The Not-Really-Missionary

First of all, this is literally my favourite picture ever.

Second of all, something truly unfortunate is happening...

I've noticed an anomaly in digital missionary work.  It's a sad thing.  Now that I think about it, I guess it was inevitable; however, being in the middle of it makes it all the more hurtful.

So, let me explain what it is.

The digital missionaries are under scrutiny.  Persecution even.  And I'm not talking normal missionary persecution.  No, this is something different and even more dangerous, because it's coming from within our own ranks.  Since being called to the digital zone, I have begun to recognize a pattern, almost a commonality, in the remarks of members and other missionaries.  Phrases and comments along the lines of:

"half-missionaries"
"oh, yeah, the missionaries who sit in the office all day"
"hello, invisible missionaries"
"so, how do you baptise someone online?"

Control+B  =  "Baptise Command" ; Flood room containing connected computer.

Each said in a light, frivolous manner, yet each bearing a hidden jab.  I'm disheartened with the amount of times I hear a variation of: "you know, back when I went on a mission, we had to do actual work."  If this continues, sooner or later, people are going to start poking us to see if we're holograms or not :)

I guess all of this sources back to a basic question: are digital missionaries somehow inferior to field missionaries?

I respond to this with a resounding and somewhat appalled NO.

As willing as I am to turn the other cheek, I will not do so without establishing the fact that this digital work is called of God.  These tools have been saved for our day and age, a generation gifted with the ability to use them for righteousness.  Yet, this call extends far beyond that.  An apostle of God has called everyone to take part in this work.  When faced with the question, “what will all these missionaries do?” Elder Perry answers:

"They will be doing the same things that missionaries have always done; they will follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, and preach His restored gospel."

"However, some of the ways in which we shared the message are vastly different from the way you will."

"The very nature of missionary work, therefore, must change if the Lord is to accomplish His work of gathering Israel “from the four corners of the earth” (2 Nephi 21:12)."

"As missionaries enter this new age where they will use computers in the work of the Lord, we invite the young and the old, the adults, the young adults, the youth, and the children everywhere to join with us in this exciting new work by becoming Facebook friends with the missionaries in your area on your own computers and sharing their gospel messages online and by becoming involved in missionary work yourselves."

"Just as missionaries must adapt to a changing world, members must also change the way they think about missionary work. In saying this, I wish to make it clear that what we, as members, are asked to do has not changed; but the way in which we fulfill our responsibility to share the gospel must adapt to a changing world."

"You know what, let's just make the whole world our area."

Please, join with us :)  It doesn't matter how old you are, how young you are, or how little you know about Facebook.  The apostles have shown us what needs to be done, and how it will be best approached.  Follow their council.  Love your digital missionaries, they will be some of the most effective, useful, and unique tools God has to offer you and your ward.  Yes, we are a different type of missionary.  Yes, we work in a different place.  But we all have the same goal: to invite others to come unto Christ.

Know Your Missionaries

Do you know your local missionaries?

"Oh yeah, Elder....uhm....Elder............Elder whatshisface,
you know, the sort of tall redheaded one?"

Ever had that moment where you don't remember a missionaries name, so you begin a conversation looking at their chest, searching for a tag?  ...awkward.  Don't worry too much, there's a simple solution to this problem: know your missionaries!

My hope is that if someone asked you right now "I'd like to see the missionaries", before you squeal and jump around, you would be able to give them names and numbers.  Maybe you would even have a Book of Mormon on you :)  If you currently cannot do either of those things, follow the counsel of a living Apostle:

 "Ask the missionaries, they can help you."  

Well, I think we all know what he's about to say :)

Seriously, we're out here to help you.  The members aren't a tool for missionaries, the missionaries are a tool for members.  We love the members!  They feed us, help us, smile at us, and even give us a place to live.  You're a family away from home.  We want to help you in any way we can, especially if we can fulfill our call at the same time: inviting others to come unto Christ.

Hopefully your local missionaries are reaching out to you.  But this cannot be the missionaries' responsibility alone.  Members, know your missionaries.  Have them around for dinner once and awhile.  Invite them to come paint your fence, or move that junk out of the attic.  Use their authority and power in teaching to strengthen your home and the homes of your friends.

I promise that if you ask a missionary companionship for their number, then tell them you want it so you can give it out, those missionaries will be scrambling to find something to scribble on.  Let your missionaries know that you know who they are, and then don't let them have an empty planner!

Aaah!  It's blank!  That means we have to knock doors!

