Hey Ladies,
Well, we've had a few weeks of conferences and I just thought it was interesting to see the theme of service and missionary work throughout each message.
I thought I'd share for those who are interested.
General Relief Society Meeting
Carole M. Stephens told of many stories about faithful women in the church. Here's one example:
"Maria follows this counsel by watching over and ministering to the sisters she has been asked to visit teach and also reaching beyond this assignment. She has many friends who are less active or who have not yet heard the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ
. Each day she exercises her faith and prays to know who needs her help, and then she acts on the prompting she receives. She makes phone calls, expresses her love, and tells her friends, “We need you.” She has family home evening in her apartment every week and invites neighbors, members, and missionaries to come—and she feeds them. She invites them to come to church, watches for them, and sits by them when they arrive.
Maria understands Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s recent reminder that “an invitation that is born of our love for others and for the Lord Jesus Christ … will never be seen as offensive or judgmental.”
General Conference
There were 5 talks specifically focused on missionary work!
President Thomas S. Monson said:
"The
holy scriptures contain no proclamation more relevant, no
responsibility more binding, no instruction more direct than the
injunction given by the resurrected Lord as He appeared in Galilee to
the eleven disciples. Said He, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost.”
2
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, “After all that has been said, the
greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.”
3
Some of you here today will yet remember the words of President
David O. McKay, who phrased the familiar “Every member a missionary!”
4
To
their words I add my own.
Now is the time for members and missionaries
to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to
bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the
gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we
will act in faith to fulfill His work."
Stake Conference Adult Session
In this meeting in Waco, the whole theme of the night was Missionary Work. It was specifically requested from the Church headquarters that this be the assigned topic for the evening.
It was interesting to hear from the Dallas Fort Worth Mission President, and testimonies of converts who are now helping to build the Kingdom.
President Christensen's talk gave us 10 practical ways to share the gospel:
Top 10 Ways to Share the Gospel
-10 use social media to share gospel with others, it's the soapbox of today
-9 hang pictures is Christ in your home and invite friends and neighbors
over, someone may say, that looks like Jesus! Know you're a Christian
-8 meet new people, join a club, volunteer, expand your social circles and avoid being clickish
-7 tell about church over the weekend or what you've done
-6 visit a friend or acquaintance that had a recent life event: move, baby, marriage "have you found a church yet?"
-5 carry a pass along card and give it to someone, especially the
mormon.org one
-4 give someone the family search website, ask if they have a desire to search out family names
-3 invite friends or neighbors to participate in your calling, teach
lesson, enrichment, ask for help, talk to your neighbor, look for
opportunities, more would like the chance to serve than be serve, RS
presentation, they could fill that need
-2 invite them to church especially when you're speaking on Sunday or the choir. Give sermons on Sunday.
-1 pray for someone to teach to be put in your path, knell in prayer and watch for opportunities that surely will come
Stake Conference General Session
President Dewey:
You can be blessed with charity in order to do the Lord's work and be an instrument in His hands!
Young Elder who has a call to serve in Brazil:
He found his EFY journal where he prepared a lesson about loneliness, and didn't realize it would impact him later on. He was comforted and testified God will never forsake you. Bore a powerful testimony and is excited to serve!
Sister Ames:
"There are chances for rescue all around us" and she promised us joy as we labor and bring others to Christ
Sister Young's Lesson in Relief Society
She taught us that it's important to remember to PREACH the gospel. She used examples from our Lorenzo Snow lesson, and came up with this clever way to remember:
P=Purpose, there is a reason for YOU
R=Receive and Respond to Testimony, knowledge is power in order for us to be happy we need the gospel
E=Embrace the challenge and go forward with faith
A=Act, serve, set up your priorities
C=Choose Joy, put selfish desires aside
H=Hear the Spirit & Hurry!
So, if you haven't caught the message...we need to find ways to share the gospel with others.
In just one month, we've heard numerous messages encouraging us to branch out!
Let's make it happen sisters!! We are all Called to Serve!
