the references that Elder Ballard indicated. Any omissions or errors are mine. As far as I can tell at this moment, there are four verses in 3 Nephi that utilize the phrase “one by one” and I have placed those references/verses at the end of these notes.

Unit 82: 3 Nephi Chapter 6 through 3 Nephi Chapter 7

administered – 2 occurrences – verses 6:28, 6:29

3 Nephi 6:28 
And they did enter into a covenant one with another,
yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old,
which covenant was given and administered by the devil,
to combine against all righteousness.

3 Nephi 6:29 
Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord
and enter into a covenant to destroy them
and to deliver those which were guilty of murder from the grasp of justice,
which was about to be administered according to the law.

minister / did minister – 3 occurrences – verses 7:17, 7:18

3 Nephi 7:17 
And he did minister many things unto them.
And all of them cannot be written,
and a part of them would not suffice;
therefore they are not written in this book.
And Nephi did minister with power and with great authority.

3 Nephi 7:18 
And it came to pass that they were angry with him,
even because he had greater power than they.
For it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words,
for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ
that angels did minister unto him daily.

ministry – 2 occurrences – verses 7:15, 7:25

3 Nephi 7:15 
And it came to pass that
Nephi, having been visited by angels and also by the voice of the Lord,
therefore having seen angels and being eyewitness,
and having had power given unto him
that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ,
and also being eyewitness to their quick return from righteousness
unto their wickedness and abominations,

3 Nephi 7:25
Therefore there were ordained of Nephi men unto this ministry,
that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water—
and this as a witness and a testimony before God and unto the people
that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.

Unit 83: 3 Nephi Chapter 8 through 3 Nephi Chapter 10

ministry / ministering – 1 occurrence – verse 10:19

3 Nephi 10:19 
shewing his body unto them and ministering unto them.
And an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter.
Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings.

Unit 84: 3 Nephi Chapter 11 through 3 Nephi Chapter 13 verse 24

minister – 1 occurrence – verse 12:1

3 Nephi 12:1

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spake these words
unto Nephi and to those which had been called
—now the number of them which had been called
and received power and authority to baptize were twelve—
and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude
and cried unto them, saying:
Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve
which I have chosen from among you
to minister unto you and to be your servants.
And unto them I have given power
that they may baptize you with water.
And after that ye are baptized with water,
behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
Therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized
after that ye have seen me and know that I am.

Unit 85: 3 Nephi Chapter 13 verse 25 through 3 Nephi Chapter 14

minister – 1 occurrence – verse 13:25

3 Nephi 13:25 
And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words,
he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen and saith unto them:
Remember the words which I have spoken,
for behold, ye are they which I have chosen to minister unto this people.
Therefore I say unto you:
Take no thought for your life,
what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink,
nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment?

Unit 86: 3 Nephi Chapter 15 through 3 Nephi Chapter 16

minister – 1 occurrence – verse 16:1

3 Nephi 16:1 
And verily verily I say unto you
that I have other sheep which are not of this land,
neither of the land of Jerusalem,
neither in any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister.

ministry – 1 occurrence – verse 16:4

3 Nephi 16:4
And I command you that ye shall write these sayings after that I am gone,
that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem
—they which have seen me and been with me in my ministry
do not ask the Father in my name
that they may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost,
and also of the other tribes which they know not of,
that these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept
and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles,
that through the fullness of the Gentiles
the remnant of their seed,
which shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief,
may be brought in—or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer.

Unit 87: 3 Nephi Chapter 17 through 3 Nephi Chapter 18

minister – 5 occurrences – verses 17:24, 18:28, 18:30, 18:32

3 Nephi 17:24 
And as they looked to behold,
they cast their eyes towards heaven;
and they saw the heavens open,
and they saw angels descending out of heaven
as it were in the midst of fire.
And they came down and encircled those little ones about
—and they were encircled about with fire—
and the angels did minister unto them.

