Member Missionary Discussions

version: 20 February 2000
by   Gary Smith
Montgomery Alabama Stake
geraldsmith@juno.com

		

	
1. Principle 1: The Mission of the Church

The mission of the Church is to invite all people to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.  One essential part of accomplishing this mission is proclaiming the gospel throughout the world.  As people hear the gospel, exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, and are baptized and confirmed, they receive the blessings provided by the ordinances and covenants of the gospel.

Spencer W. Kimball has declared “every member a missionary.”  Earlier, the Lord proclaimed, “Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor” (D&C 88:81).

1. Principle 2:  Gospel will be Preached to the World

The Lord has told us that the gospel message will be sent to the entire world. Joseph Smith stated: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).

Currently, the Church is baptizing about 300,000 converts each year.  Although that is a great number of people, the prophets feel we can do better than that.  President Kimball stated that if each member were to convert one other person each year, then the world would be converted within ten years.  President Hinckley has given us an easier task.  He has asked us to double the number of converts to 600,000.  

The Alabama Birmingham Mission President, Perry Webb, has stated that if each ward or branch would baptize on average one person per month, we would more than double the baptisms in the mission and in the Montgomery stake.

		

“Come unto Christ”  (Moroni 10:32)

Find Out---

Do you feel that with training and assistance, you could prepare someone to accept the gospel during the year?

Do you feel that one baptism per unit per month on average is attainable?

Testify:  Share your testimony about the vision of the ward having one baptism per month.	
1. Principle 3: Organization of the Missionary Work

The Church’s worldwide missionary effort assists members in accomplishing this responsibility.  It consists of three parts: Full time missionaries, stake missionaries, and member missionaries.

Full time missionaries are called and set apart through revelation to teach the gospel to interested individuals.  They are to work closely with the wards and members of the Church in accomplishing the work

The main responsibility of the full time missionaries is to teach the gospel to interested individuals.  Missionaries are to teach the first principles and ordinances of the gospel and the glad tidings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

The full time missionaries build relationships of trust. They develop relationships of trust, so that investigators and members may both feel the Spirit and be influenced to good works and faith in Christ.

1. Principle 4: Stake Missionary Organization

Stake and ward missionaries are called to assist the ward and stake in missionary work.  Stake missionaries have the responsibility of being a link between the full time missionaries and the ward missionary work.  

Their responsibilities include assisting the full time missionaries in teaching the gospel.  A stake missionary’s main responsibilities are to find people for the full time missionaries to teach and to help new members progress in the gospel through new member discussions, Gospel Essentials Sunday School class and friendshipping. 

A major stake and full-time missionary goal is to help members have positive experiences and become actively involved in preparing their friends and relatives for the discussions.		Teaching Helps

Scriptural Resources:

Missionaries teach first principles:  D&C 6:9; 15:6; 18:14-16
Missionaries teach plan of redemption: Alma 12:32
Teach only what prophets have written:  D&C 52:9

Full Time Missionary:  Share a personal experience of how missionary work has blessed your life.

Stake Missionary:  Share a personal experience of how missionary work has blessed your life.

1. Principle 5:  Member Missionary Work

Although the full-time missionaries do a wonderful job in teaching and spiritually preparing investigators, there just aren’t enough of them to find those people who are interested in the gospel.  Instead of just having 50,000 members finding new people to teach, imagine what would happen if the 10 million members were to find people for the missionaries to teach.  Do you feel that conversion rates would jump if more members shared the gospel with their friends?

Member missionaries have the responsibility of developing relationships of trust and friendship with non-members and new members.  As friendship and trust are developed in a relationship, others begin to respect the beliefs and lifestyle of the member.

There are many things a member can do to share the gospel and prepare their nonmember friends and families for hearing the gospel.  Over the next few weeks, we would like to continue meeting with you and help you learn how to friendship and share the gospel with your friends

1. Principle 6: First Steps in Missionary Work

As with all the steps in missionary work, the first steps in member missionary work are simple.  The Lord can use us more effectively in His work when we are prepared.

