Three-Minute Member-Missionary Lessons
(c) 2007 David G.
Stewart, Jr.
Many
otherwise good member-missionary initiatives fall short because of the lack of
regular reinforcement of the missionary message, and because members are merely
exhorted to share the gospel without being taught how to do so in a practical
fashion. All too often, this reflects
the fact that those exhorting other members to share the gospel often lack
experience in the process themselves.
Any
member-missionary program can be enhanced by the implementation of a
three-minute lesson to be given in Priesthood, Relief Society, Young Women’s,
and Primary opening exercises each week. Weekly three-minute messages should be
coordinated in advance by the ward mission leader and can be presented
simultaneously by the ward mission leader, ward missionaries, and full-time
missionaries in the various opening exercises.
A brief
missionary tip should be conveyed that helps members to better understand and
implement personal member-missionary activities. These messages should be
informational, concise, well-organized, practical, and strategic. Each message
should end with a specific call to action. Messages can periodically include an
interactive segment that includes follow-up from the previous week, finding out
and addressing concerns, discussing problems and challenges, and sharing
experiences, although the time must be carefully watched.
Member-missionary
performance improves when individuals recognize that missionary work will be a
weekly topic of discussion for which they will be accountable. These messages
should be given every week, since infrequent or inconsistent member-missionary
lessons fail to promote sustained member-missionary improvement because of
inconsistent reinforcement and sketchy follow-up. Individuals are free to share
the gospel in whatever manner they prefer, but every member is expected to
share the gospel regularly.
To
respect the time of the teacher, full-time and ward missionaries must keep each
weekly missionary message within the three-minute time limit. If messages go
too long, teachers or quorum presidencies will object and the opportunity to
present the messages at all may be retracted.
The
precise topics depend upon local needs, challenges, and member feedback. Some
topics I have successfully used include:
1. Conversational openers for gospel discussions, including
the “golden questions” and other approaches.
2. Educating members about different resources for sharing
the gospel and the circumstances under which each can be used most
effectively. Resources include the Book
of Mormon, the Joseph Smith Testimony pamphlet, pass-along cards, the Tell Me
About Your Family program, and others.
3. Ways to handle common concerns or objections, such as:
Are Mormons Christian? Does the Bible contain all of God’s word? If I am a good person, why do I need
church? Why do we need prophets
today? And so forth.
4. Helping members to understand their responsibility to
share the gospel spontaneously without waiting for special experiences and
avoiding prejudging of others.
5. Considering individual needs and situations and
responding to feedback and verbal and nonverbal cues in sharing the gospel.
6. Dealing with rejection gracefully and leaving the door
open for future discussions.
7. Times of special receptivity: major life change, birth
or death in the family, marriage, change of job, or a move.
8. Socratic Evangelism – one of the most effective ways to
share the gospel.
Examples of some three-minute thoughts I have used in my ward are included below.
Lesson 1. Member-Missionary Work: A Lifelong
Responsibility
Studies show that only 3-5% of active Latter-day Saints are regularly involved in missionary work, and that only 26% of members have initiated a single gospel conversation with a non-member over the past year. These studies demonstrate the gap between our actual performance and the divine mandate of “every member a missionary.”
Sharing the gospel is as essential to our own salvation as attending church, praying, studying scriptures, and paying tithing. We all recognize the importance of doing these things regularly, and would not consider it adequate to have said read our scriptures last month to have attended Church on Christmas or Easter. Similarly, we have a responsibility to share the gospel regularly. This responsibility is life-long and is not limited to full-time missionary service or missionary-relating callings.
The baptismal covenant includes the promise “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life” (Mosiah 18:9).
Each week, we will present a brief three-minute lesson on missionary work. Our goal is to give you the tools and understanding to help you to succeed in living up to your covenant to be a witness of Christ. There will be no goals or quotas for referrals or baptisms. Our focus will be upon the individual effort of each member, as we cannot control how others respond to the gospel message, but we can control our own personal effort. Our goal is for each member to initiate a gospel conversation with at least one non-member each week. This is a step towards fulfilling our baptismal covenant which is within the power of each member to complete regularly. We invite you to begin praying and thinking about your own member-missionary efforts, and to look for opportunities to bring up the gospel in your everyday conversations.
Lesson 2. What Should I Say?
