Principles f Member Missinary Wrk Week 1 SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT Summary Class will begin with a discussin f the jy that cmes frm sharing the gspel, as exemplified by Ammn and Alma the Yunger. The instructr and class members will briefly exchange psitive member missinary experiences as a way t persnalize this message and further invite the Spirit. The instructr will then lead an pen, hnest discussin abut the bstacles that members face in sharing the gspel. The instructr will explain that the aim f the threeweek curse is t address such cncerns by teaching crrect principles f member missinary wrk. The lessn will cnclude by sharing Principle 1: We succeed when we invite. Outline 1) Sharing the gspel brings jy (10 minutes [suggested time alltment]) Examples frm Bk f Mrmn (i.e., Ammn and Alma the Yunger) Persnal missinary experiences 2) Sharing the gspel is daunting fr many (15 minutes) Discuss cncerns Explain purpse f lessns (i.e., t address cncerns) 3) Hw d we measure success as member missinaries? (10 minutes) Principle 1: We succeed when we invite Instructr s Objectives 1. Lead lessn in a way that helps class members feel cmfrtable cntributing, d nt feel judged, and fsters pen, hnest dialgue abut what hinders members in participating in sharing the gspel r having psitive experiences as member missinaries. 2. Teach first principle f member missinary wrk: We succeed when we invite. Preparatin and Materials 1. Read Alma chapters 26 and 29, assign a class member in advance t read Alma 26:16 and 29:16 during the lessn. 2. Reflect n a psitive missinary experience yu have had and be prepared t present it t the class (max 2 minutes). 3. Arrange fr a rm with a chalkbard, have chalk/eraser n hand. LESSON 1. Sharing the gspel brings jy One f the great messages f the Bk f Mrmn is that we can have jy in spite f life s difficulties (2 Ne 2:25). In fact, many passages in the Bk f Mrmn describe in wnderful detail the jy that cmes frm the gspel f Jesus Christ. Briefly mentin the fllwing examples, emphasizing the wrd jy in the scriptures: Lehi, partaking f the fruit f the tree in his visin f the tree f life (1 Ne 8:12) the fruit theref it filled my sul with exceedingly great jy (fruit f lve f Gd).
Peple at the time f Christ s cming (3 Ne 17:17 18) and n ne can cnceive f the jy which filled ur suls at the time we heard him pray fr us unt the Father s great was the jy f the multitude that they were vercme. Alma the Yunger when he received frgiveness fr his sins (Alma 36:20 21) And h, what jy, and what marvelus light I did behld; yea, my sul was filled with jy as exceeding as was my pain! A very pignant example f jy in the Bk f Mrmn is fund in the accunt f Ammn and Alma the Yunger as they labred as missinaries amng the Lamanites. Ammn experienced such verwhelming jy in sharing the gspel that he fainted n mre than ne ccasin (Alma 19:14; 27:17). In Alma 26specifically, Ammn carries n abut his jy and gratitude fr being able t serve as a missinary, using the wrd jy eight times and the wrd rejice 7 times. Have a member f the class read the fllwing passages Alma 26:16 Therefre, let us glry, yea, we will glry in the Lrd; yea, we will rejice, fr ur jy is full; yea, we will praise ur Gd frever. Behld, wh can glry t much in the Lrd? Yea, wh can say t much f his great pwer, and f his mercy, and f his lng-suffering twards the children f men? Behld, I say unt yu, I cannt say the smallest part which I feel. Alma 29:16 Nw, when I think f the success f these my brethren my sul is carried away, even t the separatin f it frm the bdy, as it were, s great is my jy. Whether as full-time missinaries r member missinaries, we have the pprtunity t experience the same kind f jy that Ammn and Alma speak f as we fulfill ur bligatin t share the gspel with thers. Share a psitive missinary experience that yu have had; encurage ne r tw members f the class t share psitive missinary experiences as well. Tactfully encurage brevity. 2. Sharing the gspel is daunting fr many Sharing the gspel seems t cme naturally t sme members. Hwever, many find member missinary wrk uncmfrtable, time-cnsuming, and even frustrating and are hesitant t get invlved. Ask the class why this is the case. Set the stage fr an hnest, pen discussin abut bstacles in participating in member missinary wrk. Encurage class members t share their wn cncerns r cncerns f thers that they are aware f. Emphasize that the spirit f the discussin is intended t be cnstructive rather than judgmental fr that which dth nt edify is nt f Gd, and is darkness D&C 50:23. Write respnses n the chalkbard. Ask a class member t write the cncerns dwn n paper s that yu can refer t them in subsequent lessns. The fllwing are pssible cmments. Yu may mentin sme f these if class members seem reluctant t share cncerns t stimulate the discussin (e.g. What abut the fear f insincerity?). Fear f failure Fear f rejectin
Negative experiences Shyness Fear f insincerity Feel like yu re selling smething Dn t want t cme ff as pushy Inadequate missinary skills (dn t knw what t say) Uncmfrtable talking abut religin Dn t have sufficient gspel knwledge Time-cnsuming Overwhelmed with current Church calling/respnsibilities Dn t want t strain relatinships with family members r friends Friends/acquaintances dn t appear t need the gspel Friends/acquaintances are happy with their wn church Dn t have many r any friends wh are nt LDS Friends/acquaintances d nt believe in Gd Friends/acquaintances are nt religius types Nt apprpriate t discuss religin at wrk Thank class members fr hnest and active participatin in discussin. The aim f this three-week curse is t address these cncerns by teaching crrect principles f member missinary wrk. Applying these principles in yur missinary effrts will enable yu t have psitive, empwering experiences and feel the jy that Ammn and Alma the Yunger spke f. We will cnclude this lessn by discussing the first principle f member missinary wrk, which addresses a cmmn cncern, the fear f failure. 3. Hw d we measure success as member missinaries? Statistically, abut five f every ten peple that members f the Church refer t missinaries end up taking ne r mre missinary discussins. And f thse five wh take a discussin, ne is baptized. (This data has been cllected by Claytn Christensen fr the ten stakes in New England, fr the years 2002 2003.) Ask the fllwing questin: D these statistics mean that fr every member wh successfully refers smene wh gets baptized, there are nine ther members wh failed as member missinaries? This is an imprtant questin, because ne factr that intimidates many members frm being missinaries is, as just mentined, the fear f failure. The answer, f curse, is that the nine d nt fail. We succeed as member missinaries when we invite peple t learn abut and accept the truth. Principle 1: We succeed when we invite Gd did nt give the free agency f ther peple t us He gave it t them. When we decide nt t share the gspel with thers, we are depriving them f their agency. When we give them the pprtunity t understand the gspel f Jesus Christ mre deeply, we give them a chance t exercise the agency that Gd gave them. It is ur respnsibility t invite and their respnsibility t accept.