The scriptures teach us that the greatest missionaries prepared themselves  through prayer, fasting and scripture study.  Through this preparation, God can more effectively use each of us in His work.

We invite you to prepare yourself for sharing the gospel by praying, fasting and studying the scriptures daily Would you pray during the following week for the missionary work in general and that the Lord will give you missionary experiences?  Also, would you study D&C 4 each day this week, concerning the requirements for being an effective missionary?

Find Out---
What kind of experiences have you had with missionary work?

Scriptural Resources

“Seek first to obtain my word and then your tongue shall be loosed. “ D&C 11:21

Ammon and his brethren prepare for their mission through prayer, fasting and scripture study.  Alma 17:2-3

Testify:  We know that as you do these things, the Lord will begin to open doors for you and help you succeed in sharing the gospel with those around you.

Set Up Next Discussion:  Set up date for next discussion with the member.  Try and have it within the next 2 weeks, to ensure the member missionary process flows smoothly.

Follow Up:   Contact the members by phone within 48 hours to see how they are doing with their commitment to study and pray.
	
Member Missionary Discussions

Lesson Two:

Review Last Discussion: 

On the last visit, we discussed basic missionary work and the goals President Hinckley has for the Church in doubling the number of convert baptisms.  As you recall, we discussed that if each unit in the stake baptizes an average of one person per month, we will more than double our baptisms in the Montgomery Stake.

		Teaching Helps

Find Out

Ask the family if they have been praying daily  for the missionary work, and if they have been reading D&C 4 frequently 	

2. Principle 1: Member Finding

The Lord has commanded every member to share the gospel.  As the members share the gospel with others, it allows the full-time missionaries to spend the majority of their time teaching the gospel.  Stake and full-time missionaries work closely with ward members, to teach and help them share the gospel.

There is a standard 4 step process for member missionary work that has worked very successfully over the years, which helps members to do their missionary work in a comfortable and effective way. 

The Four step process is:  
1)Make a list of friends
2)Prayerfully select someone from the list
3)Set a date by when you will do something with the friend (a fellowshipping activity or have the missionary discussions).
4)Do a fellowshipping activity with your friend
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7)As a member, you should not be overly discouraged if friends decline an invitation to meet with the full-time missionaries.  You should continue to show genuine love for their friends and to pray for them.  Many people who decline an invitation will later become interested in meeting with the missionaries.  Most of these friends are still willing to participate in other activities, such as social activities or informal discussions.
		Teaching Helps

Read and Discuss: D&C 88:81

Explain:  Setting a date helps the members set goals and to exercise faith in the Lord

Testify:  Share an experience with the member where a person has initially said no, then later accepted the invitation to hear the discussions.

	

2. Principle 2:  Starting the Process

The Lord may not just hand a name to a person. Often, He requires us to figure it out for ourselves and then get his confirmation. 

We would like to help you start this process by first helping you make a list of your nonmember friends, family and acquaintances. 

We would like to make a list of about 20 names to start out with.  

Is there anyone you feel that is ready to hear the missionary discussions?

Whom do you feel would benefit from having the gospel in their life?

2. Principle 3: Prayerfully Selecting a Person

Now that we’ve made a list, let’s discuss the names on it.  Let’s work to narrow the list down to just a few to pray over.  Which of these people do you feel are ready to hear the gospel right now?

Now that we have narrowed down the list, we need to pray over the names that you have selected to ask for the Lord’s confirmation on one.
		Teaching Helps

Explain:  We must study and ponder out the solution first, and then ask God if it is right.  Read and explain  D&C 9:7-9

Prepare:
Get out paper and prepare to make a list with the family. 

Helping the Member: Help jog the member’s memory of people.  

Ask about:
	the next door neighbors, relatives, closest friends,
	part-member families, business associates
	bank clerk, cashier, doctor, anyone recently moved into the neighborhood, had a death, gotten married, etc.