Many
wonder, “What should I say when I open my mouth?” I do not have a preferred approach, as I find
that making the effort to share the gospel consistently is far more important
than what the approach consists of. There are many ways to share the gospel,
but effective approaches incorporate several principles. Keep the message simple, stress its
importance to you, and give specific examples of how your faith has helped you. No one can argue with your experience.
Elder
Ballard observed: “Some members say, 'I'm afraid to share the gospel because I
might offend someone.' Experience has shown that people are not offended when
the sharing is motivated by the spirit of love and concern. How could anyone be
offended when we say something like this: 'I love the way my church helps me,'
and then add whatever the Spirit directs. It's when we appear only to be
fulfilling an assignment and we fail to express real interest and love that we
offend others."[1]
The
sharer should look for verbal and non-verbal cues and strive to create a
two-way discussion, rather than engaging in a one-way data dump. Finally, invite the hearer to take some
action, whether to read in the Book of Mormon, to pray to God, to attend a
family home evening or church service, or simply to discuss matters of faith
another time. Individuals should be
invited, but never pressured.
As
we share the gospel, we should focus on the Savior. Nephi wrote: “We talk of Christ, we rejoice
in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according
to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for
a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26) .
We should also focus on Latter-day revelation. Bruce R. McConkie stated: “The Lord said to
Joseph Smith: 'this generation shall have my word through you...' (D&C
5:10). That is his decree. They either get it through Joseph Smith or they do
not get it, and our whole perspective is: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon,
the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.”[2] What would happen to an honorable person in
Noah’s day who accepted Adam and Enoch as past prophets but did not heed the
counsel of Noah to board the ark?
Sharing specific blessings that living the Gospel has brought into your
life is the essence of testimony. A
living testimony must be radiated in our conduct. It is impossible to testify
effectively about a principle which one is not living.
Lesson 3. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus
Christ
Introduction
The
Book of Mormon is a book of inspired scripture which contains the word of God
given to ancient prophets and the words of the Savior Jesus Christ
himself. It was brought forth by the
power of God and will go to all the world. The Book of Mormon strengthens our faith
in Christ, teaches us the principles of His gospel, and instructs us in the
conditions of salvation.
Jesus Christ as Chief Editor
The
Book of Mormon is different than other scriptures in that Jesus Christ himself
was the chief editor. Jesus Christ
personally appeared to the main editors of the Book of Mormon and instructed
them what to write in the limited space they had to convey a message of
infinite importance.
The
Book of Mormon has a unique endorsement among scripture. The Lord testifies that
Book of Mormon “contains... the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (D&C
20:9-10).
A Book for our Time
The
Book of Mormon was written for our day.
The ancient Mesoamericans never had the complete contents of the Book of
Mormon, and the major writers testified that they wrote for the benefit of
future generations (see 2 Nephi 25:21, Jacob 1:3, Enos 1:15-16, and Jarom
1:2).
Another Testament of Jesus Christ
The
Book of Mormon testifies that “Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, And that he
manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy
Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty
miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their
faith” (2 Nephi 26:12-13).
All are invited to ask God to open
their minds and their hearts to His word as they prayerfully read and ponder
the principles and teachings of the Book of Mormon. Those who have studied and
applied the principles of the Book of Mormon in their daily lives can testify
of the great blessings this inspired Testament of Jesus Christ brings into our
homes.
Lesson 4. The Wrong Questions
Several
years ago, an acquaintance told me that she had recently sat next to a man on
the plane and felt that he was “ripe for the gospel.” She had acquired his name
and address, and wanted to submit a missionary referral. I asked if she had
discussed the gospel with him. Her
answer floored me: “I didn’t feel prompted to share the gospel.”
I
wondered: “did you feel prompted NOT to?” Scriptures are replete with
admonitions to share the gospel at all times and in all places. Do we need an angel to appear to us and offer
compelling personal revelation each time before we attend church, read
scriptures, or pay our tithing? Then why
do many wait for spiritual promptings to share the gospel as the Lord has
repeatedly commanded?
Unfortunately,
my acquaintance’s behavior is not atypical. Well-intended but less-effective
programs such as “set a date” have fostered a false belief in many members’
minds that they cannot approach anyone about the gospel without first receiving
personal revelation. Members have heard
so frequently from the pulpit that they should “listen to the spirit” about who
to approach that many believe that they can only share the gospel when they
feel powerful spiritual promptings. Many are so afraid of saying the wrong
thing that they say nothing at all.