Ask the class what difference it makes t them t knw that they succeed when they invite, regardless f the utcme. When r if thse we invite ever enter the waters f baptism, if they simply have a discussin with us r the missinaries abut the truths f eternity, they have taken a step alng the path f their wn eternal prgressin and made sme imprtant initial crrect chices. Once we realize that we succeed as member missinaries when we invite peple t learn and accept the truth, much f the fear that kept us frm sharing the gspel is gne. One ut f five wh were referred t the missinaries end up getting baptized, s what happened t the ther fur? Where are they nw? What caused them t nt cntinue? Peple wh had significant expsure t the Church have a greater likelihd f becming investigatrs than peple wh had n expsure at all. Ask the class, irrespective f when it ccurred, if anybdy had ever visited a church activity with them. If yes, ask the individuals if thse peple every met with the missinaries. Ask them t explain what happened with each persn (there will usually be a lt mre peple than expected). Depending n hw many peple are in class, we recmmend the instructr set up an appintment with the missinaries and thse wh had mre than ne persn visit with them. The purpse f this meeting will be fr the member t explain everything that ccurred with each persn t determine if there is a pssible pprtunity t help this individual wh nce visited with us grw clser t Gd by being re-invited t an activity r t meet with the missinaries. The missinaries then visit the members wh were identified and help these members cntinue t invite. Clse the lessn by bearing testimny f the things that have been taught. Principles f Member Missinary Wrk Week 2 SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT Summary Class will begin with a discussin f Principle 2, we must refrain frm judging thers receptivity and share the gspel freely. The instructr will intrduce this principle by psing a set f rhetrical questins that will help class members cnsider the extent t which they make judgments abut thers ptential interest in the gspel. The instructr will present scriptures and a true member missinary stry t further underline that we cannt predict in advance wh will be pen t a gspel invitatin. The instructr will then present Principle 3, we need nt unnaturally alter a relatinship with smene befre inviting them t learn abut the Church, by sharing a stry in which an LDS family experiences disappintment in their effrts t share the gspel. The instructr will discuss the stry with the class, identifying that the practice f engaging in time-cnsuming relatinship-building rituals befre sharing the gspel with smene is misguided and deceptive. Finally, the instructr will present ways t invite withut making ffense, in keeping with Principle 4 f member missinary wrk.
Outline 1. Can we predict in advance wh will be interested in the Church? (10 minutes) Principle 2: We must refrain frm judging thers receptivity and share the gspel freely withut any respect f persns 2. We cannt predict in advance wh will be interested in the gspel 3. We can share the gspel with anyne, nt just friends (15 minutes) 4. Principle 3: We need nt and shuld nt alter ur relatinship with smene befre making a gspel invitatin 5. Miscnceptin: We must invest large amunts f time and energy building clse friendships with peple befre we can share the gspel with them 6. Hw t invite withut ffending (10 minutes) Principle 4: Be straightfrward and sincere Decuple invitatin frm relatinship Open drs in everyday cnversatins Instructr s Objectives 1. Help class members expand their view f whm they can share the gspel with by teaching Principles 2 and 3 f member missinary wrk. 2. Teach class ways t invite withut ffending by teaching Principle 4 f member missinary wrk. Preparatin and Materials 1. Read Alma 16:14, Matthew 7:1 and 1 Samuel 16:7; assign class members in advance t read these scriptures during the lessn. 2. Reflect n and prepare t share any persnal experiences that illustrate the pints in the lessn. 3. Cnsult list f cncerns frm Lessn 1 and determine which cncerns relate t and are reslved by Principles 5 7; tuch upn them at apprpriate pints in the lessn. 4. Arrange fr a rm with a chalkbard, have chalk/eraser n hand. LESSON 1. Can we predict in advance wh will be interested in the Church? Member missinary wrk is a cmmn tpic f sacrament meeting talks, cnference addresses, firesides, after dinner messages frm the full-time missinaries, and f Sunday Schl classes such as this.