When list is created:  Thank member for his efforts thus far

Extra Help:  If no friends are ready at this time to hear the gospel, then you can ask:
Which ones might be interested in the Church or some of its activities?
Does the member having any hobbies or other interests in common with anyone on the list?
Who would you enjoy friendshipping on the list?
Have any of your friends asked questions about the Church before?

Extra Help:   If a confirmation does not come, then continue working prayerfully on the list until a name is confirmed. If the Spirit doesn’t confirm anyone, then expand the list.

If the member wants to pray over the list on his/her own, then set up the next visit and end the discussion. Do frequent phone follow-up to remind the member of assignments. Begin the next meeting with the Set A Date process

Once Name is Selected and Confirmed:  Testify that the person selected is someone the Lord accepts.	

2. Principle 4: The Set A Date Process

Now that a name has been selected and confirmed, the next step is to set a date to do something with the nonmember.  The date is used as a goal. 

The nice thing about goals is they help guide us in achieving things with a purpose.  When we miss a goal, we can always revise I and try again.

Expressing Faith
When we set dates to accomplish goals, we are also exercising our faith.  Faith requires us to take a step out into the uncertain and then trust that God will help us succeed.

What date would you like to set for having a specific activity with your friend?

2. Principle 5: Selecting a Fellowshipping Activity

Do you feel that your nonmember friend is ready to accept an invitation to hear the discussions now?

Now we need to select the activity to accomplish on the date selected.  What kind of activity or event do you feel would most effectively help you develop your friendship?

Fellowshipping activities need to take place that will help develop a relationship of trust and friendship The time you spend with the nonmember allows him/her to feel the Spirit and see the your example.  They will want to know you and your interests as the friendship develops.

Now that we have selected a date and an activity, will you contact your friend within the next two days and set up the activity with him/her?		Teaching Helps

Scriptural Resource: Read Ether 12:6. It explains that the miracle or blessing only comes after the trial of faith.

Note:  The date should be set for sometime within the next two weeks.  Help the member select a date.

When assessing the nonmember:
If nonmember is ready to hear the discussions,  role-play with the member on how to invite his/her friend.

Help member select a specific activity that fits well with the nonmember and friendshipping.

Help member select a  friendshipping activity:
Discuss topics: the Savior, Book of Mormon, Bible, purpose of life, family, family history, etc.
Invite nonmember to a dinner, cookout, or other fun activity in the member’s home.
Invite nonmember to a Family Home Evening, Home Making, Scouts, fireside, or other Church activity.
Invite nonmember to research his/her Family History at Family History Library or on the Web at  . The missionaries can also help your friend research his/her genealogy.
Invite nonmember to see a Church video, or to attend a Church meeting with you. 
Offer service. Mow lawn, fix car, paint house, etc.   Service develops relationships of trust.
Testify: Tell of blessing of making friends

Follow up  In two days to remind member to set up the activity.

Member Missionary Discussions

Review Last Discussion: 
On the last visit, we discussed the member missionary process, which includes making a list of friends, prayerfully selecting a name from the list, setting a date for an activity, and selecting an activity.

3. Principle 1: The Spirit of Elijah

Malachi Prophecies of Elijah
Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come in the last days to turn the hearts of parents and children to each other

Family History Keys Restored Through Elijah
In the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and gave them the keys to the sealing power.  Ever since that day, genealogy and temple work has been done in the Church. This work is called Family History.

All must do their Family History
One thing that many members do not understand, is that the hearts of all people must be turned to their families, or the earth would be wasted at Christ’s coming.  In other words, those with strong families going as far back as possible, are following the Spirit of Elijah.  The Spirit of Elijah is the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divinity of the family.  The Spirit of Elijah is so strong in the world today, that it is one of the biggest activities on the Internet, and millions go online and visit the Church Family History Centers to do their research.

3. Principle 2: Sharing Family History
Gaining the Spirit for Ourselves
Before we can inspire others to do Family History, we have to have a testimony and desire to do it ourselves.  The prophets have asked us to do our research. They have challenged us to do four generations at a minimum, starting with us.