Too
many members and missionaries ask the wrong questions: “Which of my neighbors
is ready to receive the gospel?” or “Which door should I knock on?” As a young missionary, I learned the fallacy
of such practices. When I prayed to know
what street to tract on or what doors to knock on, I only felt a stupor of
thought. I quickly learned that all
people have a right to hear the gospel message – not just a select few whom we
feel specifically impressed to approach.
I learned the truth of the Lord’s words: “Go ye and preach my gospel,
whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth
not, for ye cannot go amiss" (D&C 80:3). The Doctrine and Covenants alone contains
numerous admonitions to open our mouths about the gospel at all times (D&C
19:29, 24:10, 28:16, 30:11, 33:8-11, 80:3).
There
is no scriptural basis for the assumption that members should be able to tell
in advance which of their neighbors will be receptive to the gospel message.
Attempts to pre-select others before even presenting them with an opportunity
to hear the gospel message are inappropriate. Christ found more success among
the “publicans and sinners” than the outwardly “righteous” Pharisees. I have found that the Spirit usually comes
only after we demonstrate the faith to sow gospel seeds, and those who wait for
divine manifestations before making the effort to share the gospel usually wait
in vain.
All
people must have an opportunity to hear the gospel message. How successful would a farmer be who set
goals for a large crop yield, but failed to pay any attention to the amount of
seed sown? Successful farmers recognize
that sowing abundantly is the key to an abundant harvest. Paul declared: “He which soweth sparingly
shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
Lesson 5. The
Need for Church
Over 95% of Americans state that they believe in God, but fewer than half attend church. Many people describe themselves as "spiritual, but not religious." They wonder: "If I am a good person, why do I need Church?"
C.S. Lewis recounted the story of an old air force officer who said: "I’ve no use for all that stuff. But, mind you, I’m a religious man too. I know there’s a God. I’ve felt Him: out alone in the desert at night: the tremendous mystery. And that’s just why I don’t believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas about Him. To anyone who’s met the real thing they all seem so petty... and unreal!"[3]
Lewis went on to point out that organized worship with fellow believers is necessary to progress in the Plan of Salvation:
"What
happened to that man in the desert may have been real, and was certainly
exciting, but nothing comes of it. It
leads nowhere. There is nothing to do about it. In fact, that is just why a vague religion - all about feeling God in
nature, and so on - is so attractive. It is all thrills and no work;
like watching the waves from the beach. But you will not get to
The Savior commanded his disciples
to meet together often (3 Nephi 18:22).
He taught that certain benefits are available only when believers meet
together: “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in
the midst of them” (Matthew 17:20).
Although independent study is important, this promise does not apply to
believers meeting alone. Organized
worship with other believers creates spiritual synergy which is greater than
the sum of its parts. It provides opportunities
for service, which are essential to our own salvation. It also provides us to hear God’s word from
his living oracles for us today, which is just as essential as it was in
ancient times. What would have happened
to an individual living in the time of Noah who was
honest with his neighbors and claimed to accept the teachings of Adam, Enoch,
and other prior prophets, but refused to listen to Noah and did not board the
Lesson 6. The Book of Mormon Loan Program
Ezra
Taft Benson taught that the Book of Mormon is a great sieve and that the
members of the Church are under condemnation for taking it lightly. He taught
that the Book of Mormon is the standard we are to use in our missionary
efforts. Nephi declared: “And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in
these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me;
and they teach all men that they should do good” (2 Nephi 33:10).
Most
Book of Mormon gift programs fall short as distributed books are rarely read or
followed up on. Fortunately, there is a superior way to utilize the Book of
Mormon which avoids the free sample mentality, ensures time-sensitive
accountability, promotes follow-up discussion, and utilizes resources
efficiently.
The
Book of Mormon loan program involves offering contacts or acquaintances a copy
of the Book of Mormon as a loan. The sharer asks for the listener’s opinion
about the book and emphasizes that he or she does not need to read the entire
book, but just enough to begin to form an opinion. Copies of 23 Questions
Answered by the Book of Mormon or specific passages addressing issues of
interest can stimulate reading. The sharer follows up by telephone or in person
at an agreed-upon time a few days later. If the individual is not interested,
he or she returns the book. If the individual is interested, he or she can
continue to read and discuss, with church invitation or eventual missionary
referral as appropriate with the individual’s permission.
