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I have to teach the Priesthood Lesson on “Doing Our Part to Share the Gospel”. Although I’m a former FT missionary, and at one time could be counted on to ask people to take discussions etcetera, I find this one difficult to teach now. I feel that not all people are well-suited to missionary work, are not motivated, and that often it’s couched as “service” when in my view, it’s there to grow the Church. Yes, there are some benefits to joining the church such as a culture of clean living, family focus etcetera, but I now believe a lot of that can be achieved in other ways. The blessings of salvation are not as potent to me as they once were, and they are very far into the future. And of course, my experiences in the church haven’t shown me that living the gospel is not a recipe for happiness. In fact, in my case, it’s been very difficult to stay happy in the face of the LDS experience.
I did a survey last week, and found that of the 14 people there, 12 of them didn’t want to do anything related to missionary work except build relationships. So, any kind of pushing them to influence others directly (through invitations to church etceterea) are unlikely to make a great lesson. For me, or them.
So, with that preamble, can you suggest a few principles I could teach that are compatible with my views above, yet also enrich the perspectives of the HP in attendance? Comments welcome if you can add to my list as I’m hot happy with all of them (below)
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Possible Ideas
I have a few ideas:
1. Focus on stories of people who really did benefit from the gospel. In practical ways — I know of one person who had an addiction and through a combination of religion, setbacks, and striving seems to have made a successful turnaround.
2. Focus on the comradery and intrinsic value of serving non-members through community facebook or neighbourhood page initiations (where you develop a page for your local community of homes on matters of emergency preparedness, selling items from your house, crime, matters of personal interest).
3. Getting involved in community organizations to do service independent of the Church, as I did last week and it was phenomenal. Pure service for its own sake. Comment on how the example of service is a testament to your beliefs.
4. Contributing to your neighbourhood by holding events for kids and families…like the cake decorating contest and music nights I hold in my home that build community without any expectation of conversion.
5. Hosting an emergency preparedness meeting in your home with the ward emergency preparedness person to share lists of equipment resources, and processes to prepare for a distaster.
SD, you obviously put alot of thought into this topic already. The only additional comment is: be willing to just talk to your neighbors. The topic doesn’t have to be anything
anything to do with religion or the LDS Church. I enjoy talking to people. (My wife, not so much.)
I’ve known some of my neighbors for more than 30 years. Some know I’m LDS & some don’t. Most don’t.
Some would say that “I’m hiding my light under a bushel”. They can think whatever they want to.
Or, the other option is: go around the neighborhood, knock on every door & ask: “what do you know about the Mormon church &
when are you going to join?” I don’t like that approach.
Mike from Milton.
Here’s my input: “Suggestions on How to Share the Gospel Properly”( http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2012/03/suggestions-on-how-to-share-gospel.html Thanks — Ray, I really like your post on your blog. The idea of introducing the separation between the Church and the Gospel is a good StayLDS idea that has legs for this kind of discussion. Only thing — to most members the Gospel is Faith, Repentence, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and then, from my perspective, white knuckle your way through all the horse pucky until you die and find out if it’s REALLY true (just kidding with that last phrase).
But back to my point. How do you define the gospel? how do you think the average Traditional Believer defines it? Would it be important to make that distinction.
Quote:Preachers err by trying to talk people into belief; better they reveal the radiance of their own discovery. -Joseph Campbell
ask the class what that means and how it applies to how we do missionary work.
My standard approach it to try to drag the topic around the the “two great commandments”. If I can’t figure out a way to do that, I’m teaching the wrong lesson. Teaching a lesson on how to be a better missionary would be a tough one for me personally, as I tend to have a rather jaundiced view of missionary work, but I think it could be done in a thoughtful and careful way. doug wrote:My standard approach it to try to drag the topic around the the “two great commandments”. If I can’t figure out a way to do that, I’m teaching the wrong lesson. Teaching a lesson on how to be a better missionary would be a tough one for me personally, as I tend to have a rather jaundiced view of missionary work, but I think it could be done in a thoughtful and careful way.
The story of Ammon in the Book of Mormon is a good one to show how you need to love the people, and serve them…and when they see your example, they will ask questions…that is when they are ready to open up and listen. Love must be the root of missionary work.SilentDawning wrote:…Only thing — to most members the Gospel is Faith, Repentence, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and then, from my perspective, white knuckle your way through all the horse pucky until you die and find out if it’s REALLY true (just kidding with that last phrase).
But back to my point.
How do you define the gospel? how do you think the average Traditional Believer defines it?Would it be important to make that distinction.
Maybe you can use 3 Nephi 27 for this:13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.
16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.
17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.
