Objective: The aim of this three-week course is to address obstacles and concerns that members face in sharing the gospel by teaching correct principles for member missionary work.
1. Sharing the gospel brings joy. (Men are that they might have joy. 2 Ne 2:25)
Examples of joy:
Lehi partaking of the fruit of the tree of life. (1 Ne 8:12)
People at time of Christ’s coming. (3 Ne 17:17-18)
Alma the Younger when he received forgiveness for his sins. (Alma 36:20-21)
Ammon’s joy (Alma 19:14; 25:17; ch 26; 27:16-18)
Alma’s joy (Alma 29:9-16)
We have the same opportunity and obligation to share the gospel and the JOY!
Personal examples of positive missionary experiences:
2. Sharing the gospel is daunting for many.
Why are we hesitant to get involved in member missionary work?
Why do we find member missionary work uncomfortable, time-consuming, and even frustrating?
List of some common concerns:
Fear of failure/rejection
Don’t want to strain relationships
Negative experiences
Shyness
Fear of insincerity
Time-consuming
Don’t know what to say
Feel like you’re “selling something”
Don’t want to come off as pushy
Inadequate missionary skills
Uncomfortable talking about religion
Don’t have sufficient gospel knowledge
Overwhelmed with current Church callings
Friends don’t appear to “need” the gospel
Friends/acquaintances happy with own church
Don’t have many/any friends who are not LDS
Friends/acquaintances do not believe in God
Friends/acquaintances are not religious types
Not appropriate to discuss religion at work
Pride
Aim: Applying CORRECT PRINCIPLES in our missionary efforts will enable us to have positive, empowering experiences, and feel the joy that Ammon and Alma the Younger spoke about.
3. How do we measure success as member missionaries?
Principle 1: We succeed when we invite … (regardless of the outcome.) D&C 33:5-18
Statistically, about five of every ten people that members refer to missionaries end up taking one or more missionary discussions, and of those five one is baptized. Does this mean that nine members failed?
When we decide not to share the gospel with others we deprive them of their agency to choose.
Once we realize that we succeed as member missionaries when we invite people to learn and accept the truth, much of the fear that kept us from sharing the gospel is gone.