As a presidency, we once had the opportunity to attend a young women’s meeting in our stake. At the beginning of the meeting, these young disciples of Christ stood and, in unison, recited these words:

As we watched these young women and listened to the words they uttered, the spirit readily filled the room and deeply touched our hearts. This is because they were speaking truth and because the spirit’s divine role is to testify when truth is spoken.

But why do our young women do this at the start of their meetings? I suppose there could be many reasons, but one major reason has to do with identity. Our young women are not simply reciting these things to tell the world who they are. They are uttering these eternal concepts to one another and to themselves so that they can internalize the truth of who they are. As they believe, embrace, and take on their divine identity, everything in their world changes. As their hearts and minds grasp the truth of who they are, strength pours from every part of them. Though they may appear young, inexperienced, and tender at this stage of their progression, they are, in truth, ancient, wise, and powerful beings who have the ability to conquer all things, including the very adversary himself. The power that they wield comes from the knowledge that they are literal daughters of God, not from a false list of attributes that the world would attempt to impose.

Stating this more succinctly, consider this statement from President Thomas S. Monson.

Although while in this world we may have several identities that are temporary, we simultaneously have identities that are eternal and that will never change. And yet, awakening ourselves to our eternal identity changes everything. In the world we may be an employee, a CEO of a company, a member of a sports team, a leader of charity, a volunteer, etc. Eventually, those roles will disappear, and we will realize that our titles are not our true identities. Those assignments are not who we really are. They are merely temporary roles we fulfill. From a divine perspective, in contrast, we have eternally unchanging identities. We are mothers or fathers, even if we do not currently have children, and we will retain that identity well beyond this earthly life. We are of a royal lineage as a child of God – that identity, too, will never change. We are disciples of Christ, as evidenced by the fact that we are here on earth, which means we have kept our first estate. This is true of all who have come to the earth. The truth of one’s divine identity is something that does not change, regardless of one’s knowledge (or lack of knowledge) of who they really are.

How does this knowlege play a role in the gathering of Israel? It calls you and I to awaken ourselves to our most important identity and role as ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ. By virtue of our presence here upon the earth during this final dispensation, our current knowledge and testimony of the gospel, and the eternal covenants we have made, we are truly ministers in the Lord's kingdom.

Once we come to the full realization that we are ministers, everything changes. We no longer turn on and turn off our ministering role like a light switch. Perpetually internalizing that role means that no matter what we are doing in any given moment, we see God’s children in a different light AND we begin to feel an internal desire for their welfare.

In our efforts to incorporate temple and family history work, member missionary endeavors, and church-related ministering assignments into our lives, President Ward teaches that all of these endeavors are ministering. While temple and family history work is ministering to those on the other side of the veil, we are also ministering to His children on this side of the veil. Missionary work is ministering to those on earth who have not yet made covenants. All is ministering. We invite you to deeply embrace your identity as a minister. In doing so, temple and family history work, ministering to those around you, and sharing the gospel with others will become a natural extension of who you are.

We invite you to arise every morning, look at yourself in the mirror, and say within yourself, “I am a minister of the Lord, Jesus Christ.” Then allow Heavenly Father to open your eyes to others throughout the day. You will be profoundly amazed at how often your Heavenly Father will place someone in your path to help, to teach, or to rescue in some small way. We promise that the more you recognize your own identity throughout the day and demonstrate willingness to act on your impressions, the more you will notice that Heavenly Father is putting souls in your path who are ready to ‘hear His voice’. You will be fulfilling your role as a gatherer of Israel.

Brothers and Sisters, we bear witness that you are ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ and have been so even anciently. We promise that as you awaken to the truth of your ministering identity, you will discover a profound new sense of strength and courage to participate in the gathering of Israel. We promise that as you embrace this identity, your eyes will be opened, your hearts will be filled with love and charity for others, and deep within you, a new feeling will grow like a seed. You will desire the welfare of others and it will become increasingly natural for you to share the gospel and to help others move closer to the Savior, preparing them to make eternal covenants.

Finally, we witness that you are of the covenant house of Israel and that it is truly time to cast off any fear or hesitation you have felt, and to find souls that are ready to let God prevail in their lives.