Pse the fllwing rhetrical questins t the class: Questin 1: Hw many f yu in these situatins have mentally scanned thrugh a list f peple yu are acquainted with wh are nt LDS and gne thrugh sme srt f a selectin prcess, deciding wh yu wuld r wuld nt talk t abut the gspel, r wh wuld r wuld nt be interested? Questin 2: What were yur selectin criteria/hw did yu make these judgments? Allw class members t reflect fr a mment and prceed with the fllwing questin: Fr thse peple yu thught yu might nt apprach, did yur thughts fllw a pattern smewhat like this: This persn is t affluent t cmfrtable t invlved in anther church t intellectual t wrldly dependent n alchl, smking, r drugs t excessive in lifestyle chices t (judgment left blank) an unspken judgment that reveals nt nly ur biases abut wh culd be a gd Mrmn, but sme f ur wn persnal prejudices abut peple and whm we esteem t be f wrth Allw class members t cmment r discuss any feelings abut these questins. While in the end we may nt be incrrect in sme f ur judgments abut thers ptential interest, we have been cunseled t refrain frm judgment and t share the gspel freely with all peple, allwing them t decide fr themselves if they are interested in accepting a gspel invitatin. When we determine that smene wuld nt be interested and cnsequently d nt apprach them abut the gspel, we undermine their ability t exercise their wn free agency, having in essence made the decisin fr them. Principle 2: We must refrain frm judging thers receptivity and share the gspel freely withut any respect f persns
Have a class member read alud ne r mre f the fllwing scriptures abut refraining frm judgment: Alma 16:14 And as many as wuld hear their wrds, unt them they did impart the wrd f Gd, withut any respect f persns, cntinually. (speaking f Alma and Amulek) Matt 7:1 Judge nt, that ye be nt judged. (Christ s Sermn n the Munt) 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unt Samuel, Lk nt n his cuntenance, r n the height f his stature; because I have refused him: fr the LORD seeth nt as man seeth; fr man lketh n the utward appearance, but the LORD lketh n the heart. (Speaking f Samuel recgnizing the Lrd s aninted David amng Jesse s sns) Mst peple wh have been active member missinaries r have served full-time missins wuld likely say that in lking back n the peple wh accepted and rejected their invitatins t learn abut the gspel, they simply were unable t predict in advance wh wuld actually accept their message. Ask class members t cnsider if this has been true f their experience. Allw brief cmments if any. Have a class member read the fllwing true stry related by Elder Claytn Christensen t illustrate the abve pints. Preface the stry by explaining that Elder Christensen had prayerfully selected a date by which he wuld find smene fr the missinaries t teach (this principle f setting a date will be taught in a later lessn, if necessary prvide a high level explanatin t the class befre cntinuing). Alternatively, share a persnal experience that illustrates similar pints, r paraphrase the stry fr the class. One year my self-impsed deadline t share the gspel was January 31. I had invited many peple in the preceding mnths and had n luck, and nw it was January 22. I had t make a business trip t Hawaii n that day, and I had prayed that I wuld be able t sit next t smene n the plane whm I might invite t hear the missinary discussins, since it wuld be such a lng flight. I was extremely disappinted when the man wh sat next t me was clearly a playby a man wearing a lud Hawaiian shirt, unbuttned t his sternum with all this curly black chest hair billwing ut, and several gld chains arund his neck. I intrduced myself t him, and learned that every January he tk a mnth ff f his wrk as a stnemasn t g t Hawaii and meet girls. I quickly cncluded that there was n way he wuld be interested in the gspel, and s I busied myself in sme wrk feeling quite resentful that with s little time left, Gd had nt helped me meet smene t intrduce t the missinaries. A while later, hwever, my seatmate asked if I had ever been t Hawaii befre. I respnded that actually I had lived in Laie fr tw mnths in a language training schl prir t serving as a Mrmn missinary in Krea. Immediately the man's demeanr changed. "Yu're a Mrmn?" "Yes, I am," I respnded. "Why d yu ask?"