The Confidence Complex

"Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

--- Joshua 1:5

Missionary work is nerve wracking.  I'm often scared of it.

What a waster missionary, staying in his flat all day.

"Wait, a full time missionary?  Scared of missionary work?  The scoundrel!"

Yes, yes, I know.  Blasphemy.  Before you start throwing rotten fruit, let me explain myself for second.  In my defense, I call upon a parable which I just made up.  I've named it "the Simple Walk to Church."

So, you walk to church one day.  About a five minute walk.  It's only around the corner, really, and it's a nice day.  You pass by a few people, say hello to the neighbors and a few people you don't know.  You're in a good mood, the sky is blue, people are out, and you're going to church :)  A great start to what's destined to be a great day.

Sounds good, huh?  Well, that's the non-missionary part of the parable.  Here's what I see:

My companion and I take that same walk to church.  It's a nice day, and we both know what that means...this is going to be longer than a five minute walk.  We finish two hours of study and ready ourselves through prayer for the people the Lord is placing in our way.  We let no one pass by, and each person on the street, this side or the other, is someone who needs to hear about what we have.  

Some listen.  Many don't.  Some are outright rude, others do all they can to avoid us, and some seek our company specifically to argue with us.  

Every single person is a child of God in our eyes, with eternal importance and potential.  Every single person deserves more than a hello.  Every single person can benefit from the message we share.  We arrive at church sad, joyful, and worn out all at the same time.

There's an entirely different perspective from the eyes of a missionary.  It's a different world!  But so is being a "mormon" and you've already done that.  So why not share it?

Seems like a few more people now...

My point is this: we know this Earth to be a place of eternal significance.  We who are blessed with this great gospel must share it with everyone we can, here and now where it will benefit them most.  Yes, it is scary.  Yes, it will be outside of your comfort zone.  However, I promise that it will not kill you.  In fact, I will boldly make the promise that it will make you better in every way.  As you share what you know to be true, you will feel the Spirit, you will grow in knowledge and wisdom, and you will build and strengthen your own testimony.

So how can we overcome that fear?  How do we bypass that thing standing in our way of receiving the amazing benefits of missionary work?  Well, let's consider the following statement:

Fear is the opposite of faith.  When we fear, we do not have faith.

Put into practice, this is quite counterintuitive.  It means that the solution to that nervous feeling you have when bringing up religion is to bring up religion.  The solution to my fear of stopping everyone in my path is to stop and talk to everyone in my path.  The solution is acting in faith.  I have found that it is only then that the Spirit bears you up.  You must open your mouth before the Spirit can fill it with words.

Latter-day Saints, fear not.  Don't be dismayed.  The Lord is with you.  Wherever you go.

Have faith in Him who will wipe away your fears and replace them with confidence.

Courage is built through action, so go and share!

Work of Salvation

"Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation?  Behold I say unto you, Nay...and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance."

--- 2 Nephi 26:27

We are all a part of this marvelous work and a wonder.  This Work of Salvation.  The commandment to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth was given to all, not just to full time missionaries.

This is obviously important.  Everywhere we look the Church is doing something new and inspired to build the ranks of Zion.  Setting up websites, filming new videos, plastering walls with "I'm a Mormon" posters, calling thousands of new and young missionaries to the field, etc.  Something is going on that wasn't going on when I was a newly baptized member of the church 11 years ago.  This work is hastening.

Ah!  Too many Mormons!  They're everywhere!

Whenever I speak about this I am reminded of Zenos' allegory of the olive tree.  I'm not going to give you a rundown of this one, it's a little on the long side.  But if you recall, the Lord of the vineyard is doing all that He can to nourish His vineyard and prepare it for the harvest.  He goes through many seasons and uses many methods, but finally it comes to the last season.  Before He grafts, or prunes, or scatters, or gathers, the Lord of the Vineyard calls for more servants.

About every three months, olives begin to sicken me.
This seems to be in correlation with my reading of Jacob...

This is the last season, a prophet of God has called for more servants, and the final grafting, pruning, and gathering is happening now.  Yet, even with this massive force of new missionaries, the "servants are few" (Jacob 5:70).

...wait, the servants are few?  You're telling me that even with 100,000 full time missionaries in the field, and another 14.5 million members the servants are few?  Why yes, they are few.  And you know what...*puts on angry Elder Holland impersonation* ...it's even fewer because half those members aren't working with the missionaries!  We're on the same side here, people!  Every member a missionary.  Every.  There is literally a running joke in the mission field that every time a member doesn't refer their friend, we do a month's worth of knocking to find that same friend.  The same person!

