It’s surprising how much of a difference we can make by simply inviting people to take a look over our shoulders as we talk about our Mormon lives online.  No fences. No gates. No barriers.

We think our everyday activities may not be of interest, or that we need to blog about strictly spiritual things.  Actually, people want to know what makes us tick all the way around–what we do with our time, our means, our professional lives, our families, our hobbies.  As they see those things, and as we share those activities that occupy our lives, we will naturally speak of what matters to us, our priorities will be visible, our desires to serve will naturally surface, our focus will become evident.

Are you still thinking that sounds too simplistic–why would anyone care?  Consider this comment from a Christian pastor, Chip Ingram.  Speaking of one of the greatest mentors of his life, he said:

He had only a high school education and wasn’t very ‘cool’ by my young college standards, but he loved me and knew the Bible better than I did and he still does. He came alongside me, . . . . and modeled how a Christian does marriage and family. I learned from him through heart-to-heart talks and watching how he lived. I was discipled simply by hanging out with him and catching his values and authenticity. He brought me in by modeling the message, inviting me to participate, and engaging me in genuine relationship.

Jesus’ method of discipleship was to live with his disciples. That’s it. They went where he went, heard what he said, saw what he did, ate what he ate, and talked with him about everyday matters. When we engage people like that, we bring them in.

I was discipled simply by hanging out with him and catching his values and authenticity. He brought me in by modeling the message, inviting me to participate and engaging me in genuine relationship”  (Chip Ingram)

In response to Elder Ballard’s recent counsel to use the New Media and participate in the gospel conversation online, ….

BYU students are taking the challenge issued by one of their professors, Richard Holzapfel, to blog what they are learning in their Bible study classes.  They’re creating their own blogs and sharing their family lives, their aspirations, hobbies, and spiritual insights online in a friendly fashion, opening doors to virtual neighbors who may bump into them on the Internet.
http://officepoetry.blogspot.com/2008/09/jewish-mormon-heritage.html

http://latterdaysaintlaurel.blogspot.com/

http://nettlesanddaisies.blogspot.com/2008/09/worth-identity-some-rambling-thoughts.html

The one thing which kept me firmly grounded and was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Church, early morning seminary, church sponsored activities and school rounded out my life. I loved the Gospel and shared it at every turn. I invited my school friends to church dances, dinners, shows and other activities. It was a lot of fun and eventually some of them joined the Church.

And yes, I loved Donny and Marie, as well as the Osmond Brothers. It was rare that I wore t-shirts with pictures on them, but there was one day I decided to wear my brand new Donny and Marie t-shirt to school. I was walking down the hall, from one class to the next when my arm was grabbed and I was spun around. There, standing in front of me was the new girl in school, Linda Wells. It was her first day, but she was an avid Osmond fan and my shirt caught her attention. It was the beginning of a friendship that has lasted 30 plus years.

I followed my usual routine of inviting her to church activities and she eventually began attending Church. Shortly thereafter the missionaries began teaching her the discussions. Every day at lunch we left the high school and went to my home where the missionaries met us, and my mother, for Linda’s lessons in the Gospel. She literally devoured every word they offered. She read the scriptures, she prayed, she wrote in her journal and she peppered the missionaries, and me, with question after question. Every day she had new questions.

And then she prayed. And she knew. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true. That’s when things became difficult. Her parents hit the roof and forbade her from being baptized. She was subjected to beatings, tormentings and verbal abuse in order to keep her from attending Church. And so Linda simply bided her time. When she was allowed, she came to Church with me and when she wasn’t allowed we talked for long hours on the phone about the Gospel, school and life in general.

It was a long two years, but Linda was finally baptized. She is now sealed to a wonderful man and their first son is going into the MTC in a few short weeks. She has a powerful testimony which has never wavered and is utterly and completely devoted to Jesus Christ and His restored Gospel.

I often look back and wonder what particular point started the whole thing. I know that Linda had often wondered what that “something” was that made the Osmonds so different from the rest of the entertainment industry. I know that I happen to wear that shirt that day and it was something familiar to Linda on a day when everything was so new. I know that I loved the scriptures and poured over them, memorizing scripture verses, listening intently in seminary and Church and because I did that, I knew quite a bit about the Gospel, even as a teenager. I know that the Lord answered Linda’s prayers because she was attending one Church after another looking for that “something”, which eventually turned out to be the Gospel.

Linda prayed and Heavenly Father chose to answer her prayers with me. I thank Him every day that I was prepared to share my testimony, knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. I do not pretend that I was a major portion of her conversion, but I know whatever small part I did play I will be eternally grateful that Heavenly Father is willing to inspire those willing to listen.

“A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” (History of the Church 3:381)

Sharing the Gospel is a wonderful thing when it is received with interest and joy, and rather painful when rejected. But I think the wonder far outweighs the pain. At least, I have found that to be the case in my own life.