He then said that he was nt a religius man, but that a curisity abut the Mrmns had been building inside fr sme time. He then asked me t tell him abut ur church. I simply went thrugh the Articles f Faith, bearing my testimny after my explanatin f each ne. A wnderful spirit descended n us, and fr fur hurs we had a warm, memrable discussin. At its cnclusin I asked if I culd send missinaries t his hme when he returned, and he said he very much wanted t meet with them and learn mre. Several times during the remainder f the flight, he interrupted my wrk t thank me fr telling him what I knew was true. Histrically, peple f all types, backgrunds, and circumstances have been receptive t the gspel message. As Nephi reminds us in the Bk f Mrmn, Christ inviteth them all t cme unt him and partake f his gdness; and he denieth nne that cme unt him, black and white, bnd and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unt Gd (2 Nephi 26:33). We as members must carefully avid judging peple as t whether they might be receptive t the gspel. We must speak abut ur faith in an hnest and pen way with many, many peple. The mre we d s, the mre likely we are t intersect with smene wh will respnd t the truth. 2. We can share the gspel with anyne, nt just friends A cmmn phrase that members use in referring t their missinary effrts is We re wrking with s-and-s. What peple ften mean in wrking with smene is that they re trying t becme clser friends with them with the hpe that smeday they will be clse enugh that they can then invite them t learn abut the gspel. Generate a brief discussin abut what might be prblematic abut this idea that we shuld smehw alter ur relatinship with smene as a precnditin t asking them t learn abut the gspel. Have a class member read the fllwing true stry t illustrate the miscnceptin that we need t becme friends with smene befre inviting them t learn abut the Church (tld by a member f the Bstn Stake at a missinary fireside). Alternatively, share a persnal experience that illustrates similar pints r paraphrase the stry fr the class. In the ward we lived in prir t mving t Bstn, we were blessed t have wnderful, aggressive missinaries. T help us d ur duty as members, they visited ur hme and asked us t make a chartthat listed peple we knew dwn the left clumn, and then asked us t plan steps we wuld take each persn thrugh, culminating in ur inviting them t take the missinary discussins. These steps included taking sme gdies t them; ging ut with them scially t an athletic, dramatic, r musical activity; inviting them ver t dinner; ging ut with them again; and s n culminating six weeks later in an invitatin t hear the discussins.
We diligently filled the chart ut, selecting thse peple wh we thught might have an interest in the Church, and started marching these peple thrugh all the steps. It was exhausting. I was hrribly busy in my schlwrk, and my wife spent inrdinate time cking and baking. We were having peple t dinner twice each week. Since the mre gracius f these peple generally reciprcated ur invitatins with nes f their wn, we ended up with a very heavy scial calendar indeed. The tp peple n ur list were Ken and Jane Spencer. They lked Mrmn were very clean living and had knwn Mrmns while grwing up. Ken and I knew each ther because we had the same schlarship t the university. We invited them t see a play with us, and the next week we invited them t dinner. The fllwing week we invited them t g bating with us. Tw weeks later they invited us t a cncert at the university. We then asked them t cme t a sacrament meeting where we had been assigned t speak, and t cme t ur hme fr dinner afterward. After dinner we gave Ken and Jane a cpy f the Bk f Mrmn, and asked if they d like t knw mre abut the Church. Ken awkwardly accepted the bk, but declined ur invitatin t learn mre. We re Episcpalian, and are really enjying ur church. We felt awkward, and after a bit f small talk, the Spencers had t leave. Later that night, feeling tired and like failures, we set ur sights n the next peple n that list n the refrigeratr dr. In the ensuing weeks, with all we had t d, we never invited the Spencers t d anything else. We heard later thrugh mutual friends that the Spencers had felt a bit misled and betrayed that the reasn fr ur rather sudden and intense displays f friendship was nt because we were interested in them as friends, but because we wanted them t becme Mrmns. The whle experience left us with a bad feeling as well. Ask the class the fllwing questin:why did this intensive missinary effrt end in such a negative way? After taking respnses frm the class, revisit the earlier discussin abut the phrase We are wrking with s-and-s by asking the fllwing questin: What is prblematic abut the ntin that yu must prepare a persn r family thrugh a lng sequence f friendshipbuilding rituals, befre inviting them t learn abut the gspel? Instructr and class members may make sme f the fllwing pints: It is exhausting. It is deceptive nt exactly the way t intrduce hnest peple t the truth. It is impssible. If the principle that we can t predict in advance wh might be interested is true, then this mde f missinary wrk means yu ve gt t becme friends with everybdy befre yu can invite them t learn abut the gspel.
There is n need t artificially r deceitfully change the natural level f ur relatinship with anther persn befre asking them t learn abut the Church. Principle 3: We need nt and shuld nt alter ur relatinship with smene befre making a gspel invitatin We shuld build whatever relatinships with thers that we naturally wuld have with them. We shuld be clse friends with peple with whm we have a natural basis fr friendship. And we shuld be neighbrs, wrk assciates, and casual acquaintances with thers fr whm these cnstitute the natural basis fr relatinship. Draw the fllwing diagram n the blackbard t illustrate this cncept: Wrk Assciate Neighbr Acquaintance Stranger Friend We can launch an invitatin t learn abut the gspel frm any ne f these platfrms. We shuld nly attempt t elevate a relatinship t anther level if there is a natural basis fr it. Otherwise, in a way cnsistent with the secnd principle f member missinary wrk, we shuld invite all f these peple t learn abut the Church. T cnclude this discussin, have a class member read the fllwing excerpt frm a cnference address by Elder M. Russell Ballard, in which he explains hw t create a gspel-sharing hme. Creating a gspel-sharing hme des nt mean that we are ging t have t dedicate large amunts f time t meeting and cultivating friends with whm t share the gspel. These friends will cme naturally int ur lives, and if we are pen abut ur membership in the Church frm the very beginning, we can easily bring gspel discussins int the relatinship with very little risk f being misunderstd. Friends and acquaintances will accept that this is part f wh we are, and they will feel free t ask questins. A gspel-sharing hme is nt defined by whether r nt peple jin the Church as a result f ur cntact with them. Our pprtunity and respnsibility are t care, t share, t testify, t invite, and then t allw individuals t decide fr themselves. We are blessed when we have invited them t cnsider the Restratin, regardless f the utcme. At the very least, we have a rewarding relatinship with smene frm anther faith, and we can cntinue t enjy their friendship ( Creating a Gspel-Sharing Hme, Ensign, May 2006, 84). 3. Hw t invite peple in ways that d nt ffend