So many doors...

The people that see you every day, who talk to you, who see how you live and what you stand for, are those whom the Lord has prepared.  We, the full time missionaries, have been called of God and given authority to teach those prepared people.  It only works when we work together.

So, will you be an example of Jesus Christ?

Will you tell your friends that notice why you act that way?

Will you bring them to the missionaries who can help them find that same happiness?

I promise that as you do, you will reap the rewards promised to those who take part in this incredible Work of Salvation.  You will store up treasures in heaven that are unimaginable on this Earth, and most importantly, you will become more Christ like as you strive to share what He taught :)

The Conversion Principle

Self Conversion and Missionary Work

"Simon...when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

--- Luke 22:31-32

When.  When thou art converted.  Jesus Christ was speaking about self conversion, and its role in missionary work.  It's a very interesting topic, this one is.  Christ's statement raises a question which I will try and address in my post today:

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How does personal conversion relate to missionary work? 

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Seeing as this is a blog written by a missionary, for fellow member missionaries, I would hope that there was a connection between these two things!  Elder Holland taught that "you must be your first convert."  How can we expect to share the gospel with our friends if we cannot testify of their truth?

How can we tell the "sweetest story that has been told since the resurrection of the Christ" if we don't know Joseph Smith was a prophet?  (LeGrand Richards, Quorum of the 12 Apostles, 1952-83)

During Christ's sermon on the mount, we are taught: "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 6:5).  As strange as it sounds, everyone you share the gospel with, everyone you teach, you are calling to repentance.  In other (less rebuking) words, you are giving them the opportunity to change and be blessed for it.  How can you share the incredible and beautiful message of the Atonement of Jesus Christ if you haven't experienced it yourself?

We are again counseled in Doctrine and Covenants 11:21 to "first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men."  How can we teach from the Holy Scriptures if we haven't read and studied them?

Read ALL the books!

True self conversion is very much a prerequisite to successful missionary work.

It is essential, in fact.  You must be converted yourself.  You must have read the scriptures, and prayed about them.  You must have studied the prophet's teachings, and lived them.  You must have repented of your sins, and forsaken them.  It is these experiences that bring us a deep and personal knowledge of the goodness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

You cannot, truthfully and with conviction, profess something to be good that you have not experienced yourself.

So, I hope that in your efforts to share Christ's Gospel with others, you are also assessing your own conversion to Christ.  You can only pull someone up to where you are standing.  So stand tall and in holy places! Just as someone representing Christ should :)

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Quick shout out to Daniel of the Crawley Stake!  Thanks for reading my posts, you're an inspiration to members and missionaries alike.  No longer will the tent-dwelling scriptures of the Book of Mormon be misinterpreted!  You're a true member missionary, Daniel; exemplary in the eyes of God, I'm sure.

Getting the Vision

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other---This is My Beloved Son.  Hear Him!"

--- Joseph Smith History 1:16-17

When I first memorized the first vision, something very interesting began to happen.  I became a different missionary.  On the street; at the doorstep; in people's homes.  More bold in my teaching and more focused on the unique message we share: the Restoration through the prophet Joseph Smith.    

Everything we are as members of Jesus Christ's church points back to this account.  Everything we love and stand for is because of a restoration of truth to the Earth.  That's why whenever a missionary talks to someone, they share the Book of Mormon.  We leave home for two years not to find common ground with other religions, but to share why we're different; and we're different because of what happened that morning, in a grove, to a fourteen year old boy.

Have you actually read through one of these pamphlets?

It is empowering to have one of the most influential and incredible moments in history stored in your heart.  Whenever I get the chance, I share Joseph's account.  I know from experience that just speaking about this event brings a Spirit that would normally be unattainable.  So, my challenge to you is to partake in this same spirit when you share the gospel.  Will you memorize the first vision?  I promise that as you do, you will also experience a change in yourself.  You will find more power in your spiritual reserves when the opportunity comes to share what you know to be true.

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These words  silence the surrounding high-street and put you in a grove.

You feel a bit younger when you say them.

A little less experienced.

A little more humble.

When you read  them, you can hear the words of a loving Father,

and learn of a young boy's experience.

When you know  them, you can feel the Spirit that was there,

and know that this is the true church.

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The Sword of the Spirit

How can we use this God given tool?

"And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

--- Ephesians 6:17

OK, lets face it, no missionary has time to get ripped like that.