Sharing Family History with Others
Next, we share Family History with others. As they work on their Family History, they will feel the Spirit of Elijah and it will work within them. They will naturally want to know why we do Family History, and this becomes a natural opportunity to invite them to hear the discussions from the missionaries.

Allowing Spirit Work on Friends
Research has shown that on average, our friends require three family history activities to be interested in hearing the discussions. We will share the “Where do I start form”, next we’ll take them to the Family History Center on two occasions to help them with the work.
		Lesson Three:  Family History

Ask the family if they have contacted their friends and set up the activity; or if they have already had the activity, how it went. 

Read: Malachi 4:5-6

Read: D&C 110:13-16

Ask: Have you worked on your Family History? If yes, have you at least done your 4 generations? How much have you done?

Teach: If member has not done his/her Family History, spend a few weeks teaching them to do their own 4 generation sheet. 

TEACH:  “Where do I start” form. This will be the basis for having the member feel the Spirit and want to share Family History with their friends. If the member knows Family History research, challenge them to invite their friend to a Family History Family Home Evening that the missionaries will teach. If the member doesn’t know FH research, spend the next few weeks helping them trace their pedigree and learning about the Family History Center.

Invite: Have a friend over in the next two weeks for a Family History Family Home Evening.	

Member Missionary Discussions

		Lesson Four:

Review Last Discussion: 

On the last visit, we discussed the family history, which includes sharing family history with their friend, and inviting them over to the home for a family history family home evening..

Ask the family if they have contacted their friends and set up the activity. 

	

4. Principle 1: The Commitment Pattern

Preparing Friends 
Now that you have selected someone to fellowship and share the gospel with, we will teach you how to prepare your friend to accept the gospel.

Preparing is a Process 
Preparing friends for the gospel is a process.  Let’s compare it to a garden.  In a garden is a variety of crops, from corn to cabbage to strawberries to apple trees.   All these crops need nourishment to grow.  However, each needs different amounts of each to ensure maximum potential.

Experimenting on the Word
Alma compares the word to a seed. Once it is patiently nourished properly, it begins to grow showing forth potential, and finally, fruit.

The Commitment Pattern
Like the seed, we need to prepare our friends. Some may be ready now, while others may take years to prepare.  To work with them, we have the commitment pattern.

The commitment pattern helps us to nourish our friends and prepare them to accomplish goals, leading them to spiritual growth and eventual acceptance of the gospel.

4. Principle 2: Preparing our Friends

Having a Goal
We first start by preparing our friends to accept the gospel.  Since each person is different, we must set specific goals for each of them, with the main goal of conversion and baptism into the Church.  Our goal as members is to plant the seeds of friendship and faith in our friends’ hearts and help them nourish those seeds until they bear the fruit of conversion.

What type of Goals?
Each goal will depend upon where our friend is. If it is someone very spiritual, he/she may be ready now to be invited to listen to the missionary discussions.  If not, then we must determine what goals our friend is ready to achieve.

Preparing
The first thing after deciding what goals to set for our friend is to prepare our friend to accomplish the goal.  
•We need to fellowship and friendship them
•Build a relationship of trust
•Teach them if necessary the principle behind the goal
•Help the person recognize the Spirit
•Practice with them
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Ask: What are some of the things a crop needs to grow? (Water, sunshine, good soil, nutrients, time, warmth, etc.).

Read and Discuss: Alma 32:27-32, 37-42

Discuss: Discuss the friendship and what types of goals the friend is ready to accept.  These may include:
•Do Family History
•Attending a Church meeting/activity
•Attending an activity in the member’s home
•Watch a Church Video
•Pray
•Reading the Book of Mormon
•Hearing the discussions
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•Discuss and Practice: Discuss with the member the next goal to accomplish with the friend.  Teach the member how to work with the friend on accomplishing the goal.  Practice with the member using the goal, on how to accomplish Preparing his/her friend.  Help the member feel the Spirit.
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4. Principle 3: Inviting

Inviting the Friend to Accomplish the Goal
Next, we help our friend to achieve success with the specific goal, when we invite him/her to accomplish that goal.  When people have challenges in their lives, it makes them rise above their current life.