I. Be straightfrward and sincere Ask the class the fllwing questin: What srt f invitatin, when declined, creates ffense? Hw culd yu invite smene, and even if they decline, have it create a warm and grateful respnse? The answer is that ur invitatins run the risk f creating ffense if we apprach peple in an evasive way. If we are straightfrward and sincere, and if the peple we are inviting feel ur lve and Gd s lve fr them emanating thrugh us when we re inviting, then they will be tuched and grateful, never ffended even when they say n. Principle 4: We must be hnest, straightfrward and sincere in making invitatins t learn abut the gspel Have a class member read the fllwing statement by Elder Ballard: Sme members say, I m afraid t share the gspel because I might ffend smene. Experience has shwn that peple are nt ffended when the sharing is mtivated by the spirit f lve and cncern. Hw culd anyne be ffended when we say smething like this: I lve the way my church helps me and then add whatever the Spirit directs. It s when we appear nly t be fulfilling an assignment and we fail t express real interest and lve that we ffend thers. ( The Essential Rle f Member Missinary Wrk, Ensign, May 2003, 37) Allw cmments/reactins frm class members, if any. II. Decuple relatinship frm invitatin Anther way t extend a gspel invitatin withut ffending is t explicitly decuple whatever relatinship yu have with a persn frm yur invitatin saying smething like, Jack, we ve been neighbrs fr a lng time. I m ging t ask yu a questin, but befre I d, I want yu t knw that yur answer wn t in any way affect hw I feel. S here ges my questin: I m a Mrmn, as yu knw, and yu knw hw much my church means t me. At sme pint I d like t sit dwn with yu, if yu re interested, and describe wh we are and what I have valued frm my membership. Allw cmments/reactins frm class members, if any. After we have learned hw nt t ffend when we invite, we shuld fllw the what is next principle. This principle was created t help members build cnfidence in their wn abilities t share the gspel. As member missinaries, we need t learn hw t cmmit urselves t d smething and vercme ur fear f inviting friends t learn abut the gspel.
This principle starts by asking each member f the class what missinary activity they will d this week. The instructr will write this dwn and ask them if there is anything the class, missinaries, instructr, etc. can d t help them accmplish this cmmitment. If there is, the instructr and missinaries will fllw up t make sure that this ccurs. If the member did nt meet their cmmitment, they will inquire why and either adjust the cmmitment r reissue it fr that next week. After the cmmitment is kept, the instructr r the missinaries will then ask the member what they can d next. This prcess will cntinue ver and ver again until missinary wrk becmes a part f ur daily lives. Fr mst members this takes years t accmplish, which means that the instructr, ward missin leader, missinaries, etc. need t keep track f these cmmitments and cntinue t help each member mre fully becme daily member missinaries. This principle is persnalized t every member. III. Open drs A technique that enables us t tactfully allw anther persn t signal their interest in the Church is t pen drs by using Mrmn wrds in everyday cnversatins. If we freely refer t things like BYU, ur missin, ur children s church activities, r ur church callings things that signal ur affiliatin with the Church it pens the dr t a cnversatin abut the Church. Mst peple we talk with wh hear these wrds will simply chse nt t walk thrugh the dr, and that s fine. But every nce in a while we ll use a Mrmn wrd and the listener will say, S are yu a Mrmn? When that happens, it gives us a chance t respnd with smething like, Yes, I am. It s really a great church. D yu knw much abut us? In the ensuing discussin, we can then pen the next dr. If at sme pint yu had any interest in learning a bit abut what makes Mrmns tick, I d lve t have yu cme t ur hme t talk abut it. Mst peple wn t walk thrugh that dr, and that s fine. But ccasinally smene will walk thrugh and we ll have the exciting pprtunity t share mre with them. Allw cmments/reactins frm class members, if any. Cnclude lessn by pinting ut what cmmn cncerns have been addressed by this lessn (taken frm the discussin in the first lessn) and bearing testimny f what has been taught. Principles f Member Missinary Wrk Week 3 SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT
Summary This lessn fcuses n practical cncerns in member missinary wrk. The instructr will begin by presenting the classic set-a-date apprach, with particular emphasis n clarifying that we are intended t select a date rather than a persn. The instructr will then intrduce Principle 5 and the 101 Ways t D Member Missinary Wrk resurce list. The instructr will fcus in particular n inviting thers t serve with us in the Church as ne f the mst effective ways t acquaint smene with the gspel, Principle 6 f member missinary wrk. Finally, the instructr will present Principle 7, which ffers guidelines in respnding t questins abut the Church. The instructr will end class by reviewing Principles 1 7, summarizing the cncerns that have been addressed in the lessns and extending a challenge t class members t actively participate in sharing the gspel with thers accrding t the principles that have been taught. Outline 1. Hw can I get started? (5 7 minutes) Set-a-date 2. Get active! (5 minutes) Principle 5: There are many different ways t participate in member missinary wrk 101 Ways t d Member Missinary Wrk resurce list 3. Sharing the gspel thrugh invitatins t serve (10 minutes) Principle 6: We can share the gspel by inviting peple t serve with us in the Church 4. What shuld we say abut the Church when smene asks? (10 minutes) Principle 7: Seek guidance frm the Spirit in respnding t questins abut the Church Gauge situatin Gauge listener Understand what initially draws peple t the Church 5. Review f Member Missinary Principles (3 5 minutes) Instructr s Objectives 1. Help class members understand hw Elder Ballard s set-a-date apprach can guide them in their member missinary effrts. 2. Give class members an expanded view f the many ways they can be actively engaged in member missinary wrk by teaching Principles 5 and 6.
