In Sharing The Gospel We Are Made Clean And Receive A Multitude Of Blessings
It is through the goodness of God and the infinite atonement that we can be forgiven. Our works personify our repentance. “And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.” (Hel. 12:24) Our work and glory is to share the gospel that our brothers and sisters might enjoy immortality and eternal life, which is the work and glory of our Heavenly Father and our Savior. To qualify for missionary work the Lord reminds us to have “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.” (D&C 4:5) Then Alma shows us why, “And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.” (Alma 7:24) Sharing the gospel is indeed “good works.” This kind of work brings forgiveness of sins, purifies your soul and makes you clean and builds up the Kingdom of God. This is joy and happiness to the soul is felt in both the forgiveness of sins and in bringing souls unto Christ as Alma and the Sons of Mosuiah testify (see Alma 36:19-22; 29:9-10; 26:1,11,16, 30, 35,37).
President Kimball notes the promised blessings of being forgiven of our sins as we assist in bringing others into the Kingdom of God. “The Lord has told us that our sins will be forgiven more readily as we bring souls unto Christ and remain steadfast in bearing testimony to the world, and surely every one of us is looking for additional help in being forgiven of our sins (See D&C 84:61). In one of the greatest of missionary scriptures, section four of the Doctrine and Covenants, we are told that if we serve the Lord in missionary service “with all [our] heart, might, mind, and strength,” then we may “stand blameless before God at the last day” (D&C 4:2). (Spencer w. Kimball, “It Becometh Every Man,” Ensign, Oct. 1977, p. 7.)
This same blessing was pronounced on the head of Thomas B. Marsh when the Lord said,
“Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live” (D&C 31:5).
James also made mention of this transcending blessing of forgiveness when he recorded, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).
As we serve in the vineyard, sharing the gospel, the Lord reminds us that we must serve until the end so that our garments are clean, “That their souls may escape the wrath of Father, the desolation of abomination which awaits the wicked, both in this world and in the world to come. Verily, I say unto you, let those who are not the first elders continue in the vineyard until the mouth of the Lord shall call them, for their time is not yet come; their garments are not clean from the blood of this generation” (D&C 88:85). Our garments made clean through the Lamb of God. Only those whose garments are clean and without spot can participate in the marriage feast with the Bridegroom. “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 22:11-13). This is so sad yet this is the requirement to be at the wedding feast. It is what the Lord expects of us. We are His divine children with great responsibilities as the seed of Abraham we are the ones that will bless the entire earth, “After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.” (D&C 110:12)
The Lord is forever blessing us as we repent of our sins and build upon our Savior Jesus Christ. “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Hel. 5:12). When we repent, we make the mighty change. We are born again. We are saints. We make covenants (Mosiah 5:7). We become holy and sanctified (Hel. 3:35). As we become totally converted, full of faith, we will do as He would have us do.
Conversion To The Lord Brings Blessings To Our Fellowmen
We have noted the blessings of the individuals who, by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, have been made clean and are forgiven of their sins. They have been empowered by the Lord to go about doing good and building up the Kingdom of God. The greater blessings, which have an exponential result, are those who are converted, seek to bless others and bring them to Christ. Lets look at Enos, Alma and the Sons of Mosiah.
Enos—As soon as his conversion deepened into his soul, his thoughts were immediately upon the welfare of others. “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 1:9 emphasis added). Enos cared for his fellowman! The love of God had descended into his heart. He loved his Savior, and now he could feed His sheep (see John 21:15-17).
Enos then turned his heart to the Lamanites. “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. 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” (Enos 1:11-12 emphasis added). As he began to think of the future generations he said, “And I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the records; and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time. And I, Enos, knew it would be according to the covenant which he had made; wherefore my soul did rest” (Enos 1:16-17 emphasis added).
Enos cared for all of God’s children and he didn’t stop there, he proceeded to minister. “And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world” (Enos 1:26 emphasis added). His joy was that he did indeed declare the word of God all the days of his life.
Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah—Following their marvelous conversion we learn, “And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them. But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of God. And four of them were the sons of Mosiah; and their names were Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni; these were the names of the sons of Mosiah. And they traveled throughout all the land of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them. And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer. And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth” (Mosiah 27:32-37 emphasis added). It becomes very evident that if conversion is deep enough, the acts of sharing the gospel and building up the Kingdom of God will follow as natural consequences of conversion.
The Whitmer brothers sought to know the will of God in their lives following their conversion. The prophet Joseph received the following revelation, “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” (D&C 15:6).
The Lord admonished Peter that when he was converted to strengthen his brethren (see Luke 22:32). Alma reminded those who had made the mighty change with a question, “And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26). The Lord is reminding His children that a converted soul is anxiously engaged in sharing the gospel and seeking others to come unto Christ. When we are possessed with love we will seek to share the gospel with our fellowmen. This is often the case with new converts. The have no fears!
My dear friend Stan Collins told me of an experience where such zeal of a new convert blessed the lives of many. He said, “Eddie, sit down. I have to tell you a miraculous story.”
He had my attention, for no one could tell a story like Stan. Now mind you we were both over fifty-five at the time. He began, “When I was back on my mission we were surrounded by the Great Lakes. The humidity was high and the temperatures were low in the winter (-30). We would knock on a few doors, go warm up in the nearest little store, and then go out again. We did this over and over until we had to stop at 9:30 p.m. Most of the time our hands were so cold we could hardly make a fist to knock on the doors.
It was our last time out and we thought we might just as well go back to our apartment, but we decided to do one more door. The Spirit is always in charge. We knocked and a young mother came to the door. I guess we looked like two frozen icebergs because she said, ‘Get in here before you freeze to death out there.’ And so we went in and sat down. While we got warmed up, she asked us a question. ‘What are two young kids doing knocking on doors in the dead of winter at this time of the night?’ We told her we were missionaries for the Lord Jesus Christ. We had a message of the gospel of Jesus Christ that could bring happiness into the lives of her and her family. The family was golden. The Spirit was strong. They loved us and we loved them. Six weeks later they were baptized. I was transferred a couple of weeks after and have never heard from them until last week. It has been over thirty-five years.
A woman had called on the phone and asked if Elder Collins was in? (There are five Elder Collins who were missionaries in that family, all them magnificent too.) Stan asked which one, and she said that he would be really old. Stan smiled and said that was surely he. She told him who she was, and it didn’t ring a bell. She lamented the fact and said, “You mean to tell me you have forgotten the cold night of -30 when we let you in our house and you taught us the gospel?” The bell rang inside his head and he remembered and expressed great love and joy for her calling.
Then she said, “I thought it would be good to give you a follow-up report on your missionary efforts that cold night. We’ve been missionaries too. When we were converted, we were so excited we visited with both sides of the family. Our testimonies were firm in the Lord. Our joy was full and we wanted those we loved to enjoy the gospel of Jesus Christ as we did. We brought both of our families into the Church. All the sons and some of the daughters have gone on missions. The convert baptisms of their family members, including those being born into the Church, were over one thousand people.” She cried. Stan cried, and as he told me the story I cried. We hugged and felt the joy for all of Heavenly Father’s children who came unto Christ. The story didn’t end there. The family came out to see him about ten to fifteen years later and said that the number had risen to two thousand. The missionaries introduced the spark of the gospel, but the members spread the flame. The results were brand new converts with the power of the Holy Ghost that assisted in bringing more members of their families into the Kingdom of God. That same fire was given to their extended families, and all were converted and became member missionaries of the Lord, happy in assisting others to come unto Christ.