Missionaries Invite People
In the nonmember discussions, the full-time missionaries challenge the nonmember to achieve several specific goals, one or two at a time.  These include prayer, scripture study, and Church attendance.  In the second discussion, the nonmember is invited to prepare him/herself for baptism.  This big challenge helps focus the nonmember’s efforts in the smaller goals, and helps him/her prepare for the major goal of baptism in the long run.

Types of Invitations
As we’ve seen on the goals previously discussed, some can be easy ones, such as a challenge to friendship, while others are more directly focused at developing spirituality.  As you spend time with your friend, spiritual questions will arise.  At this moment, is a perfect time to prepare, teach, and then invite him/her to set a goal (prayer, scripture study, come to Church).

4. Principle 4: Following Up on the Invitation

People Forget their Goals
How many times have you made a New Year’s Resolution, only to fail in accomplishing it?  Usually we all have good intentions to accomplish goals in our lives, but quite often our lives get so busy that we simply forget the goals we set for ourselves.  This will happen occasionally with your friend, as well.

Follow Up
The key to ensuring a goal is accomplished is to follow up on it.  After the full time missionaries give a first discussion, they follow up within 48 hours to make sure the nonmember is still thinking about the discussion and to remind him/her to read the Book of Mormon.  Afterward, we continually make extra contacts, via phone or in person, to help them to accomplish the goals set.

Following Up with our Friends
Our friends will also need follow up.  Even on simple goals, like coming over for dinner, they will need a reminder so they won’t forget.  The follow up gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation for the friendship and to make sure no problems have arisen.

		Teaching Helps

Ask: Have you ever set personal goals that have helped to focus your efforts and make you a better person?

Ask: Why is it important to use specific goals when inviting our friends to do something?

Practice: Practice some invitations with the member. Make sure it has to do with a specific goal related to the friend.

Practice: Practice a follow up activity with the member. Help them to practice doing a follow up with their friend on the goal selected.	

4. Principle 5: Resolving Concerns

People have Problems
Even with the best of situations, problems occur.  We can help our friends overcome their concerns by discussing it with them. Some problems are easier to handle than others. For example, if our friend can’t make an activity, we can help them attend the next one.  If they have a question, we can help to answer it.

Finding Out What the Concern Is
Listening and asking questions are the best ways to understand the concern.  Don’t argue with the person, contention doesn’t resolve the problem.  Instead, try to be helpful.  Seek to get to the root of the issue by letting the person express his/her feelings.

Resolving the Concern
Once the concern is fully understood, then try to explain it. Share scriptures, if it is a doctrinal question, and help them to seek the Spirit for answers through prayer.

What if the Concern Can’t be Resolved?
Even if we can’t resolve the concern, we can still show our friendship and listen to the problem.  Sometimes there are others that often can help us to resolve the concerns, if we don’t have the answer.  We don’t necessarily need to have the answer right then, but to offer to help them in finding an acceptable answer.  If an acceptable answer cannot be found, then continue friendshipping and working on the strengths of the friendship.

4. Principle 6: Using the Commitment Pattern

Putting the Pattern into Practice
We’ve explained the commitment pattern:
Preparing, Inviting, Follow Up, and Resolving Concerns

It is a pattern, meaning it is something we use over and over again, as we prepare people to accomplish goals.  This pattern can be used with our children, the Primary class we may teach, or with our nonmember friends.

Moving from One Goal to the Next
Just as a garden needs different things to nourish it, and in different amounts for each crop, we adjust the amounts of nourishing we give to our friends.  As we set a goal they can achieve, we then help to prepare them by setting the next goal for them.  As we prepare them, they will grow closer to us in friendship, and will grow closer to accepting the fulness of the gospel.			

Invitation
Will you use the Commitment Pattern as we’ve explained and practiced with you, with your friend?  Will you help your friend to set goals towards conversion?
		Teaching Helps

Ask: Who are some of the people you know that could help you to resolve specific concerns about gospel doctrine?