3 Nephi 18:28
And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you,
that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly
to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily when ye shall minister it.

3 Nephi 18:30
Nevertheless ye shall not cast him out from among you,
but ye shall minister unto him
and shall pray for him unto the Father in my name.
And if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name,
then shall ye receive him
and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

3 Nephi 18:32
Nevertheless ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues,
or your places of worship,
for unto such shall ye 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.

minister unto – 3 occurrences – verses 17:24, 18:30

3 Nephi 17:24 
And as they looked to behold,
they cast their eyes towards heaven;
and they saw the heavens open,
and they saw angels descending out of heaven
as it were in the midst of fire.
And they came down and encircled those little ones about
—and they were encircled about with fire—
and the angels did minister unto them.

3 Nephi 18:30
Nevertheless ye shall not cast him out from among you,
but ye shall minister unto him
and shall pray for him unto the Father in my name.
And if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name,
then shall ye receive him
and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

shall minister – 3 occurrences – verses 18:28, 18:30

3 Nephi 18:28
And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you,
that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly
to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily when ye shall minister it.

3 Nephi 18:30
Nevertheless ye shall not cast him out from among you,
but ye shall minister unto him
and shall pray for him unto the Father in my name.
And if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name,
then shall ye receive him
and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

shall minister unto him – 2 occurrences – verse 18:30

3 Nephi 18:30
Nevertheless ye shall not cast him out from among you,
but ye shall minister unto him
and shall pray for him unto the Father in my name.
And if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name,
then shall ye receive him
and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

ye shall minister – 2 occurrences – verses 18:28, 18:30

3 Nephi 18:28
And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you,
that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly
to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily when ye shall minister it.

3 Nephi 18:30
Nevertheless ye shall not cast him out from among you,
but ye shall minister unto him
and shall pray for him unto the Father in my name.
And if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name,
then shall ye receive him
and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

Unit 88: 3 Nephi Chapter 19 through 3 Nephi Chapter 21 verse 21

and ministered unto – 2 occurrences – verses 19:7, 19:15

3 Nephi 19:7 
And the disciples did pray unto the Father also in the name of Jesus.
And it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people.

3 Nephi 19:15 
And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples,
behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.

had ministered – 2 occurrences – verses 19:2, 19:8

3 Nephi 19:2 
And it was noised abroad among the people immediately,
before it was yet dark,
that the multitude had seen Jesus
and that he had ministered unto them
and that he would also shew himself on the morrow unto the multitude.

3 Nephi 19:8 
And when they had ministered
them 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.

minister – 1 occurrence – verse 19:14

3 Nephi 19:14 
And behold, they were encircled about as if it were fire;
and it came down from heaven.
And the multitude did witness it and do bear record.
And angels did come down out of heaven and did minister unto them.

ministered – 4 occurrences – verses 19:2, 19:7, 19:8, 19:15

3 Nephi 19:2 
And it was noised abroad among the people immediately,
before it was yet dark,
that the multitude had seen Jesus
and that he had ministered unto them
and that he would also shew himself on the morrow unto the multitude.

3 Nephi 19:7 
And the disciples did pray unto the Father also in the name of Jesus.
And it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people.

3 Nephi 19:8 
And when they had ministered
them 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.

3 Nephi 19:15 
And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples,
behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.

ministered unto – 3 occurrences – verses 19:2, 19:7, 19:15

3 Nephi 19:2 
And it was noised abroad among the people immediately,
before it was yet dark,
that the multitude had seen Jesus
and that he had ministered unto them
and that he would also shew himself on the morrow unto the multitude.

3 Nephi 19:7 
And the disciples did pray unto the Father also in the name of Jesus.
And it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people.

3 Nephi 19:15 
And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples,
behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.

ministered unto them – 2 occurrences – verses 19:2, 19:15

3 Nephi 19:2 
And it was noised abroad among the people immediately,
before it was yet dark,
that the multitude had seen Jesus
and that he had ministered unto them
and that he would also shew himself on the morrow unto the multitude.

