Lesson Summary - "The Past Way of Facing the Future" - L. Tom Perry

"The Past Way of Facing the Future" - L. Tom Perry

First of all, you should read this talk.  The apostles always do a better job than I do of explaining the gospel--probably because they're apostles.  :)  Elder Perry talks a great deal about the Manti temple. I've never been there, but it sounds really neat.  I especially liked the tidbit about the roof being a ship turned upside down.  Yeah, go read it.  It's cool.  

Towards the end of the talk, Elder Perry speaks mostly of missionary work and OUR responsibilities as members:

Some years ago we eliminated stake missions and shifted the focus of our efforts to the ward mission organization....We have discovered that ward-based missionary work increases member involvement in finding and teaching investigators. Often investigators are invited to receive the missionary lessons in members’ homes. Ward members become more excited to share their precious knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ when they directly experience the sweet blessings of missionary service and they receive more regular reminders from their ward leaders. Members become more inclusive as they ponder and pray about sharing the gospel with friends, neighbors, and family members of other faiths.

 Our family has been so blessed lately to experience this very scenario.  We decided that we needed to be more involved in missionary work and prayed for an opportunity to share the gospel.  It seemed that the opportunities just fell in our laps after that!  It was amazing!  We have since been able to teach two different people in our home on a regular basis.  It is exactly as Elder Perry says.  I became more excited to share the gospel and now that our investigator has become a member (yay!), I'm desperately trying to find someone else to teach so that we can continue to have the missionaries in our home.  

Sisters, I promise you that if you engage yourself in missionary work, it will make you stronger in the gospel.  It's true that the person will not always get baptized, and that's okay.  You've planted a seed that may one day bloom with the help of another.  However, the seed that is in your own heart will grow with the spiritual nourishment you give it as you strive to become a better missionary.

Our teacher also quoted from a talk by Silvia H. Allred, first counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, called "Go Ye Therefore."  In it, she gives suggestions on how we can become better missionaries:

[Be] more specific in your missionary efforts. Let me suggest some ideas. You might find two or three that work for you:

• If you have children at home, help prepare them for missionary service.

• Prepare yourself for missionary service.

• Invite family and friends to listen to the missionaries or to attend our Church meetings and activities.

• Accompany the missionaries to investigators’ homes, or invite the missionaries to teach nonmembers in your home.

• Invite people to a family home evening in your home.

• Invite people to a family history center, or help them do family history research.

• Give referrals to the missionaries. Members can be the greatest and best source of referrals.       

• Share your beliefs and testimony with nonmember friends and family.

• Seek for opportunities to reach out to others.

• Extend friendship to investigators and new converts.

• Give your best efforts to finding those who are seeking the truth.

• If you have family members or friends on missions, send them letters of love and encouragement, and pray for them.

You will experience joy in the fruits of your labor. A greater enthusiasm for missionary work will strengthen your entire ward or branch. The whole Church will feel the effects of your labor.

Maybe you have some different ways in which you've been a member missionary.  It's a good idea to set some goals for yourself.  One sister in our Relief Society said she tries to invite one person to church every week.  That may seem difficult, but she says it's not always her friends.  Sometimes she invites people she talks to in the store or at work.  What a great goal!  Also, being in the Bible Belt of the South, it's customary for people to invite each other to church.  When I first moved back to Alabama, I had several people of different faiths invite me to their church. I was really impressed with their courage.

If that idea makes you a little nervous, maybe you could start out with a goal of talking to one person each week about a gospel principle.  Maybe someone you know is struggling with a problem.  Suggest that they pray and teach them how to say a simple prayer.  Maybe your neighbor lost a family member.  Talk to them about forever families.  I bet if we all paid attention, we'd find lots of opportunities to share the gospel. 

And don't forget about the wonderful tool I wrote about last week, the Ministers Among Us program the missionaries of the Alabama Birmingham Mission have set up.  I know for a fact that the missionaries in our ward are dying to visit your friends and teach them in your homes.  Give them that opportunity!

My brother told me this week that he felt that if he didn't share his knowledge of the gospel with others, who would?  And he's right.  If we don't do it, who will?  If we aren't standing up for what we believe in, who will?  If we don't declare our faith, then those who are wanting to know will have to turn to other sources that may not be true.

I'd love to know some of your experiences with sharing the gospel.  Or maybe you've set some goals for yourself and would like to share them.  Feel free to comment!