Many new converts are fearless. They have the fire of the gospel deep within their souls. Their testimony is bubbling over, and they seek opportunities to bear witness of their newfound truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They can be our examples as they are anxious to share the gospel with their immediate families and all their friends. Remember that the Lord will help you just like He helped them. This is why we seek to assist others to come unto Christ. This is why we seek to bring people into the waters of baptism. This is why we share the gospel. People’s lives are changed and the blessings bring joy and happiness to their souls forever. This should inspire us to do all we can to help others find peace and rest here and in the hereafter as we share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
We Always Seek To Rescue The Lost And The Weary
As we seek to serve we need to remember the lost and weary. One of the great efforts President Monson has taught us is to rescue those lost and struggling saints. Yes, we are to seek the lost, the lonely, and the weary. This was always the Savior’s admonition as described in the three great parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the prodigal son. The Lord was always seeking to bless the less fortunate and those with heavy burdens to bear. We are to lift up the hand that hangs down. We are to, “strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings” (D&C 108:7). This is what we are about. This is our work. Every soul is precious.
Being mindful of this in the England South Mission, we started a rescue effort and had all the couples correlate the work within the stakes and wards. The elders, sisters, and couples systematically visited every name of those who weren’t attending. I had hundreds of pages of success stories due to this effort. All souls are precious, member and non-member alike. And in one way, rescuing a soul who has made a commitment saves them all the sorrow of failing to keep the commandments.
With this as a backdrop, Pat and I looked at the ward list in Epsom. I reviewed it with the assistants who also had served in that ward for several months. I asked if any of those listed had not been contacted. They assured me that all had and the effort had been made. I had a nagging feeling about one of the families, the Hallett family. They had been inactive for almost five years. Two boys of baptismal age were not yet baptized. The Spirit was strong and said, “They are the ones.” They needed another chance. So I called them on the phone and invited their family to dinner. They readily accepted and were delightful. We had questions galore because we were new to England and visited for over an hour after dinner. Following dinner we talked about their life and activity. They invited us to their house and the friendship grew. As the Spirit prompted us, we asked if they wouldn’t mind if we taught the boys about the Church and even suggested that Brother Hallett prepare himself to do the baptisms, of which he did. Our daughters came with us to make the visits and assisted us in teaching the lessons. Happiness. Joy. Gratitude for the goodness of God and for the magnificent Hallett family who are strong in the faith and life is good. We have kept in touch. The Lord will provide the way and the means for blessings to be poured out upon His children.
Preparing People To Receive The Missionaries And Be Taught The Gospel
As we work with diligence, faith and patience we will prepare people to receive the missionaries and be taught the gospel. Believe me…this will happen. You will feel a feeling that consumes your soul. Gratitude, love, joy, happiness and thus you will enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit when this grand event occurs. President Kimball teaches us about providing referrals for the full-time missionaries.
“As mentioned, in many areas the members have truly caught the vision, and they are keeping the missionaries fully occupied teaching all day long and bringing hundreds and thousands into the kingdom. But in other areas it seems that “everybody’s job has become nobody’s job.” Let me point out a common error in the mind of man. When someone speaks of what has been accomplished, we tend to think “me,” but when someone mentions what should be done, we tend to think “them.” But I ask all of us to honestly evaluate our responsibilities and our performances in giving missionary service. When we say every member should give referrals, it is too easy to let someone else do it. There doesn’t seem to be enough sense of responsibility on the part of some individual members to do what could and should be done in missionary service.” (Spencer w. Kimball, “It Becometh Every Man,” Ensign, Oct. 1977, p. 7).
The missionaries never receive enough referrals. They always need more. Providing referrals for the missionaries should be our major goal so the missionaries can teach people. The Spirit will be our guide.
Just know that everyone should provide the referrals for the missionaries. We each need to take personal responsibility for this opportunity. This reminds me of a poem I heard once.
This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job.
Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
This little poem is humorous yet it is so true as missionaries lament their concern to the ward mission leaders all over the Church.
Missionary work can be contagious if everyone shares their experience and joys of sharing the gospel. The joy of the work is fulfilling. As Alma said, “It was his glory and joy to bring souls unto Christ.”
Here are some of the things we can do to start the process:
- Pray for those who have yet to be taught the gospel. “The children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God” (Alma 6:6).
- Select a family who you know and are friendly with.
- Be their friends. Let them know you love them for who they are and that your friendship is not determined by them joining the Church. You love them!