Practice: Practice some concerns with the member, and discuss different ways to find out and resolve the concerns.  Include a concern that can’t be resolved, but is left with friendship strengthened.

Share: Share an experience of helping a person grow from goal to goal until he/she accepted the fulness of the gospel, was converted and baptized.

Testify: Testify that as the member uses the Commitment Pattern, he/she will see positive growth in his/her friend.

Set Up: Set up the next discussion.	
Member Missionary Discussions

5. Principle 1: Three Keys to All Conversions

President Hinckley teaches that every convert needs 3 things:  A true friend,  A responsibility, and To be nourished by the Good Word of God.  These three things are needed not only by converts, but also all members and nonmembers alike.

Spiritual Conversions

Every person that is converted to the Church is converted in two ways.  First there is a spiritual conversion that occurs through the power of the Holy Ghost.  Often this experience comes as the nonmember listens to the discussions, reads the Book of Mormon, or prays about Joseph Smith

Social Conversion

Just because a person has a testimony of the Gospel, doesn’t mean they will make the effort to join and follow it.  Often this is due to the comfort in his/her life.  Following the gospel often means giving up family, friends, and old lifestyles.  This old lifestyle needs to be replaced in order for the convert to feel complete.  This new lifestyle is called a social conversion. Social conversion requires friendshipping and involvement with the members of the Church.

		Lesson Five:
3 Keys of Conversion

Teaching Helps

Read and Discuss: “With the ever-increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with "the good word of God" (Moro. 6:4). It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things.”   Pres Hinckley, April 1997 General Conference

Ask: Why do you feel it is important to help a person have a social conversion to the gospel?	

5. Principle 2: Friendshipping
Friendship
As we’ve discussed, everyone needs a friend.  People trust their friends, and will often accept their thoughts, ideas, and beliefs more readily than the words of a stranger.

Comfort Zone
Friendship creates a comfort zone, wherein few subjects of discussion are taboo.  True friends can share their feelings on many subjects without worrying about hurting the other person’s feelings.

Building Relationships of Trust
As we develop the relationship, we also build a relationship of trust.  Our friends learn to trust our judgment and ideas.  They know we won’t knowingly lead them astray or hurt them. Friendships go both directions. Your friends will want to help you just as you help them.

Our Example is Seen by our Friends
As we befriend our friends, our kindness and examples will touch their lives. Questions about the gospel will come up, giving you opportunities to share your  testimony and invite the nonmember to hear the discussions. 

More Friends are Better
Most people have several friends. Social conversions occur quicker when our friends are introduced to other LDS members and new friendships are created.

5. Principle 3: Give the Person a Responsibility
Goals and Challenges
As we’ve discussed in a previous discussion, people grow from having goals and challenges in their lives.  When we invite our friends to do something specific, we are giving them a responsibility.

Responsibility of Friendship
Friendship itself has responsibility. Each friend depends upon the other for support, kindness, and a listening ear.  Friends often do favors for each other.  In other words, being a friend requires each person to have some responsibility for each other.  

Importance of Responsibility
When people are given responsibilities, they tend to take ownership of the situation.  Responsibility helps people to invest their time and effort, making them a part of it.  Just as a parent develops an attachment to a child through much effort, so we all give importance to those things that we put effort into.

Establishing Responsibilities and Goals
Our efforts can help our friends grow spiritually, by helping them establish goals in their lives.  As they progress from one responsibility to the next, their lives will be enriched, and they will be better prepared to accept the fulness of the gospel. 		Teaching Helps

Ask: Do you think you could develop a close friendship without spending time with your friend?

Ask: How can you influence your friends with your example and testimony?

Ask: Are there any other LDS members that you feel would make good friends to your nonmember friend?

Ask: What are some things friends can do for each other?
Examples:  watch each others’ kids, work on cars, mow lawns, etc

Ask: Will you help your friend grow by helping him/her have responsibilities in your friendship and in growing spiritually?	