Most
people feel an obligation to return other people’s property, and so loaning the
book is more effective than giving it away. The loaned status of the book also
promotes time-sensitive follow-up that is often lost when the book is given
away due to the free sample mentality. The Book of Mormon loan program is
nonthreatening to the listener, and most members are surprised at how easy it
is to implement.
Lesson 7. Cottage
Meetings
Many
members struggle to find the ideal invitation for their friends and
acquaintances. Most have never invited a
non-member to church for several reasons.
The quality and focus of talks and lessons is unpredictable. Members do not want to be embarrassed by
bringing acquaintances to hear travel-log testimonies. I vividly recall the agony I felt in a prior
ward when an inactive friend and colleague attended church with his family
after intensive fellowshipping efforts, only to end up in a Gospel Principles
class where the instructor droned on about the hierarchical organization of
priesthood quorums. Even good talks, lessons, and testimonies many not be
understandable or relevant to non-members.
We are often oblivious to our own language of “Mormonese,” making
statements like: “I know beyond a shadow of a doubt with every fiber of my
being.” Just what does that mean, anyway?
On the other hand, many individuals are reluctant to submit missionary
referrals. They may feel that their
acquaintances may not be ready for formal teaching, and do not want to feel
pressured towards baptism or other commitments.
Many
members recognize the importance of sharing the gospel, but have not approached
their acquaintances because they feel that they have not found the right
invitation. We would like to offer an
invitation that my wife and I have found to be ideal for non-members from a
wide variety of ages and backgrounds.
Every Tuesday evening at 7 pm, a gospel cottage meeting is conducted in
our home. These meetings are informal,
brief, lasting an hour or less, and are specifically tailored towards
non-member friends and acquaintances. We
conducted these meetings in our home for nearly a year in a prior ward, and
have consistently received excellent feedback from non-members for these meetings. Quality fellowshipping in cottage meetings is
inevitable, and the relationships that develop are much stronger than those
developed in Sunday meetings with hallway hellos. Cottage meetings are not a substitute for
church attendance, but almost entirely eliminate the difficulties of
unpredictable talks, lessons not specifically tailored to investigators, and
inconsistent fellowshipping, that are often associated with church invitations
alone. We have also found a much higher return rate for non-members who
attended both church and cottage meetings than those who attended church
meetings alone.
We
invite you to come to our cottage meetings to see for yourself. We believe that you will find the meetings so
relevant, useful, sensitive, and appealing that you will be excited to invite
the individuals you care about.
We also wish to
remind you of our goal for each member to initiate a gospel discussion with one
non-member each week. New missionary resources
are found in the hallways for you to share with your friends and
neighbors. Please also consider inviting
your friends and acquaintances to our cottage meetings, and let us know how we
can assist you in your efforts to share the gospel.
Lesson 8. How are Latter-day Saints Different?
Many people wonder, “How are Latter-day Saints
different?” Non-members often fail to
recognize the considerable contrast between our faith and that of other
churches of the day. As a missionary, I
recall explaining several doctrinal highlights to one man only to have him ask
again, “so how are you different?” Much
of the confusion occurs because many individuals understand their own church’s
teachings so poorly that it is difficult for them to recognize doctrinal
distinctiveness.
While not everyone
may understand doctrinal issues, everyone can appreciate the importance of
lifestyle. Christian researcher George Barna has observed that “Today’s
[Christian] church is incapable of responding to the present moral crisis.”[4] Evangelical seminarian Ronald Sider observed
that modern Christians are living just like the rest of the world. He wondered, “Where are contemporary
preachers warning us, as clearly as St. Paul did, about the terrible evil and
awful consequences of unholy lifestyles?...We proudly trumpet our orthodox
doctrine of Christ...and then disobey his teachings”[5] Sider acknowledged that “Jesus said that the
purpose of his coming was to call us to repentance...Repentance and conversion
– turning in a whole new direction – are central to salvation.”[6] Evangelist Peter Gilquist observed that the
world was not changing because the Church herself had lost its holiness and
righteousness.”[7] George Barna observed: “Those who have turned
to Christianity and to churches seeking truth and meaning have left empty-handed,
confused by the apparent ability of Christians themselves to implement the
principles they profess.”[8] He warned: “I believe the Church in
The name of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conveys our distinctiveness
from the other faiths of the day. The
fact that we believe in Christ – not only to say, but also to do – does make us
different. Christ taught, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which
is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). When
Joseph Smith was asked if we believe in the Bible, he replied: “If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does,
for there are none of the religious
sects of the day that do.”[11] The
term “Latter-day Saints” is included in the Church’s name not only to
distinguish modern the Church from that of ancient times, but because striving
for holiness and sanctification is and must be the primary distinction between
the members of the Lord’s Church and those of other faiths. When Christ’s Church ceases to be holy, it
ceases to be his. As disciples of
Christ, we maintain our standards and demonstrate His teachings in a world that
has long since abandoned them. What
Christ offers to faithful members of His Church is not merely a set of
teachings and ordinances, but to write his law in our hearts, to cleanse us
from the sins of the world, and to remake us after his own image. This is the message and the promise that we
offer the world.