- Help them feel your joy and excitement for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Let them see the kind of life you live and how it is centered on the family.
- Spend time with them and share special experiences with them concerning the gospel.
- Invite them to a ward activity so they can see there are other people with common beliefs.
- Share with them articles from the Ensign that they might be interested in.
- Talk about the Church openly and why it brings you so much happiness.
- Remember everyone is different and requires the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit to direct you in the things you need to say and do.
- Have the courage to share a copy of The Book of Mormon and read a few verses with them.
Then when the moment is right you explain how important it is to be taught the gospel and invite them to be taught by the missionaries. Explain how you will always be with them when they are taught and how much joy they will feel when they come to know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.
Once, as I was working with some friends in preparing them to hear the missionaries, it seemed that they would just like to visit with me and when the time came to hear the discussions they would say, “We’re not ready yet.” I wondered what I was doing wrong? Then the thought came to me. Making the commitment to hear the missionary discussions was too much for them. There must be a hidden concern that prevented them from accepting the invitation to hear the missionaries. I finally learned that they were afraid of what some of their relatives might think. So, they just wanted to be friends. Once they visited with their relatives and asked them what they thought about Mormons everything was okay, and they finally entered the waters of baptism.
Never give up. Time is our ally. After our full-time mission there is still time for sharing the gospel. Pat and I had a glorious experience as full-time couple missionaries in the Rochester, NY Mission. We worked at the sacred sites and lived right next to the Sacred Grove. The spiritual experiences were plentiful. We met thousands of people and shared our testimony of the great restoration that came forth in upper New York State. Many saints came and were strengthened as they recalled the great happenings and the goodness of God in blessing His children.
We served in the Canandaigua ward and visiting the less active and assisting in some convert baptisms. While serving at the sacred sites we met Giny and Sandra. Giny lived in Palmyra for a few months, and with the sisters we gave her several discussions before she moved away. We had the privilege of showing Sandra a few of the sites when she visited and we struck up a friendship.
Giny was a senior citizen who had some concerns. We addressed them and sought to help her. After she moved away, but we kept in touch for the years. We would talk at length and I encouraged her to read The Book of Mormon and then discuss different aspects about the gospel. One day I said, “Giny, it is time my dear for you to find the missionaries. You’re ready to be baptized.” She found them. The wonderful people in Arizona befriended her. They nurtured and supported her. She was baptized, and then we started getting her ready for the temple and her temple blessings. We still visit and she is now endowed. We are friends forever. Time and distance have no bearing. Our joy is full for she has never been so happy.
Sandra was a Messianic Jew—one who accepts Jesus as the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. She was very learned in the divine calendar and would say to me things like, “Are you aware of the significance of September 22?” “Do you know what April 3, 1836 was celebrating?” The grand plan of God does have many significant dates as our Church history unfolds and is demonstrated by these divine dates. They are of significance. Sandra found great interest in them. She knew Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration. She knew that The Book of Mormon was true, and the true Church had indeed been restored. She envisioned leading many of her Messianic Jewish friends into the gospel so she would tell me that she couldn’t join the Church because of her work. We visited at length and finally as we had had many emails between us I said, “Sandra it is going to be difficult sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ until you have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. You need to join the Church first so you can be empowered to teach them by the Spirit.” She relented and after many trying events was baptized and happily engaged in building up the Kingdom of God. She and her good husband are strong and faithful members of the Church.
The purpose of these two stories is to teach a principle. We are always missionaries to everyone. Distance and time have no bearing. By persevering we show our love and the importance of the gospel in everyone’s life. Distance does not stop the conversion process. We are always praying and doing everything within our power to help them hear the discussions from the missionaries. This is the ultimate opportunity we are seeking to prepare them to come unto Christ. They all need to be taught the gospel.
