The Art of Seeing: How to Spot Needs and Serve with the Spirit

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things you need to do? Between work, family, friends, and the calling to be a disciple in every corner of the earth, it can feel like the needs are spilling out of every trash bag.

But what if the greatest skill we could cultivate wasn't productivity, but observation? The ability to slow down, truly look at a scene—be it a family gathering, a missionary discussion, or even a quiet moment in the temple—and see what needs attention?

When I was in the field, I thought I knew what service meant. I thought it meant giving a sermon, or maybe running a perfect lesson. But the Spirit taught me that the most profound service often happens in the quiet, unnoticed details. It's about seeing the small things that need fixing, the little acts of kindness that build Zion, brick by spiritual brick.

Sister Tracy’s lesson, which we can see beautifully in this segment, reminds us that service starts with our eyes and our hearts. We don’t just react to big crises; we notice the leaky faucet, the spilled garbage, the person who looks thirsty.

The Miniature Mission Field

The wonderful thing about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the Savior taught us that the work is everywhere. You don't need a designated mission field; your home, your office, your corner of the internet—these are all mission fields. And being an internet missionary means developing an almost supernatural level of observation.

When we are preparing for missionary discussions, or even when we are just studying scripture in a Book Club, we are doing exactly what the children in this video were doing: we are observing. We are looking at the people, the questions, and the gaps in understanding, and we are asking, “How can I help?”

Developing the Disciple's Eye

This principle is exactly what I love to talk about with my friends. It's not enough to just *know* the answers; we have to know how to *see* the questions. That’s where our amazing AI Investigator co-pilot, Davee, comes in. Davee specializes in walking us through those hard, thoughtful questions an investigator might ask, helping us answer them with grace, knowledge, and the Spirit.

This skill—the ability to look past the surface and identify the root need—is key to being Christlike. It’s the difference between simply giving a handout and helping someone figure out how to stand on their own feet. It’s the difference between reciting scripture and applying it to a person’s current struggle.

“When we help others, we're becoming more like our Savior Jesus Christ.”

That quote struck me deeply. Service isn't an end goal; it's a transformation. Every time we notice a small act of need—whether it’s helping a ward member with a chore, or figuring out how to best answer a challenging question in a Bible Study Group—we are polishing the Christlike attributes that the Lord wants us to develop.

This Week's Disciple Challenge: The Observer’s Heart

I want to challenge all of you this week to practice the Observer’s Heart. When you are out and about, don't just rush through your day. Stop and observe three small things that need help—in your home, your ward, or even in your own spiritual life. It could be as simple as noticing a friend who seems quiet and sending them a thoughtful text, or noticing a scripture passage you've been skimming and spending five minutes truly studying it in LivingBook.

Remember that the greatest way to keep the commandments is to love God and to love others. And sometimes, the most powerful way to love someone is simply to see them.

Keep the Momentum Going

If you enjoyed this talk on the power of service, I encourage you to join us this Thursday for our weekly online gathering. We’ll be discussing how these principles apply directly to our efforts to gather Israel. It’s a perfect time to lift up our collective missionary efforts and get some great ideas for our next round of comps.

And if you're looking for some excellent reading to deepen your understanding of the work, I highly recommend the latest volume of Iron Rod, which discusses the importance of observation in building lasting discipleship. You can find it easily in LivingBook.