Lesson 9.
Latter-day Saint Christians
The accusation periodically arises from those who know little or nothing about us or who deliberately misrepresent us, that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not Christians. Those who do know the Latter-day Saints can testify that we are not only Christians, but Christians with a broader and deeper understanding of Christ than offered by other religious traditions.
The Book of Mormon expands the understanding of Christ’s role considerably beyond the limited details found in the Bible, teaching that ancient prophets knew of Christ’s coming many centuries before his birth, and that the resurrected Christ appeared to His disciples on the American continent (3 Nephi 11) and in other parts of the world (3 Nephi 16:1-5). The purpose of the Book of Mormon is “the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” The Book of Mormon demonstrates that Christ is God over all the earth, who loves and visits His children throughout the world. The prophet Nephi wrote: “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (2 Nephi 25:26). The Book of Mormon mentions Christ by 101 different titles and refers to him more frequently than even the New Testament.[12]
Many Christians acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Savior, but are unaware of His other roles. Latter-day Saint scripture teaches that roles of Christ in the Plan of Salvation include Creator of the worlds, Jehovah of the Old Testament, Teacher and Exemplar, Redeemer from physical death and sin, Judge, and Power of the Universe.
Christ’s role as Savior, Redeemer, and Judge are referenced over a hundred times in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Mormon teaches that Christ “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him” (2 Nephi 26:24). Most Christian faiths teach that individuals who do not know of Christ and have no opportunity to accept Him are eternally condemned. In contrast, the Book of Mormon teaches a broader application of the Atonement of a merciful and just Savior, which redeems not only faithful believers, but also young children (Moroni 8:8-13) and those who have sinned in ignorance without having an opportunity to accept Christ (Mosiah 15:21-25) in addition to the universal resurrection (Alma 11:42-45).
The Doctrine and Covenants conveys additional teachings about Christ’s role that are unique among Christian faiths (D&C 88:5-13): “Jesus Christ...ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made...And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space— The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed.” Christ is not only our Savior, or our Creator, or our Judge, although He is all of those things. He is the very power by which the universe exists, the sun and stars shine, and the earth moves on its axis. He is the source of all enlightenment and truth. In a word, Christ to Latter-day Saints is everything. No other faith teaches as central or universal a role for Jesus Christ.
Historian Davis Bitton observed:
For critics to claim that [Latter-day Saints do] not believe in Christ, or to imply the same by saying they believed in “a different Christ”...is bearing false witness... If they were at all interested in fairness, outside commentators could note that Mormons add to the four gospel accounts a visit of the resurrected Lord to the Western hemisphere as recounted in another work of scripture. They could explain that we do not accept the creeds formulated by theologians and philosophers at church councils starting three hundred years after the crucifixion. They could note that we accept other works of scripture besides the Bible and do not think God ever restricted his communication to that compilation. Such differences indeed set us apart from other Christians. But a different Christ? Those two words leave the false impression that we have anointed someone other than Jesus of Nazareth as our Messiah. Please!
Latter-day Saints worship Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and Only Begotten Son of the Eternal Father. Critics who claim that we worship a “different Christ” only demonstrate that they are not acquainted with His voice. Latter-day Saints are not only Christians, but Christians with a unique understanding of the central role of Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. Latter-day Saints have a great deal to offer the world in the form of a more profound understanding of Jesus Christ, the “Savior of all men, specially of those that believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).[13]
Lesson 10. Making Services
Seeker-Aware and Seeker-Sensitive
Several
principles can improve the quality and relevance of church services for
non-member visitors and members alike.