5. Principle 4: Nourished by the Good Word of God
People Need Spiritual Nourishment
Just as people need food and exercise to maintain a strong, healthy body; the spirit needs spiritual nourishment.  Without spiritual nourishment, the spirit becomes weak and is unable to withstand the temptations of the world

We can Spiritually Nourish our Friends
A well developed friendship allows us to share spiritual truths with our friends.  Each little truth we can get them to hear and accept gives them extra spiritual power that can eventually lead them to accept the fulness of the gospel.  Each truth is like a pebble, as they are placed together, the pile grows into a large mountain of truth.

Spiritual Activities
Getting our friends involved in spiritual activities also helps to nourish them.  As they meet other members and feel the Spirit, they will be spiritually nourished.

Fun Activities
Just as the body needs rest from hard work and exercise, we also need to make sure that our friends are nourished in all ways.  Spirituality is enhanced when it can be combined with fun activities. 

5.  Principle 5: Continuing our Efforts

Some people require more time than others to become interested and converted in the gospel.  We will help you to individualize your friendshipping efforts for your friend.

Being True to the Friendship
Our friendships need to be real.  Joseph Smith taught that “friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism.”  Whenever people feel like we aren’t sincere in our efforts, the efforts can backfire on us.

Not All Will Accept the Gospel
Sometimes a person doesn’t accept the gospel, even with our best efforts.  At these times, we are to continue being a friend, and continue planting seeds.  Perhaps someday later they will accept the gospel.  If nothing else, we have gained a good friend.

What Do We Get from Doing Missionary Work?
The Lord makes many promises to us as we prepare and do our missionary work.  As you prepare yourselves, pray, and work to share the gospel as we have taught you over the past few weeks, you will feel the Spirit strengthen you as well.

Future Follow Up
We would like to continue visiting with you to help you resolve any concerns you may have, help you make new goals with your friends, and help you prepare them to hear the discussions.		Teaching Helps

Ask: What kinds of spiritual truths can you share with your friend right now?     Here are some Examples:
•Bear testimony/Share a spiritual experience
•Share favorite Bible passage/story
•Family Home Evening
•Family History
•Food Storage
•Book of Mormon/scripture study
•Church Activities are useful (Scouts, Homemaking, etc.)
•Church project (fixing a home, etc.)
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•Ask: What kind of activities are your friends ready for?
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•Ask: What kind of fun activities are your friends ready to do?
•Examples:
•Church Activities
•Cook Outs
•Sports (including Church sports)
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•Invite: Will you invite your friend to the next Church social?
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•Explain: Brigham Young took 2 years before he joined the Church.  Meanwhile, Parley P. Pratt read the Book of Mormon overnight and was instantly converted.  
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•Read: Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the 70 taught: “No one wants to become a ‘project’‘; we all want spontaneously to be loved. And, if we are to have friends, we want them to be genuine and sincere, not ‘assigned’....if we truly want to be tools in the hands of our Heavenly Father...we need only be a friend....We would no longer be accused of offering warm bread and a cold shoulder.”  (April 1999 General Conference)
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•Read and Discuss: D&C 6:9-11; 11:9,13; 15:6; 18:10-16; Alma 26:22; 36:24-25
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•Testify:  Witness of the blessings of developing friendships and setting an example for those around us.  Offer to review any areas they are unsure of, or to practice any areas they feel weak in.	

Member Missionary Discussions

Lesson Six:

Follow Up Lessons

version: 20 Feb 2000

If you have any questions or comments on improving the Member Missionary Discussions, please contact: 
Gary Smith, Montgomery Alabama Stake 
geraldsmith @juno.com
(334) 271-1827		Teaching Helps and Guidance

•Future follow up lessons can be done by the missionary to adapt to the members’ needs.  
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•The primary key to the follow up lessons is to help the member continue doing his/her friendshipping and member missionary work.
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•Use the commitment pattern to determine any problems, resolve concerns, and set new goals for them to accomplish with their friends
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•If necessary, review any of the previous lessons to give the member a refresher
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•Most of the follow up lessons should be short and geared toward discussing the needs of the friend. A nonmember checklist can be created to assist in tracking the progression of the member’s friend.
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