3. Remind class members f the imprtant rle f the Hly Spirit in respnding t thers questins abut the Church by teaching Principle 7. Preparatin and Materials 1. Make cpies f excerpt frm Elder Ballard s talk n set-a-date t hand ut. 2. Make cpies f 101 Ways t D Member Missinary Wrk t hand ut. 3. Reflect n and prepare t share any persnal experiences that illustrate the pints in the lessn. 4. Cnsult list f cncerns frm Lessn 1 and determine which cncerns relate t and are reslved by Principles 5 7; tuch upn them at apprpriate pints in the lessn. 5. Arrange fr a rm with a chalkbard, have chalk/eraser n hand. LESSON 1. Hw can I get started? One f the mst effective ways t guide yur member missinary effrts is t prayerfully select a date by which yu will find smene wh is prepared t receive the missinary lessns. Otherwise knwn as Set-a-Date, this apprach was riginally given as a challenge t Church members by Elder M. Russell Ballard in a cnference address in 1984 and again in 1986. Find ut t what extent class members are familiar with this apprach. Set-a-date is simple and straightfrward, althugh different understandings f the apprach have arisen since it was first intrduced. An imprtant clarificatin is that the apprach des nt require that we prayerfully select a persn and prepare him r her t receive the gspel by a certain date. Rather, Elder Ballard asked us t select a date as a gal, and then t pray fervently that Gd will help us intersect with smene, smewhere, wh wuld accept an invitatin t study with the missinaries if invited. Give class members a handut with the fllwing excerpt frm Elder Ballard abut setting a date. Have a class member read the excerpt alud: May I suggest a simple way in which each ne f us can exercise ur faith and start ur persnal missinary service. Write dwn a date in the near future n which yu will have smene ready t be taught the gspel. D nt wrry that yu d nt have smene already in mind. Let the Lrd help yu as yu pray diligently fr guidance. Fast and pray, seeking guidance and directin frm ur Heavenly Father.
Yu will have special spiritual experiences as the Lrd inspires yu. I knw frm my wn experience that the Lrd will enlighten yur mind. He will sharpen yur visin f this wrk by bringing names f nnmembers t yur mind that yu have never befre regarded as ptential members f the Church. As yu cntinue, yu will be blessed t knw what yu shuld say and hw yu shuld apprach each persn. Brthers and sisters, yu will ntice that I did nt suggest that yu write dwn a name, but rather that yu write dwn a specific date. The key t ur success will be t ask fr divine guidance that we might be directed t thse wh will accept the gspel. Because living the gspel is essential t the remissin f sins, and because giving missinary service is essential t living the gspel, I believe each ne f us must set a definite date at least nce each year t have an individual r a family ready t be taught the gspel. We shuld expect t have wnderful success. N jy equals that f bringing the light f the gspel f Jesus Christ int the life f ne f Heavenly Father s children. Missinary experiences can bring t every member f the Church the calm reassurance that his sins are in very deed being frgiven ( Name f Talk, Ensign, May r Nvember 1984). Ask class members fr cmments/reactins t Elder Ballard s challenge. If there are class members wh have fllwed thrugh with set-a-date, request that they share their experiences with the class. Invite class members t set a date, if they have nt already, and bear testimny f the blessings that cme frm fllwing the inspired directives f the Lrd s chsen apstles. 2. Get active! Cmmitting t being actively engaged in member missinary wrk takes faith. Members f all ages, stages, and circumstances have been successful in fllwing thrugh with Elder Ballard s set-a-date challenge. In additin t faith and prayer, it is essential t cnstantly seek ut missinary pprtunities and invite many peple t learn abut the Church. This task may seem verwhelming t sme; hwever, there are numerus creative ways t g abut maximizing missinary pprtunities that are adapted t different cmfrt levels and persnal circumstances. Principle 5: We can actively participate in member missinary wrk in many different ways In fact, there are at least 101 different ways t d member missinary wrk.