The prophets have pleaded and admonished us to share the gospel at every opportunity. Remember they are pleading the Lord’s cause now upon the earth for Him. They are the witnesses of Christ the Lord. The Savior came to the earth so that He could provide a way for us to return to our Fathers presence, there is no other way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Alma states that bringing souls unto Christ becomes our joy and glory, “And this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy” (Alma 29:9). The Whitmer brothers were given this instruction as well, “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” (D&C 15:6). The Lord needs our help. We have been commissioned, now we must accept the responsibility and move forward with this great work.
Member Missionaries
President Monson reminds us, “To their words I add my own. Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.” (The Work of Salvation Broadcast, “Faith in the Work of Salvation.”
Remember, as member missionaries do not doubt your capacities for it is God and the Holy Spirit that works within us. You are empowered by them and there is nothing to hard for the Lord and you to do! As members there are some specific things we can do to assist the missionary effort. Consider the following:
We are Finders. We are to seek out the Lord’s elect and prepare them to hear the gospel. Everyone should have the opportunity to hear the word of God. Don’t prejudge. All are our Heavenly Father’s children, and each deserves a chance to hear the gospel in their own tongue. Remember, “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12). We need to find them.
We can go with the missionaries to teach. Going with the missionaries often makes our friends feel more at ease just by having us there. Our responsibilities are simple, be happy, smile, sometimes bear your testimony, and address any questions that the missionaries defer to you. You become an important part of the conversion process. I have sat in on many discussions with the full-time missionaries, and it becomes a spiritual feast. The more you do it the easier it is. If you volunteer your services the missionaries can give very small assignments, anything you feel comfortable with.
Friendshipping. During the process of teaching and conversion it is important for the investigator to feel welcome and surrounded by friends who can help them feel at ease in every situation. Everyone needs a friend and during this major change in their lives it is even more important. The best part is, you become friends for life.
Fellowshipping. Once they have committed to be baptized it is imperative that you extend your love and friendship. Sometimes new converts will say that they like being an investigator more than a member because everyone paid more attention to them before they were members. A lesson to be learned—never cease giving your time and friendship with your friends. One of the best things to do is have them help you friendship and fellowship other investigators and new members. An example of this was a young deaf man in the Philippines. Although his family had been members, he had always attended the local Baptist church, as it was the only one where sign language was used. When sister missionaries who knew sign (one knew it, the other was willing to learn it) came to his area, he readily accepted the gospel. The sisters worried what would become of this young man once they were transferred. They worried in vain. The young men and women of the ward took it upon themselves to learn sign language so that they could include this new member even after the sister missionaries left.
We fast and pray. Our minds are on things that matter most—The souls of mankind. What can we do? How can we help? Alma records, “Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God” (Alma 6:6). Alma’s words were they were commanded to come together and join in fasting and prayer. Think about this admonition. When was the last time this occurred in our lives? I plead guilty. I need to be better. I must make this a regular part of my life, as should we all as we gather together in our monthly fast. As member missionaries don’t categorize people thinking you know what they need and want. We don’t judge anyone ever. Many people just want to be friends. Some people have problems and need solutions now. Some people are in deep despair and are looking for hope. Some people like to help. Some people like deep discussions about life with no purpose in mind. Your job is to discern how the gospel and coming to Christ can and will be a solution for any concern they might have because the Lord will strengthen them too.
Sharing The Gospel Online
We are missionary minded. We focus on missionary opportunities. We use the Internet to share the gospel. Use the internet to find answers to your friends and neighbors questions. Register your profile on Mormon.org. Use Facebook and other social media services to share the gospel. The Church has a wonderful area on its website entitled Sharing the Gospel Online with suggestions and instructions galore. Surely the Lord is opening the way with new opportunities to share the gospel all over the world. You can click on over a hundred and ten different languages. We are connected with the world through the Internet. Listed below are six areas of focus that can instruct you on what to do and how to do it.
The Church’s website is a great place to start Lds.Org
President Uchtdorf has taught, “Sharing the good news of the gospel is easier and the effects more far-reaching than ever before. . . . Perhaps the Lord’s encouragement to ‘open [your] mouths’ might today include ‘use your hands’ to blog and text message the gospel to all the world!” . . .
