We are Successful When We Invite
Ellsworth Ward - October 31, 2010
I’m grateful for the opportunity that I have to speak to you today about missionary work. I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve in this new calling. I’m thankful for the good example of Brother Bloomer and those that have served in this calling before. I’m thankful for the calling that I’ve had to work with the Pueblo Branch. I know that if we serve in the callings that we receive with all of our heart, might, mind and strength we will be blessed. I testify that this is true from my own experience.
A couple of months ago the ward missionaries, Bishoprics and Branch Presidencies, and other leaders of the Stake received instruction regarding missionary work in an early morning training session. It was decided in Ward Council that through Sacrament Meeting talks, the principles that were taught in that training would be taught to the members of the Ward. Today Sister Johnson and I will cover the first part of the training .
I would like to testify to you that as you listen to the spirit, with a prayer in your heart, you will receive promptings on what you can do to become a better member missionary.
I would like to remind all of you what the Ward Mission plan is…it is that each family will have a family mission plan. I hope that all of the families in the Ward have developed a family mission plan. As Ward Missionaries, we will help you in developing your family mission plans. Perhaps something you hear today will help in developing your family mission plan.
In the training that we received from the Stake, the following principles were discussed and we will have talks in Sacrament meetings to follow on all of these principles. They are:
1. We succeed when we invite
2. We must refrain from judging others’ receptivity and share the gospel freely “without any respect of persons”
3. We need not and should not alter our relationship with someone before making a gospel invitation
4. Be honest, straightforward and sincere in making invitations to learn about the gospel.
5. We can actively participate in member missionary work in many different ways.
6. We can effectively share the gospel by inviting people to serve with us in the church.
7. Seek the guidance of the Spirit in responding to questions about the Church.
The main message that I would like to convey today is that we are successful as member missionaries when we invite others to experience the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of the results. I will repeat: we are successful when we invite.
Sharing the Gospel seems to come naturally to some members and others of us find it uncomfortable or difficult.
Ask yourself, what are the obstacles that you find in sharing the gospel. Is there something that makes it especially difficult for you?
Here are some possible answers:
Fear of failure
Fear of rejection
Shyness
Feel like you are selling something
Don’t want to come off as being pushy
Afraid you won’t know the answer to their questions
Too busy
Don’t want to strain relationships with family or friends
As we discuss the principles of missionary work that I explained earlier, perhaps these concerns will be addressed and we can find our missionary efforts can be positive empowering experiences that will enable us to feel the joy of sharing the gospel that Sister Johnson spoke about.
Elder Henry B. Eyring said the following: “I’ve studied carefully and prayerfully some who are remarkably faithful and effective witnesses of the Savior and His Church. There is no single pattern in what they do. There is no common technique. Each has prayed to know what to do. They each seem to get a different answer, suited especially to them and to the people they meet. Pray for the chance to encounter people who sense there could be something better in their lives. Pray to know what you should do to help them. Your prayers will be answered.” Henry B. Eyring, May 2003
Remember the first Principle of missionary work? When we invite, we succeed. Remembering this principle can help overcome some of the fears that we have in doing missionary work.
Statistically, about 5 of every ten people that the members refer to missionaries end up taking one or more of the discussions. And of those 5 one is baptized. So 1 of ten that are referred are baptized. Does that mean that the other nine invitations failed? No, when we invite we succeed, no matter what the outcome.
Oscar Lopes was a young man that attended high school here in Mesa. During High School he met and fell in love with Ysenia, who was a member of the church. Oscar was invited to hear the missionary discussions. He declined that opportunity. Ysenia and Oscar decided to get married. Oscar was again invited to hear the missionary discussions. He again declined the opportunity, but began attending church meetings with his wife. The young couple had a son. Again Oscar was invited to hear the missionary discussions. This time Oscar agreed to listen to the missionaries, however, Oscar did not think he was ready to be baptized. Oscar was invited to listen to the missionaries again a few months later. Which he did, however, Oscar did not accept the invitation to be baptized at that time. Oscar, Ysenia, and their son attended church meetings regularly. At one church activity, while listening to a talk, Oscar felt the spirit testify of the truthfulness of what was being said. He commented to his wife that he had felt the spirit and that he should do something. Again Oscar was invited to accept the gospel. After review the lessons with the missionaries again, Oscar was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church last Saturday - seven years after the first invitation to listen to the missionaries. They look forward to the time in about a year from now that they can enter the temple and be sealed together for time and all eternity as a family.
Which of the invitations to Oscar were necessary in order for him to finally accept the gospel? I would submit to you that all of them were. Remember the principle, we succeed when we invite. When we decide to share the gospel with others we cannot deprive them of their agency. They can chose to accept or reject the invitation. Once we realized that our duty as member missionaries is to invite, we can overcome much of the fear that prevented us from sharing the gospel.
Doctrine and Covenants Section 33 beginning with verse 5 we read: “And verily, verily I say unto you that this church have I established and called forth out of the wilderness. And even so will I gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, even as many as will believe in me, and hearken unto my voice. Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the field is white already to harvest; wherefore, thrust in your sickles and reap with all your might, mind, and strength. Open your mouths and they shall be filled and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness. Yea, Open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you. Yea, Open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord , and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;”
Notice that the Lord tells us very clearly that our duty is to open our mouths.
We are also counseled “And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts:” (D&C 29:7)
May I give another example of the results that can follow those who invite:
Noemi liked to be involved in her children’s school activities and volunteered when her time permitted. On one occasion she met another of the mothers that was volunteering named Maria. During her conversation Noemi find out that Maria was a baptized member of the Church but had been inactive for 13 years. Maria had two sons that were not baptized. Noemi found out that Maria lived within the boundaries of her branch and invited her to attend Church meetings. Unknown to Noemi, Maria was going through personal challenges in her life and had been thinking a lot about the principles that she had embraced as an active member of the Church. She was ready to accept Noemi’s invitation to return to church. Maria’s husband and sons also began attending their meetings. The missionaries taught the missionary lessons to this family. The father was ordained to the office of Priest in time for him to baptize his two sons, Brian and Andrew a few months ago. All of Maria's family are actively participating in the church and are looking forward to being sealed together in the temple this coming month.
Remember: To invite is to succeed in our member missionary responsibilities.
We might think of the different things that we can invite others to do. Here‘s a list that I thought of:
Listen to the missionary discussions
Watch a church video
Attend a family home evening in our home
Attend a church meeting where we are speaking
Attend a church meeting where one of our family members is speaking
Attend a church activity
Read the Book of Mormon
Read and article from the Ensign
Listen to the living prophets
Visit the church’s website Mormon.org
Learn to do family history work
Visit the visitor’s center at the temple
View the Christmas lights at the Temple
View the Easter Pageant on the temple grounds
Play games at your house
Have a barbeque at your house
Go swimming in your pool
Go to a Dbacks game with you and your sons or daughters
Participate in scouting
Participate in a service project
I hope that we will all look for opportunities to invite others to come unto Christ.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