3 Nephi 19:15 
And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples,
behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.

ministering – 1 occurrence – verse 19:15

3 Nephi 19:15 
And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples,
behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.

Unit 89: 3 Nephi Chapter 21 verse 22 through 3 Nephi Chapter 23 verse 13

minister / minister unto them – 2 occurrences – verses 23:9, 23:11

3 Nephi 23:9 
Verily I say unto you:
I commanded my servant Samuel the Lamanite
that he should testify unto this people
that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me
that there were many saints which should arise from the dead
and should appear unto many and should minister unto them.
And he saith unto them:
Were it not so?

3 Nephi 23:11 
And Jesus saith unto them:
How be it that ye have not written this thing?
—that many saints did arise and appear unto many
and did minister unto them.

Unit 91: 3 Nephi Chapter 26 verse 6 through 3 Nephi Chapter 27 verse 22

minister – 2 occurrences – verses 26:14, 26:19

3 Nephi 26:14 
And it came to pass that he did teach and minister
unto the children of the multitude, of whom hath been spoken,
and he did loose their tongues.
And they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things—
even greater than he had revealed unto the people
and loosed their tongues that they could utter.

3 Nephi 26:19
And they taught and did minister one to another;
and they had all things common among them,
every man dealing justly one with another.

Unit 92: 3 Nephi Chapter 27 verse 23 through 3 Nephi Chapter 29

minister – 4 occurrences – verses 28:16, 28:18, 28:29

3 Nephi 28:16 
But it came to pass that they did again minister upon the face of the earth.
Nevertheless they did not minister of the things which they had heard and seen
because of the commandment which was given them in heaven.

3 Nephi 28:18 
But this much I know,
according to the record which hath been given,
they did go forth upon the face of the land
and did minister unto all the people,
uniting as many to the church as would believe in their preaching,

3 Nephi 28:29 
And it shall come to pass, when the Lord seeth fit in his wisdom,
that they shall minister unto all the scattered tribes of Israel
and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people
and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls,
that their desire may be fulfilled,
and also because of the convincing power of God which is in them.

minister unto all the – 2 occurrences – verses 28:18, 28:29

3 Nephi 28:18 
But this much I know,
according to the record which hath been given,
they did go forth upon the face of the land
and did minister unto all the people,
uniting as many to the church as would believe in their preaching,

3 Nephi 28:29 
And it shall come to pass, when the Lord seeth fit in his wisdom,
that they shall minister unto all the scattered tribes of Israel
and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people
and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls,
that their desire may be fulfilled,
and also because of the convincing power of God which is in them.

ministered – 1 occurrence – verse 28:26

3 Nephi 28:26 
But behold, I have seen them,
and they have ministered unto me.

ministry – 2 occurrences – verses 28:2, 28:6

3 Nephi 28:2 
And they all spake, save it were three, saying:
We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man
that our ministry wherein thou hast called us may have an end,
that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.

3 Nephi 28:6
And he saith unto them:
Behold, I know your thoughts.
And ye have desired the thing
which John my beloved,
which was with me in my ministry before that I was lifted up by the Jews,
desired of me.

3 Nephi verses with the phrase “one by one”

3 Nephi 11:15 
And it came to pass that the multitude went forth
and thrust their hands into his side
and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet.
And this they did do, going forth one by one
until they had all gone forth
and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands
and did know of a surety
and did bear record that it was he
—of whom it was written by the prophets—
that should come.

3 Nephi 17:21 
And when he had said these words, he wept;
and the multitude bare record of it.
And he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them
and prayed unto the Father for them.

3 Nephi 18:36 
And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of these sayings,
he touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen, one by one,
even until he had touched them all
and spake unto them as he touched them.

3 Nephi 28:1
And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words,
he spake unto his disciples one by one, saying unto them:
What is it that ye desire of me after that I am gone to the Father?