That's right, today we're talking about swords!  The only weapon you have in your arsenal when it comes to the Armor of God.  

"That ye may be able to withstand in the evil day..."  

This is definitely the evil day, and only with the whole Armor of God can we stand up to a world so far away from God and righteousness.  So why do we need a weapon?  Withstanding sounds like defense, right?  

In order to understand this, let's make clear the purpose of this Earth.  We are here to receive a body, to learn, to grow, and to become better people; to choose the right and change, making ourselves worthy for heaven.  Yes, many of these learning experiences will come from trials and hard times, but God didn't send us here to endure only.  If He had wanted to do that, He would have just given us a shield and armor.  God gave us the sword of truth, His word on the Earth, to "carry the truth unto the hearts of the children of men" (2 Nephi 33:1).

It's a weapon with which we can "stand against the wiles of the devil" and conquer the enemy of all righteousness.  Instead of asking why we need a weapon, we should be asking: are we using this God given tool? 

Many Swords to choose from...

I'm more of a Book of Mormon wielder myself...

The sword of the spirit is the word of God.  Because we have a living, modern day prophet, the word of God abounds on the Earth.  We have so many tools at our disposal to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Facebook, Twitter, the Ensign and other church magazines, general conference, and most importantly the Book of Mormon.  

Arm Yourselves and Others!

Is your Book of Mormon always within reach at home?  Or is it collecting dust on a bookshelf?

Do you study the word of God and store it up in your heart?

Is your testimony unshakable?  Do you know that it is true for yourself?

Could you tell me where our beliefs are taught in the Book of Mormon?  The Bible?

If someone asked you for a Book of Mormon, would you have one to give them?

Our personal armory.

As a missionary, I've found that you never really know when or where the next battle will be.  You only know you must be prepared.  Wearing the armor of God is essential to achieving happiness in this life.  Without the security and knowledge that Gospel of Jesus Christ provides, no one can truly be happy.

So many people are searching and "know not where to find" this truth (D&C 123:12).  We need to arm our friends.  They are standing among us at the front line without a sword; you're standing there holding too many swords to know what to do with.  Do the math and give someone a Book of Mormon.  :)

In All Places

"Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn...and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in."  

--- Mosiah 18:9

The internet is one of the greatest tools ever brought into existence.  An information highway, making any type of media available at the touch of a button.  However, it is more than just a tool, it is a weapon being used by both sides of the greatest conflict known to man: God's children against Satan and his followers. 

So, the question is, which side are you on?  Would I be able to tell if I looked you up on Facebook?  Twitter?  Pinterest?  Tumblr?  Stumbleupon?  The list goes on and on.  My point is, Satan's use of the internet is deceiving.  He can enlist you without you even knowing, and may have already.

Often our profiles seem to be alter egos... 

It's anonymous.  You can do and become anything you want.  Consequence free.  The ultimate deception:  a playing field in which morals are easily maneuvered and standards are seemingly non-existent.  Yet, God suffered it to be created.  The internet wasn't meant to be a moral wasteland.  With the introduction of digital missionaries and the recent words of the Apostles, the battlefield is obviously moving online.  Who are you going to fight for here on the internet?  Having access to resources such as Mormon.org, Mormon Channel, lds.org, and many other incredible sites makes you a power to be reckoned with. 

www.meetmormonmissionaries.com

I challenge you to become that power.  We as members of Jesus Christ's church have made the promise that we will represent God "in all places."  It is a baptismal covenant with the Lord and therefore essential to our salvation.  So act in the name of our Savior online.  Do the things He would do.  Clean up your Facebook.  Share uplifting posts.  Love others.  And most importantly, be yourself :)

@lds-member 

@facebook

Posting, Posting, Posting!

How to: Write an Uplifting Facebook Post

Straight from the mouth of a missionary trained in these sort of things.  Let's discuss how to write an uplifting, effective, loving, and reachy-outy sort of Facebook post.

Before we even begin, we'll establish the goal of such a post.  Seeing as every member is a missionary, I think our purpose is the same as every missionary's purpose: to invite others to come unto Christ through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  How great is your calling!  Haha, that's what it says in Preach My Gospel anyways.

So, how are we going to do this?  Let's list off a few criteria for a good post:





(1) Keep your posts short

We're talking like, under 240 characters.  This is a figure drawn from research on how long we as humans effectively focus and gain information when looking at something online.  In more simple terms, people don't like being sent a wall of text.  They don't read it.  Make your testimony, or scripture, or whatever you're posting short and sweet.  Get to the point and testify.