18 And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.
19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
This went OK ..this lesson. I used the fact that I’m drawn to unorthodox ideas and perspectives to really milk certain phrases from this lesson. I harnessed my work in the community, principles of reciprocity from business, tempered by spirituality, and drew in Diffusion of Responsiblity (in large groups, how everyone thinks someone else would do missionary work). I also used the Ammon story and his approach of giving up something before receiving anything. I also pointed everyone to practical resources for connecting with their neighbours online which were very well received.
I had material from Ray’s blog on the subject of sharing the gospel that I didn’t have time for, but will use next week.
I got some reallys startled looks when I keyed off one quote in the manual about not being annoying in sharing the gospel. I commented that I found righteousness can be very annoying. They looked really surprised, and I commented on how people can take matters of personal conscience and turn them into doctrinal-like concepts — all based on their own interpretation. How we need to avoid coming across self-righteous to our neighbours.
Anyway, got through it…
SD said: Quote:I got some reallys startled looks when I keyed off one quote in the manual about not being annoying in sharing the gospel. I commented that I found righteousness can be very annoying. They looked really surprised, and I commented on how people can take matters of personal conscience and turn them into doctrinal-like concepts — all based on their own interpretation. How we need to avoid coming across self-righteous to our neighbours.
well that was interesting ! would you mind posting the quote here SD ? i think you nailed it right on the head, SD, about how being self-righteous can be a real turn off to those we may contemplate doing missionary work with. putting ourselves on a figurative pedestal is never a good thing.well, obviously, you have already given your lesson but when it comes to sharing the gospel i think the approach one needs to take is to consider the gospel as something that everyone needs. you live your life such that people will be drawn with you to come to church and to participate. when it comes to a church community, everyone who attends needs to help visitors feel welcome.
i think the church can be a place of great social benefit but it has to be one where the social atmosphere is positive and where people genuinely care about each other.
it reminds me of a quote from the Doctrine and Covenants where Christ is speaking about how his apostles behaved toward one another: (D&C 64:
Quote:My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.
with that kind of toxic social environment Christ is speaking of, do you think that we would feel inspired to bring our friends to church if that was the kind of social environment that was being fostered there ?interesting to think that in spite of Christ’s loving example being amongst his disciples, he still had to “sorely chastise” them for their resentful behaviours.
I have had to do this recently… Remember, not all missionary work is face to face or full on.
I’d make the following points –
* People will notice what you are doing when you are not talking about the gospel. Hypocrites stand out.
* There are times when it is not appropriate to bring up the subject.
* Missionary work can be done online, or by leaving Books of Mormon in (free) book exchanges etc.
* When you share the Gospel, don’t use it to hit people over the head. Nagging etc can turn someone the other way.
Good points Sam. For me, it’s partly recognizing that some people are just born salespeople who like to make the invitations that are necessary and inevitable to influence others to do certain things …come to Church, take missionary lessons, etcetera. One needs to know who these people are and work them in the missionary effort. People who aren’t predisposed to this kind of missionary work can contribute in lots of other ways, like building relationships after the person has been invited, preparing the people so someone else can invite them, by creating opportunities for non-members to experience the church and other members in social situations etcetera.
In my quorum, only one person out of all of them (about 14 in attendance) were interested in the harder parts of missionary work, such as inviting people to take lessons etcetera. The rest wanted to build relationships. A small number were interested in developing the missionary plan, and others were interested in putting on activities. You need all these things for a coordinated effort.
So, the “many instruments in the orchestra” analogy that Ray has put forward also works with missionary work, not just approaches to church culture, etcetera. Half the time we are simply annoying people about missionary work when we try to make them do things they are not predisposed to do — such as having them make the hard invitations. You have to have those invitations eventually, but I feel as a Church many people visualize only that when they think of missionary work. And they have the mistaken impression they have to do them.
Thanks! I come from a country where talking about religion is not the done thing. Talking about sex and politics never used to be, but they are now seemingly… religion is still
verboten! Amen to the brother on Sunday last who pointed out his grandmother had been nagging his grandfather for sixty years to join the church, and that she had probably driven him away (in this lifetime at least!)
What else would I include?
* No judgemental comments by members about members, non-members and the inactive. There’s often a lot more to a story than one hears. There are other factors such as marital difficulties (which run from infertility and impotence right through to divorce and spousal abuse), mental health and so on… which people won’t want to talk about much.
* Members should realize just how strong addictions such as alcoholism and smoking are.
One point I like to make is that if people know you are a “good Christian” but don’t know you are Mormon, you actually are reinforcing their negative stereotype of Mormons. I don’t believe in programatic efforts to “do missionary work” – but I also don’t believe in silent examples when people don’t know you are Mormon.
Is it any surprise that I don’t like the extremes?
:thumbdown:
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