Present the 101 Ways t D Member Missinary Wrk resurce list t the class. Explain that the intent f the list is t serve as a resurce fr the apprehensive r enthusiastic beginner, as well as the experienced member missinary, with suggestins that wrk fr an array f cmfrt levels and persnal circumstances. Allw class members t make cmments r ask questins abut the list. Invite class members t select at least ne item frm the list t d in the cming week. 3. Sharing the gspel thrugh invitatins t serve A very effective way t help peple kindle interest in the gspel is by inviting them t serve with us in the Church. The Savir addressed this principle in Jhn 7:17: If any man will d my will, he shall knw f the dctrine, whether it be f Gd, r whether I speak f myself. Principle 6: We can effectively share the gspel by inviting peple t serve with us in the Church, rather than simply benefit frm ur service. What lies behind this principle are the basic human needs t feel needed and t help thers. We tend t develp the deepest cmmitment and lve fr thse institutins r causes fr which we wrk and sacrifice the mst. Our lve and cmmitment is prprtinal t what we put in, nt what we take ut. This in fact is ne reasn the LDS church as an rganizatin has been s successful in develping cmmitted, faithful members. We dn t hire prfessinal ministers t take care f us, but we wrk t care fr each ther. Mst f us feel needed in the Church and see within its structure a way t help thers, t make a difference. Members wh dn't feel needed, in fact, typically struggle t remain active. In member missinary wrk, we tend t say: Cme t this scial, yu ll have fun. Here s a plate f ckies. Lk at what the Church can d fr yu. Hwever, many peple actually have far deeper needs t give service than t receive service. This is particularly true amng peple whse life situatin is cmfrtable and wh themselves may nt see a need t learn abut the Church. Many peple wuld spend far mre time serving thers than they presently d, if they had ready access t an infrastructure that facilitated giving service. When peple are given an pprtunity t feel the Spirit by serving the Lrd, they ften cme t realize that smething has been missing frm their lives and want t learn mre.
Have a class member read ne r mre f the fllwing three accunts f hw members invlved thers in service in the church. Explain that these stries were gathered in an nging prject t write a histry f the Church in New England. Alternatively, share a persnal experience yu have had with this principle r paraphrase the accunts fr the class. Accunt 1 I was serving as a hme teacher t a widwed wman wh needed an ld refrigeratr remved frm her basement. I initially tried t call several members f the Elders Qurum, but as nne were available, I asked my neighbr Dn t help me. In the car driving t her hme, I explained what hme teaching was abut, and tld Dn abut the difficulty this sister had experienced. The fridge was ld, heavy, and smelly, and it was a ht, humid July evening. The basement staircase was windy and steep, and it tk tw hurs f backbreaking wrk, taking the drs and handles ff f everything, t get that awful fridge ut f her basement. All the time I was thinking, By, Dn s really ging t resent this. When we finally finished, the sister thanked us with sme ckies, and we started walking back t the car. Dn put his hand n my shulder and thanked me fr asking him. D yu d this srt f thing very ften? If yu ever need me t help with smene else, just call. I lve ding this srt f thing. As we drve hme, Dn asked all srts f questins abut hme teaching and abut the Church. I thught, as I drpped him ff, that Dn had learned far mre abut the Church f Jesus Christ that night than he ever culd have in missinary discussins. His questins cntinued, and he eventually tk the discussins in ur hme. Accunt 2 Sme years ag there was a family in the Cambridge 1 st Ward, where the wife was a member f abut ten years, but the husband was nt. He attended church quite ften, but resisted any effrts t take the missinary discussins and be baptized. One day Bishp Bwen felt impressed t call Hank t serve in the Sunday Schl presidency. This was back when sacrament meeting was in the evening, and we had a 20-minute Sunday Schl pening exercise. Hank accepted the assignment and sn was cnducting ur meetings, recmmending peple t serve as teachers, and wrking with them t be better teachers. He started cming every Sunday because he needed t be there. He began learning abut the gspel. And althugh he had resisted baptism fr years, he was baptized within three mnths f accepting this calling. Accunt 3
I ve served a number f years as Priests Qurum adviser. We decided with ur bys that we wuld devte ne activity night each mnth t explring pssible careers asking men with jbs in varius prfessins t shw the bys what they did. We sustained this effrt fr a few mnths by tapping ward members, but sn had exhausted the supply f peple in prfessins that interested the bys. S I then started asking my friends utside the Church t help. The result was amazing. One was a scientist, wh shwed the bys hw t perate an electrn micrscpe. We examined the eye f a husefly. Anther ran a welding shp. He helped the bys cut bars f steel with an acetylene trch, and then helped them weld it int a useful structure fr ne f his custmers. Anther was a pliceman wh tk them thrugh the prcess fr arresting drivers suspected f being intxicated. Withut exceptin, these activities that my friends managed were f higher quality than nes led by ur ward members, I think because they had never been asked t d this srt f thing befre, and were cmplimented that the bys were interested in their prfessins. What was mst amazing was that f the twenty r s friends f ther faiths whm I asked t help us with varius Yung Men s activities, I was never nce refused. And in every instance, my friends finished the prject having learned a lt abut the Church. They learned abut ur mutual prgram. They saw the quality f yung peple that are raised in LDS families. And they felt great abut themselves. They had helped smene else, and fund that thers were interested in them. What mre culd yu want? Allw class members t cmment n r react t the stries and t the principle f inviting thers t serve in the Church as a way t intrduce them t the gspel. Generate a discussin n ways t implement this principle. Have class members turn t sectin 8 n service in the church in the 101 Ways handut and use the ideas listed there as starting pints. After this discussin, ask class members t think f smene they knw, whm they wuld like t intrduce t the Church, and ask the fllwing rhetrical questin: Hw culd yu find a way fr this friend t share an pprtunity t serve with yu in the Church? Challenge class members t invlve nn-member friends and acquaintances with them in church service as ften as pssible. 4. Taking advantage f Sacrament Meeting When yu are asked t participate in a sacrament meeting, fireside, baptismal service, etc., cmmit t inviting yur friends t cme and supprt yu.