First,
formulate a purpose, and then compose your talk or lesson with the purpose as a
focal point. Purposes should be
scripture-based and practical. What do
you want your listeners to do after they leave the chapel? How will they be better disciples of Christ
for having listened to your comments?
What insights can you offer to bridge the gap between theoretical
awareness and life implementation of gospel principles?
Second, teachings should focus on the Savior, and should be scripture-based as well as coming from our heart. C.S. Lewis wrote that if you cannot convey a principle of faith in simple terms, “then either you don’t understand it or you don’t believe it.”[14] Our ability to convey gospel principles is a reflection of our personal conversion and the meaning of the principles in our lives.
Third, do
not offer excuses or apologies for being asked to speak. Many otherwise good talks are sabotaged by introductory
remarks in which the speaker expresses displeasure at the bishopric. If the speaker views his assignment as a painful
burden accepted grudgingly, how is it possible for others to be edified,
inspired, or excited by his remarks?
What message do non-member visitors get – or even our own families –
when a speaker complains about his assignment and makes verbal jabs at the
bishopric for having asked him to speak?
A teaching or speaking assignment is a privilege and an opportunity, and
must be approached with enthusiasm. Mormon wrote: “If a man being evil giveth a
gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if
he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God. (
Fourth, be aware that non-member visitors and less-actives are likely in the audience, and that the impression that you make may influence their decision about whether to return. The pulpit is not the forum for sharing travelogues or telling anecdotes about other ward members. Avoid unique religious vocabulary when concepts can be explained in simpler terms. Ask yourself the question: Would my talk be understandable and meaningful to individuals visiting church for the first time as well as to long-time members?
Finally, we should pray for the Holy Spirit. The Lord declared: “the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach” (D&C 42:14). Every statement should serve a purpose, and non-essentials should be eliminated. We should always finish before the Holy Spirit does.
Lesson 11. Media Outreach
Program
Starting
this week, the Church is implementing a new media outreach initiative for which
the
The campaign will last from May to December 2007 and will cover television, radio, magazines, billboards, and even internet sites such as the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Church planners expect over 90% of individuals in the metro area to have exposure to the ads by the end of the year.
The first phase (May-June) will consist of Socratic questions on so-called “man on the street ads,” where a question is asked. Random respondents attempt to answer them, largely demonstrating lack of awareness or confusing and contradictory viewpoints. The six television questions include:
Magazine and billboard questions include:
1. Why isn’t God more involved in the world?
2. How can I keep my family safe and my marriage strong?
3. Does God have a reason for me being here?
4. Why does God allow so much suffering?
These questions are often more effective than conventional proselyting approaches because they help individuals to recognize themselves the inadequacy of their own views and their need for greater spiritual enlightenment. The Church is looking for a higher quality of referrals with this initiative: individuals who want to read and investigate matters for themselves before inviting the missionaries, rather than people who “just want free stuff.”
Many will recognize these as refined versions of the “Golden Questions,” Socratic questions for initiating gospel discussion. After the question is asked and the respondent answers are given, the message is “After centuries of confusion, the truth about [topic] is restored,” with the Church’s name displayed and the mormon.org website cited. The spots I saw were all very well-done.
The second phase (starting in July) will feature testimonies of recent converts, also referring respondents to mormon.org. The program will initially run in English and Spanish in appropriate media venues for each.
The mormon.org site will be referenced in all ads. Individuals will be able to chat live with a missionary, request church materials, look up meetinghouse addresses, or request a missionary visit. The redesigned website now features conversion story videos and expanded information where investigators can safely explore church teachings.
Members also have an important role to play. Church leaders have requested that each member familiarize himself with the new mormon.org website. You may be approached by non-member acquaintances who have heard the ads, and should be prepared to share your personal testimony and invite them to learn more about the Church. The questions in the advertisements are also excellent for approaching your own acquaintances about the gospel. I encourage you to contemplate each of the questions and roleplay with your family how you would answer it and how you can use these questions to demonstrate the blessings of the restored gospel.
Lesson 12. Implementation
Many nominal Christians acknowledge God as the God of the universe, but fail to enthrone Him as the God of their lives. Many believe they have rendered God his due by participating in routine church activities and avoiding a few “Thou Shalt Not” behaviors. Then they make most of their remaining decisions without involving God or seeking His counsel. True Christian living, however, requires something more.
