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