Ask the class if anybdy has been asked t participate in these types f church meetings in the next cuple f weeks. The instructr shuld wrk with the missinaries and cunselr in the bishpric t find ut wh will be asked t participate in these types f events in the next cuple f mnths. In advance, these members shuld attend these lessns n member missinary wrk and cmmit t invite at least ne friend t cme supprt them. It is extremely cmmn in ther faiths fr peple t invite their friends t a singing perfrmance, baptismal service f a child, etc. They will see yur invitatin in a similar light. Attached are ptential invitatins that the members and missinaries can fill ut, print and mail t their friends if they wuld like. Additinally, the missinaries shuld becme part f the fabric f the ward s ministering and utreach effrts. Missinaries essentially serve as full-time wrkers in the ward where they visit and teach whever the ward leadership are nt currently visiting in the ward. One gal is t bring less active members back, and in the prcess teach as many peple cnnected t them as pssible. The missinaries cannt d this withut yur help and guidance. Yu are the nes wh knw wh they can reach ut t and help. Ask the class t prvide a list f thse they think the missinaries culd visit and teach. Each member wh suggested a name shuld set up a time t meet with the missinaries t prvide sufficient infrmatin abut the persn and their needs if knwn. 5. What shuld we say abut the Church when smene asks? In member missinary wrk we lk frward t thse glden mments when smene asks us t tell them abut ur church. Hwever, between excitement abut the pprtunity and feeling pressure t give just the right answer, these situatins can be smewhat verwhelming. Ask class members the fllwing questin: What advice wuld yu ffer t a beginning member missinary abut hw t respnd when smene asks abut the Church? In the ensuing discussin, class members will make different pints abut hw t best respnd t a general questin abut the Church. Write the fllwing pints n the bard, acknwledge if class members tuched upn them, and explain that yu wuld like t talk abut these pints in greater depth. Fllw the prmptings f the Spirit Gauge the situatin Gauge the listener Understand what initially interests peple in the Church
I. Fllw the prmptings f the Spirit We have been prmised that if we pen ur muths t share the gspel, it will be filled (D&C 33:8). When we respnd t questins r inquiries abut the Church, we are essentially being given an pprtunity t bear ur testimny. When we speak f truth, the Spirit tuches hearts and cnfirms that what we are saying is, in fact, true (D&C 50:14). Just as the Spirit guides and inspires us when we face imprtant life decisins, the Spirit will enlighten yur mind s that yu can talk abut the Church in a way that is effective and apprpriate fr the situatin and listener. Principle 7: We must seek guidance frm the Spirit in respnding t questins abut the Church II. Gauge the situatin Peple ask us t tell them abut ur church in many different situatins, sme f which are mre cnducive t gspel cnversatins than thers. We may be sitting n an airplane r bus, at a yuth sprting event, walking in between classes, at a park with yung children, r n a break at wrk. We need t cnsider the cnstraints f the situatin, such as frequent interruptins, distracting backgrund nise, a limited time frame, etc. In less than ideal situatins, we can share a brief, simple testimny with thse wh inquired and invite them t cntinue the cnversatin at a specified time later in a mre suitable envirnment. III. Gauge the listener A gd starting pint in determining what t say when smene asks abut the Church is with the listener him r herself. Begin by building n cmmn grund. Is this persn a mther? Talk abut the Church s fcus n families r the Relief Sciety. Is this persn a yung man in cllege? Talk abut ur belief in the guidance f the Hly Spirit and the eternal perspective that the plan f salvatin imparts. Is this persn an elderly persn? Talk abut eternal families and family histry. Is this persn f a nn-christian religin? Talk abut ur reverence fr ur ancestrs, ur health practices, r temples as apprpriate. Even when peple are interested in knwing what is different abut us, starting n cmmn grund creates a rapprt that sets the stage fr a psitive discussin. IV. Understand what initially interests peple in the Church In 1975 and again in 1993, the Church did an extensive survey f new cnverts t determine what it was abut the Church that initially interested them. These were the results, in rder f frequency f mentin:
1. The feeling f clseness t Gd that they wanted t experience, because they culd see this clseness in the lives f Mrmns they knew. 2. Happiness and a sense f peace, which they wanted and which they saw in the lives f Mrmns they knew. 3. They wanted a better sense f purpsefulness and directin in their lives. They tended t see this in Mrmns they knew. Generate a brief discussin with the class abut hw these survey results relate t ur questin f what t say when smene asks abut the Church. Ultimately these survey results underline the imprtance f nt nly what we say abut the Church, but hw we persnally exemplify the clseness with Gd and the sense f peace, happiness and directin that thers seek. Clse this prtin f the lessn by reiterating the imprtance f fllwing the prmptings f the Spirit when respnding t a persn s inquiry abut the Church. 6. Review f principles and cnclusin Briefly review principles 1 7 with class alng with the related cncerns that each principle addresses. Yu may use the chart The Principles f Member Missinary Wrk t guide the review. Cnclude the lessn by bearing testimny f the jy and respnsibility f ding member missinary wrk. Strngly urge class members t apply the principles frm these lessns in their effrts t share the gspel.