Christ declared: “If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Taking up our cross daily requires that we do things that are difficult for us, and especially that we testify of Christ.
Over the past few weeks, we have discussed many different ways to share the gospel. Our ward mission goal is for each member to initiate a gospel discussion with a non-member each week. This is a small step toward the scriptural mandate that we stand as witnesses of Christ at all times, and is within the power of each member to accomplish regularly.
Over the next few weeks, the missionaries and I will be following up individually to see how each member is doing at meeting this scriptural responsibility, and to help those who need assistance to identify opportunities and to overcome obstacles.
Lesson 13. Teach Like Jesus
The Savior drew his listeners in by calling upon their own judgment and insight. He often asked his listeners: “What think ye?” (Matthew 21:28) while expounding parables. He asked the brother of Jared: “What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you” (Ether 2:23). The Lord directed Nephi where to go to find ore, but Nephi had to make the tools himself (1 Nephi 17:10). By appealing to His listeners’ own discernment and problem-solving ability, Christ ensured that His teachings penetrated more deeply and were better understood and appreciated than if He had directly presented His listeners with the solutions. In so doing, Christ gave us a pattern we are to emulate in sharing and teaching the gospel.
What can we learn about sharing the gospel from Christ’s teaching method? How do we respond when people say, “I could never be a member of your church because I cannot give up coffee” or “I cannot make it to church on Sundays because of my work?” In such situations, we can use the same teaching principles that Christ used by asking thought-provoking questions like: “what does God want you to do?,” “How can you find out?,” and “what resources has God provided to help you to overcome these challenges?” For concerns like “I believe that the Bible contains all of God’s word” we can use Jesus’ teaching apttern with questions like “Does God love us today less than people in ancient times?” or “What do scriptures teach about God’s model for revealing truth?”
Such an approach has many advantages. This approach is easy to learn, respectful and non-judgmental. People in our culture are independent, and no one likes being told what to do. While approaches that impose external solutions can come across as pushy, awkward, or insensitive, Jesus’ teaching method helps individuals to participate in finding their own solutions. We place the responsibility for improvement upon the individual rather than assuming the burden of convincing or changing them ourselves.
Instead of relying on our own wisdom or persuasiveness to help individuals with their challenges, we help individuals to harness the power of the light of Christ or conscience and reason that are their divine gifts, in addition to the Holy Spirit that we bring. We direct individuals toward the true source of understanding – God – and towards the tools that He has provided: scriptures, prayer, study and meditation, application of God’s word, and support and fellowshipping in the Church. The wonderful thing about Jesus’ teaching pattern is that it can help us in any situation. We convince individuals of the sincerity of our faith by demonstrating that we are not simply following tradition, but that our focus is on knowing and fulfilling God’s will, and that this same knowledge is available to them.
Lesson 14.
C.S. Lewis observed that the principal problem he found of sharing the Christian message was that most people today reject the notion of their own sinfulness and their need for repentance and spiritual healing. [15] More recently, Evangelical researcher George Barna observed that missionary efforts are difficult because most Americans believe that they have their salvation already wrapped up:
“Christians generally believe that non-Christians are interested in talking to us about eternal security. In truth, most non-Christians don’t care to discuss this matter because they believe they already have their eternal security sown up. A majority of Americans believe that they are going to heaven after they die; most of the people who are not relying on Christ’s atonement for their sins are relying instead on their own good deeds, their good character, or the generosity of God. Research indicates that the evangelistic efforts of Christians are viewed as insensitive and unnecessary.”[16]
In the popular mind, such “good deeds” typically consist of a subjective assessment of one’s intentions and do not imply obedience to God’s laws or ordinances. Barna observed that many people believe that they can get to heaven by “by relying on God’s boundless and forgiving love... We can choose grace, works, or universalism, but we can rest assured with the false premise that all paths lead to heaven.”[17] Barna has documented that 95% of Americans state that they believe in God and 81% believe in an afterlife, but less than 1% believe that they could end up in hell.[18] Many people reject the missionary message because they see no need for it, believing that their salvation is assured without personal effort.
