Missionary Work

Goal for the year for baptisms is 100. As of Aug 4^th we had 16 as a Stake.

 

The Stake President has challenged all of the Stake Leadership (and I'm challenging you) to plead with the Lord for a missionary experience in the next 90 days. Finding someone (or a family of someones) for the missionaries to teach the Gospel.

 

 

D&C 15:

Hearken, my servant John, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer.

 

For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth.

 

And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone--

 

For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.

 

Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given you according to my commandments.

 

And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.

 

What is the "desire" of your heart?

 

D&C 4:3

Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

 

What do you "wrestle" with the Lord or His Spirit about?

 

Enos vs 9:

 

Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them.

Enos vs 11 & 12:

 

And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites.

 

12 And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith.

 

 

 

Is it all inward, personal, self-serving issues or is there a sense of urgency concerning "your brethren":

 

The Lord to Peter (shortly before revealing Peter's impending denials):

 

Luke 22:32

 

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

To each of us the Lord might say: "I have prayed for thee, that you will continue to believe and exercise faith in me as your Redeemer; and when your testimony of this is unshakable, share this message with your brothers and sisters."

 

Pres. Greenwood: Can't draw water from an empty well. Gospel Scholarship

 

Some thoughts derived from an address by President Gordon B. Hinckley given 21 Feb 1999 via satellite: (Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep)

 

 

Pres H: From the beginning of this work, missionary service has been a four-step process:

 

1. Finding the investigator.
   

 

Who is charged with this responsibility? Is it the FTM job?

 

Who do we as a family know? Who has the Lord prepared to hear the discussions? Who is waiting for us to open our mouth?

 

D&C 60:2

 

But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.

 

Dr. William Ghormley served as president of the stake in Corpus Christi, Texas. He bought his gasoline at a particular station. Each time he filled his tank he would leave a piece of Church literature with the station owner. It might have been a tract or a Church magazine or the Church News, but he never went there without leaving something. The man who ran the station was converted by the power of the Spirit as he read that literature. When last I checked, he was serving as a bishop.

 

 

 

 

 

1. Teaching the investigator.
   

 

Here is the primary job of the full-time missionaries. This teaching should take place within our homes. The spirit of a faithful member's home will permeate the discussions and underscore the conversion process within the heart and mind of the potential convert.

 

The member should bear heartlfelt testimony of the principles taught by the full-time missionaries adding real life experiences to topics like faith, repentance, the Wird of Wisdom, tithing, and other Church doctrines.

 

1. Baptizing the worthy convert:
   

 

The Lord expects the heart and a willing mind from us as members and no less is expected of those who are converted to the faith. We are not (should not) be seeking numbers! We are seeking the "elect" of God; those who predisposed because of influence of the Spirit with their spirit to believe in the Gospel. We are seeking the salvation of the souls of our brothers and sisters!

 

Sometimes, we're planting seeds:

 

 

Roy Canonizado One Article of Faith card.

 

 

4. Fellowshipping and strengthening the new member.

 

 

I have said before, and I repeat it, that every new convert needs three things:

1. A friend in the Church to whom he can constantly turn, who will walk beside him, who will answer his questions, who will understand his problems.
   
2. An assignment. Activity is the genius of this Church. It is the process by which we grow. Faith and love for the Lord are like the muscle of my arm. If I use them, they grow stronger. If I put them in a sling, they become weaker. Every convert deserves a responsibility. The bishop may feel that he is not qualified for responsibility. Take a chance on him. Think of the risk the Lord took when He called you.Of course the new convert will not know everything. He likely will make some mistakes. So what? We all make mistakes. The important thing is the growth that will come of activity. As a part of this process of giving responsibility, it is proper and very important that the new convert, if he be a man, is ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. Then before too many months, he may be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood. He will have the fellowship of the elders quorum. He will become one of a vast body of priesthood throughout the world, men of integrity and faith who love the Lord and seek to move forward His work.
   
3. Every convert must be "nourished by the good word of God" (Moro. 6:4). It is imperative that he or she become affiliated with a priesthood quorum or the Relief Society, the Young Women, the Young Men, the Sunday School, or the Primary. He or she must be encouraged to come to sacrament meeting to partake of the sacrament, to renew the covenants made at the time of baptism.
   

 

 

Sensitivity to the unique needs of new members is of great value as well; helping them to learn and understand all of the mores of our faith is a long term effort. How many of your friends have misunderstood you when you spoke "LDSease" to them (i.e. going to the "steak" center for a meeting, attending a "ward" social, knowing what a steak president is or that a 12 year old can be a Deacon in the Church)?

 

This young woman was full of questions. She was filled with fear and anxiety. She did not wish to make a mistake, to say anything that was out of line that might embarrass her or cause others to laugh. Patiently this man and his wife brought the family to church, sat with them, put a shield around them, as it were, against anything that might happen to embarrass them. They spent one evening a week with them at their home, teaching them further concerning the gospel and answering their many questions. They led that little family along as a shepherd leads his sheep. Eventually, circumstances dictated that they move to another city. "But," he stated, "we still correspond with that woman. We feel a great appreciation for her. She is now firmly grounded in the Church, and we have no fear concerning her. What a joy it has been to work with her."

 

I am convinced that we will lose but very, very few of those who come into the Church if we take better care of them. They may not be thoroughly converted. How can they be, having had only six lessons? They may not meet all of the desirable qualifications. But they have been awakened to a new sense of values and opportunities. They have been taught that they are sons and daughters of God. They have been baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. They have been confirmed members of the Church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

 

Some ideas!

 

1. Ask the "Golden Question" i.e. "What do you know about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?" "Would you like to know more?"
   

 

1. Tell a stranger about your testimony
   

 

1. Give a referral to the missionaries. Invite your referral to your home to meet with the missionaries
   

 

1. Write your testimony in a copy of the Book of Mormon. Give the book with a commitment to read it to someone the Spirit prompts you to give it to. (having a copy of the BofM in your car is agreat idea.)
   

 

Out fishing; (That guy would make a great member of the Church!)

 

1. Invite a non-member to a Church function (i.e. the Fireside on 19 Sep with the new Mission President).
   

 

1. Invite neighbors and friends to your Family Home Evening (course you'd need to get to know them first!)
   

 

1. Hold a social in your home or sponsor an activity that will enable you to introduce members to your non-member friends
   

 

1. Participate in missionary work by going with the Elders or Sisters to teach a discussion.
   

 

1. Ask the missionaries who they are teaching that you could fellowship! Invite the missionaries investigators into your home to hear the discussions
   

 

1. Continually pray for uidance/inspiration on whom the Lord has prepared.
   

 

And finally a challenge:

 

Make this a matter of personal, couple, and family prayer:

 

We would like to have some one into our home in the next 90 days and have a missionary type experience with them. We'd like to cultivate someone for the missionaries to teach the Gospel to. We'd like to extend the blessings of the Gospel to our Father's children who don't yet have it in their lives.