(2) Don't be a robot

Let's go over again why  we share the Gospel.  We share it because of our personal experiences with applying it in our lives.  You have been given something truly wonderful and joyful, and you have the knowledge that it is personal for everyone.  So why not post about it personally?  Be yourself when you post, not someone else, and definitely not a robot.  Show the world what a Mormon really is.

(3) Avoid "churchy" words

Restoration?  Apostasy?  Dispensation?  Transfiguration?  Kolob?  Man, you have to memorize a dictionary before you can understand those Mormons!  The thing is, those who haven't grown up in the Church haven't been immersed in it's language.  Do as Nephi did and speak simply (2 Nephi 25:4).









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In summary, testify in a short, simple, personal way.
Tell them you love the Gospel.  Tell them what it's done for you.  Tell them it can do the same for them.
Now go out and spread the word!
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@lds-member
@facebook

There's Always an Alma

Let's talk about Alma!

"And they were in number about two hundred and four souls."
Abinadi's daily planner said zero.

Of all the missionary stories from the Book of Mormon, one of my favorites is the story of Alma and Abinadi.  Alma the Elder's conversion teaches us something that we must understand if we are to become successful missionaries and members.  That is, the way to measure success.  All to often, we missionaries get caught up in numbers.  Members, on the other hand, have trouble seeing the fruits of their efforts at all.  Eventually, it gets to the point that you think: "why do I even try?  Nothing happened last time, why would anything happen this time?"

This is where we begin to draw on Abinadi's experience.  Now, if you haven't read this story, I would highly suggest doing so: Mosiah chapter 17 and 18.  However, for those who want a refresher, I'll do my best:

~ Abinadi is imprisoned for prophesying of the destruction of King Noah and his people ~ He is brought before King Noah and his council (Alma is one of the council members) ~ Abinadi preaches again ~ He is put to death ~ Alma believes his word and preaches to the people ~ Alma leads a group of believers into the wilderness, to escape King Noah ~ Alma ends up baptizing all the believers in the Waters of Mormon ~

Unfortunately, the Alma's aren't always wearing hats...

The moral of the story: the fruits of your efforts are not always visible.  Giving someone a pass-along card or a Book of Mormon may seem ridiculous to you.  I mean, how many times have you been given something on the street and then thrown it away as soon as you're out of sight?  As digital missionaries, we pour countless hours into things that we have no idea who or how many will see.  Blogs, emails, Facebook posts; we are often only able to see one side of the missionary work.

And yet, I can recount to you hundreds of conversion stories that start with "well, he was given a Book of Mormon 10 years ago."  I hope to soon hear "well, he looked up what a Mormon was online and found this blog."  The thing is, we shouldn't have to see the other side to know that missionary work is essential.  There's always an Alma out there.  If the Lord knows He can rely on you to speak with those in your path, then He will put Almas in your path.

@lds-member

Go Ye Onto the Internet

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” 

--- Mark 16:15

As much as I would love to see Peter, James, and John on Facebook, these apostles just didn't have the ability to "go into all the world."  Fortunately, we do.  In fact, the apostles today have digitized themselves.  But that's not the point.  The point is "all the world" is now in your living room, accessible at the touch of a button, and you're not preaching the gospel!?

WARNING:
Soul saving machine at work.

It's a lot easier than you would think, and yet, it can also be quite difficult.  As a digital missionary, I'm here to show you how to convert a time-wasting machine into a soul-saving machine.  Because of the tools of our age, missionary work has become so much more than knocking door to door.  Social networking is today's tracting.  The Lord did not give us Facebook for Farmville, and He definitely didn't give us Blogger for online recipe books.

"So, mister digital missionary, how do I use my powers for good?"  Good question.  Just like talking to people face to face (wait, people still do that?), chatting and blogging are skills that must be acquired through experience.  Some of you more experienced internet dwellers may already have experience, but whether you're a newbie or a master, you can still share the gospel.  Let me get you started with a few ideas:


(1)  Share this Blog! (shameless self promotion...check):  Click the Facebook or Twitter sign below any post you like and share with your friends.

(2) Facebook Status Update:  check out this post about how to write a spiritual and uplifting status update.  Would someone recognize you as a Mormon if they looked at your Facebook profile?

(3) Blog about it yourself:  I have this strange feeling that I'm not the world's best blogger...which means one of you must be!  Why not talk about the thing that makes you most happy?

(4) Chat about it:  This is how I teach, every day.  Pop up a conversation with someone you haven't spoken to in a while.  Let them know you still care, then testify of the One who taught you to care.