These popular heresies in turn reflect the degree to which many non-LDS Christian faiths have supplanted Jesus’ gospel of repentance, obedience, and sanctification with messages of convenience and accommodation. The idea of looking for a church that represents God’s will in order to understand and implement God’s teachings has become increasingly foreign to Americans. Barna acknowledged that Christians “think and behave no differently from anyone else.”[19] Some ministers preach that God will accept people “just the way they” are without the need for repentance or obedience to divine law. This kind of cafeteria Christianity promises extra helpings of grace, forgiveness, and salvation without the spiritual meat and potatoes of service, sacrifice, and repentance.
The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi seems to have precisely predicted the modern attitudes Barna documented: “There shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.” (2 Nephi 28:7-8). It is likely no coincidence that this same imagery is found in Christ’s warning to those in the last days: “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:28-29).
As other Christian faiths have gone
increasingly far afield, the
Lesson 15. Excuses
The Savior taught that many people offer excuses for failing to attend the Lord’s Supper. Luke records the parable: “He sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come” (Luke 14:17-20). We might think that the excuses offered by those who did not attend the Lord’s feast sound reasonable and practical. Yet such behaviors are eternally short-sighted and demonstrate wrong priorities. The Savior did not find these excuses as clever or reasonable as those who offered them would have liked to believe. He declared: “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper... And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:22-23, 27).
The record of scripture shows that the Lord rarely accepts the excuses that individuals suppose offer compelling justification for non-observance of gospel laws. Perhaps this at least in part reflects the fact that excuses rarely approach the real spiritual causes of such behavior, as remedying one excuse often only brings forth a litany of others. The real problem is one of direction and priorities. Do we like Nephi look for ways to fulfill the Lord’s commands, even when it involves considerable personal sacrifice, or do we consider ourselves to be justified at neglecting divine commands when our token effort encounters the slightest obstacle? The scriptural record suggests that the Lord is unlikely to accept excuses for failing to attend church, to read the scriptures, to share the gospel, or to obey other gospel laws. We cannot gain the blessings for commandments we do not live.
We live in an age of feel-good spirituality when many people want God to meet them on their terms and accept them just the way they are, providing blessings without sacrifice, grace without repentance, and salvation without sanctification. This is not what the scriptures teach. Do we understand that the purpose of life is to love and serve God?
Scriptures teach that God always requires more than is comfortable. Even great prophets like Moses, Jonah, and Joseph Smith were told in scripture to repent. The Lord is not interested in partial obedience or in catering to cafeteria Christians. He requires that we serve Him with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. He will not accept us just the way we are. The only way to know Him is to give up all of our sins. But this is because he loves us, and knows that we are capable of more. Obedience to his commands is not easy, but it is completely transforming. Without putting God first in our lives, we are not able to retain the love of God: “If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness”(D&C 95:12). The Savior’s litmus test of discipleship – “if ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) – should be the guidepost of our lives.
[1] Ballard, M. Russell. "The Essential
Role of Member Missionary Work." Ensign May 2003: 37.
[2] McConkie, Bruce R. Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June
1975.
[3] Lewis, C.S., Mere Christianity, Chapter 23: Making and Begetting. Lewis’ original writing refers to the need for theology; however, Lewis also sees church participation as an essential implication of theological understanding.
[4] George Barna, Second Coming of the Church
[5] Sider, Ronald. Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience, p. 45,50.
[6] Sider p. 68
[7] Sider, p. 56-57
[8] George Barna, The Second Coming of the Church, p. 5
[9] Barna, Second Coming of the Church, p.8
[10] Barna, Second Coming of the Church, p. 23
[11]
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Deseret Book Company,
[12] Black, Susan Easton.
“Finding Christ through the Book of Mormon.”
[13] Bitton, Davis. “A Voice from Christmas Past.” Meridian Magazine, 5 December 2006. http://www.meridianmagazine.com/historybits/061205christmas.html
[14] Hooper, Walter, ed., C.
S. Lewis: Readings for Mediation and Reflection,
[15] C. S. Lewis, "God in the Dock", God
in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (1970)
[16] Barna, George. Second Coming of the Church, p. 28.
[17] Barna, George.
Boiling Point p.195-196.
[18] “Most Americans believe in afterlife; few going to
hell: Poll.”
http://wordnews.org/most_americans_believe_in__after_death.htm . Accessed 16 June 2007.
[19] Barna, George.
Second coming of the Church. 7.