One key principle separates The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the rest of the Christian sects. We believe, wholly and completely in personal revelation. Our seventh Article of Faith says:

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

The type of revelation Joseph Smith, Jr. mentioned above. In locating those who might be interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and His restored Gospel, one of the greatest gifts, and tools, we’ve been given is personal revelation. Through the inspiration of the Spirit of God we can know who to share with the Gospel and who will dismiss it out of hand.

There are those who are kneeling in prayer every day asking for God to send His representatives to them. They might be begging for surcease from the drag of daily living without His light in their lives. They could possibly be asking for someone to show them the way. That someone could be you.

And how might one know who to approach?

Wilford Woodruff offers sweet advice:

“. . . when the heart is sufficiently contrite, then the voice of inspiration steals along and whispers.” (History of the Church 3:293)

It is, quite simply, as painless as that. We ask in humility, having prepared ourselves with the knowledge of the Gospel, that we might be of service to Him and to those seeking Jesus Christ. We can ask that these people be put in our path and that we might know who they might be as they cross our path.

Do not hesitate. Do not judge. Do not tremble. For your God is with you and as you go about His work you will be blessed to

One day, as I was driving on the freeway with my EZ-Pass, a thought arose:

“Take your Books of Mormon in the car, drive through the lanes where the attendants are present. Don’t use your Pass. Offer them a Book of Mormon.”

I thought the idea was an interesting one, but wondered how I’d do that in such a short amount of time. The next time I drove on the freeway, I did as I felt inclined to do. I drove through the slower lane, and as I reached over to hand my change to the attendant, I asked if he or she might be interested in receiving a free copy of the Book of Mormon, a book that changed my life and that I thought they might enjoy. I was amazed at the responses. Almost everyone cheerfully accepted. My testimony was recorded within the cover of the book. I felt that the Lord had literally placed those people in my path.

Sometimes it helps me to slow down, “to get off the river” as the Lord told those early Saints on their missionary journey, and to take another route, where our eyes and ears are open to those right in our midst.

There are other ways to share the Book of Mormon electronically. Why not link to the online version of the Book of Mormon from your blog or send the link to those with whom you’d like to share a principle of the gospel?

As President Benson remarked,

“The time is long overdue for a massive flooding of the earth with the Book of Mormon for the many reasons which the Lord has given.

In this age of electronic media and mass distribution of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way” (Ensign October 2005, “Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon“).

Please share your ideas with us about how to move the Book of Mormon across the world.

Such was my experience one winter day when I missed a bus. I had a job interview to get to and had been waiting for over half an hour at the bus stop. Then, before I realized what was happening, the very bus I had been waiting for pulled away from the curb. Frustrated, I wondered, “How could I have missed this bus? Now there’s no way I can make it to the interview on time.” But I soon received a distinct impression: there was someone I needed to meet.

I accepted the message and decided to walk to the next bus stop, where I sat down on a bench. I looked around casually but inquisitively at the other people, trying to discern what to do next.

The person who caught my attention frightened me a little. He was tall and slender, a young man with a formidable hairdo, deep eyes, and a nervous expression. He paced back and forth and seemed to be muttering under his breath. I prayed silently to know if this was the person I needed to meet. I felt it was.

I reached in my purse and pulled out one of the two Ensign magazines I had bought and began to glance through it—partly to distract me from my fears and partly to bide time as I considered my next move.

At third glance, I thought the young man might be on drugs. A few seconds later he sat down on the bench next to me. I felt too scared to say anything, so I silently prayed that he would break the ice.

Just then the young man gently asked me, “What time is it?”

I told him, and then I knew I needed to carry the conversation further. His name was Eric, and our exchange went something like this:

“It looks like you’re in pain of some kind. Are you?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, “I have a migraine. I’ve been trying to quit smoking. I get headaches when I try to quit. I’ve been off cigarettes for 10 days.”

“I’m sorry you’re in pain, but I admire you for trying to overcome your habit. I’ve had some hard ones to break myself. Actually, I couldn’t have done it myself. Do you have any other source of help beyond yourself?”

“Yes, I believe in God.”

“Well, that certainly makes a difference. Do you attend any particular denomination?”

Noticing the Ensign on my lap, he said, “Actually, I’m interested in your church. I’ve tried to find out about it, but there are some things I don’t understand.”

Our conversation continued as I answered his questions. Then his bus pulled up. He wanted to hear more. I handed him an Ensign magazine. I didn’t have the missionaries’ telephone number, so I gave him mine. He called me about a week later, wanting to know more about the gospel. About five weeks later, Eric was baptized.

We later joked about how afraid we had been of each other. I was “dressed up”; he was “dressed down.” I thought he was on drugs; he thought I was rich. We likely would not have met if it were not for the promptings of the Spirit. For those promptings I am thankful to the Lord, who knew our hearts and that our common love of truth would unite us in the gospel.

“At the Bus Stop,” Ensign, Jan. 2003, 72–73