To finish I'll leave you with a commitment, as a proper missionary would: will you share the gospel online?  I promise that as you do so, you will find the "field is white, already to harvest" (D&C 4:4).  It's amazing, and it's effective; I know, I've seen it change lives.  And when you feel as if you've been cheated because you didn't see a result, recall the story of Abinadi.  First of all, you're not being burned at the stake, so that's pretty good.  Second of all, there's always an Alma out there.  So, I commission you: Go ye onto the Internet!

@lds-member

Hold Fast to the Fruits

"There is absolutely no point in doing missionary work unless we hold on to the fruits of that effort.  The two must be inseparable...Every convert is a great and serious responsibility."  

---Gordon B. Hinckley

No, talking to an investigator is not going to kill you.

Now, what would drive me to use a picture of snow white on a blog post?  Well, to find the answer to that question, let's analyze a potential situation.  A missionary gets a referral, follows up on said referral, and finds a wonderful woman and her son who end up coming to church services that Sunday.  The goal of getting an investigator to church is so they can receive revelation and feel the Spirit.  This is only possible through the members.  

Meaning we want scenario number 2, not number 1:

(1)  Sister Wonderful comes in and is surrounded by four full time missionaries in sacrament meeting.  This continues on to Gospel Principles, and she is eventually dropped off at Relief Society.

(2)  Sister Wonderful comes in and is immediately met by the members in Sacrament meeting, sitting next to a single full time missionary and a member family.  She is accompanied by a few of the members to Gospel Principles, and the Sisters of the ward promptly steal her away to Relief Society.

There are too many of them!  I can't shake 'em!

Gordon B. Hinckley goes on to quote a recently joined member: "When we as investigators become members of the Church, we are surprised to discover that we have entered into a completely foreign world, a world that has its own traditions, culture, and language.  We discover that there is no one person or no one place of reference that we can turn to for guidance in our trip into this new world."

So, I will extend the same challenge that President Hinckley did.  We of this Church are far more different from the world than we are prone to think we are.  Try to look from the outside in.  Imagine what it's like.  It can be scary.  It can be disappointing.  But the journey is always easier with a friend.  Or, maybe, a whole ward of friends :)  Hold fast to the fruits of our missionary work.  It's the only way the Lord will trust us enough to receive more (2 Nephi 28:30).

@lds-member

Breaking Windows

Before I was a missionary, I was a member.  *Gasp!*  Yes, I know, shocking.  But it wasn't until I became a missionary that I noticed how peculiar my relationship with missionaries was.  I now call this peculiarity the "window" effect.  Members seem to be friends with the missionaries.  They look out their windows and say, "oh, the missionaries.  That's nice.  They're doing their job."  

"Ah, better stay in here.  There's missionary work happening outside!"

Unfortunately, as members, we often don't realize that missionary work is everyone's job.  This gospel must be preached to "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people" (Mosiah 3:20).  It is not a job for 70,000 missionaries, it is a job for 14.7 million missionaries.  

Every member a missionary :)

So, let's break those windows.  The separation between member and missionary is imaginary.  Every member is a missionary.  Everyone is serving full time, and I don't mean just two years.  So, make friends with the missionaries :)  Not window friendships, true friendships.  I promise we don't bite.  It is only through friendship and cooperation that we will be able to progress the work.  Together, we can bring souls unto Christ.  Just imagine how great our joy will be!  (D&C 18:15-16)

@lds-member

The Member Funnel

I love Gordon B. Hinckley.  I didn't know it was possible to love him more until I went on a mission and found this quote: "So many of us look upon missionary work as simply tracting.  Everyone who is familiar with this work knows there is a better way.  That way is through the members of the Church.  The process of bringing new people into the Church is not the responsibility alone of the missionaries.  They succeed best when members become the source from which new investigators are found."  

¦----MEMBERS----¦

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MISSIONARIES

When members become "the source."  There's no way to put it more simply.  We as missionaries should be teaching, not finding.  In order for missionary work to be most successful, our investigators must come from the members.  In the recent mission president training conference, the focus was solely on member missionary work.  It is so important!  Unfortunately, it's hard to recognize it's importance without going out on a mission first.  That's why I'm writing this blog; to share my experiences and show what I learned.  To knock for countless hours with no success, then tell you why I think it's ineffective.  

We love the members, we rely on the members, we need the members' help.  Without you, we're just well dressed guys on a long holiday ;)

@lds-member