1. How Can I Get Started?
Elder M. Russell Ballard gave the following challenge to the members of the Church: “May I suggest a simple way in which each one of us can exercise our faith and start our personal missionary service. Write down a date in the near future on which you will have someone ready to be taught the gospel. Do not worry that you do not have someone already in mind. Let the Lord help you as you pray diligently for guidance. Fast and pray, seeking guidance and direction from our Heavenly Father.
“You will have special spiritual experiences as the Lord inspires you. I know from my own experience that the Lord will enlighten your mind. He will sharpen your vision of this work by bringing names of nonmembers to your mind that you have never before regarded as potential members of the Church. As you continue, you will be blessed to know what you should say and how you should approach each person.
“Brothers and sisters, you will notice that I did not suggest that you write down a name, but rather that you write down a specific date. The key to our success will be to ask for divine guidance that we might be directed to those who will accept the gospel.
“Because living the gospel is essential to the remission of sins, and because giving missionary service is essential to living the gospel, I believe each one of us must set a definite date at least once each year to have an individual or a family ready to be taught the gospel. We should expect to have wonderful success. No joy equals that of bringing the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the life of one of Heavenly Father’s children. Missionary experiences can bring to every member of the Church the calm reassurance that his sins are in very deed being forgiven.” (“Write Down a Date,” Ensign, November 1984, 15-17.)
Invitation: Prayerfully select a date by which you will find someone who is prepared to receive the missionary lessons.
2. Get Active!
Committing to being actively engaged in member missionary work takes faith and prayer. In addition, it is essential to constantly seek out missionary opportunities and invite many people to learn about the Church.
Principle 5: We can actively participate in member missionary work in many different ways.
There are numerous creative ways to go about maximizing missionary opportunities that are adapted to different comfort levels and personal circumstances. (See “101 Ways to Do Member Missionary Work”)
Invitation: Select at least one item from the list to do each week.
3. Sharing the gospel through invitations to serve.
Principle 6: We can effectively share the gospel by inviting people to serve with us in the church.
There is a basic human need to feel needed and to help others. People have far deeper needs to give service and to feel the Spirit of serving, than to receive service. Also, we tend to develop the deepest commitment and love for those causes for which we work and sacrifice the most. (John 7:17; Matthew 6:21)
Invitation: Involve non-member friends and acquaintances in church service as often as possible.
4. What should we say about the Church when someone asks?
Principle 7: Seek the guidance of the Spirit in responding to questions about the Church.
Follow the promptings of the Spirit.
Evaluate and adjust to the situation and the listener.
Understand what may interest people in the Church. (People seek a feeling of closeness to God; a sense of peace; of happiness; of purposefulness; of direction in life, etc.)