“With the blessings of modern technology, we can express gratitude and joy about God’s great plan for His children in a way that can be heard . . . around the world. Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Ensign, May 2011, “Waiting on the Road to Damascus.”)
On Lds.org click on “Sharing the Gospel” and you can see the tabs below of the topics you can be taught to use.
- Centering on Christ
- Sharing via Social Media
- Sharing via Blogs
- Refer a Friend to the Missionaries
- Hastening the Work of Salvation
On Mormon.Org there is a plethora of information available as you visit the site. It is great for your friends of other faiths who have questions and are seeking answers. Become familiar with it so it can be part of your knowledge base for sharing the gospel.
BlogSpot’s that work well as usual end up focusing upon people’s interests and needs. Needs are a driving force to change in ones life.
Consider the following topics when creating your BlogSpot’s:
- Everyone wants to be happy!
- Everyone will admit that being loved is important to them (some faster than others).
- Everyone faces pain to one degree or another (spiritual, emotional, and always physical).
- Dealing with grief.
- Uplifting Others—There is hope for everyone
- Every aspect of marriage
- Trials and tribulations of life
- Family Life
- Family History is one of the biggest hobbies in the world
Another amazing site is this one (!) which is a user-friendly site that will help you express your feelings about the gospel and give you missionary helps in whatever part of the missionary work you are involved in.
The more good Foundation at www.moregoodfoundation.org has an excess of wonderful websites for your help including language capabilities. Simply logon and their magnificent resource comes to life.
In addition members of the Church have made there own web sites to promote the gospel.
This is a new day. We have the world at our fingertips. Online conversion stories have been going for two decades. Online proselyting has taken giant strides in assist in the proselyting effort. You can video your testimony and put it up on Youtube. Make your own blog. I even did one entitled MormonismRevealed hoping to attract some new viewers. I simply put up an article I wrote about happiness. The internet is being used by many full-time missionaries in their proselyting efforts.
Share The Gospel At Work
Share the gospel at every opportunity as we discussed in our “Open Your Mouth” chapter. One place that deserves a little extra emphasis is when we are at work. We all shy away from this. I did too until the Holy Spirit literally put the words in my mouth with great success. As usual fear and doubt come into play as well as traditions of propriety. The fear of man can have devastating effect on our lives. The adversary is jubilant when we don’t open our mouths. Trust in the Lord there are ways to do it. You can visit at work in your typical, uninhibited, relaxed and accustomed manner. Just me yourself but as you are yourself just use your normal conversation and share some insights and joys you have found in the gospel. The more you do it the easier it becomes.
Here are some typical conversations I have heard—
“I picked up this interesting idea at Church the other day it really helped me to…”
“I have this friend who goes to my same Church and he gave this book…”
“You know Alexis I learned the cutest little craft the other day at a little church meeting and I thought you might like it.” You give her one and life is great.
“Hey Sam hold on a minute. You will not believe what I heard at Church the other day. You know when we were discussing the marketing approach for youth and you mentioned we needed to get the ideas from the youth well this young twelve year old gave a talk about getting along in our families and how we need to listen to each other to help each other be happy. It was amazing. We have got to get a focus group of youth to help us in this project. Having said that I really was thinking how you and I discussed raising our kids and how we needed some real help. I got my help at Church.”
These are simple examples using regular conversations when we can bring up the Church in a normal and unstressful manner.
Here are some easy things we can do—Get People to Help You
“Suzanne, remember when we were discussing our teenage daughters and dating well I found this article that really had great advice for parents so I thought I would give you a copy. You’ll love it. It really helped me.”
“Sam I need some help assisting some youth on a weekend hike. You are an old mountain man. How would you like to help chaperon these kids and tell them about your ascent of …”
“Jim I know you fix your car and stuff could you help me in a couple of weeks teach some young men the art of …”
“Bill my wife and I do volunteer work at the shelter and we need another couple next Saturday for a few hours in the morning could you help us out…”
The most important thing to remember is to open your mouth and let the Holy Spirit guide as you pray for missionary opportunities.