Invitations – We invite to birthdays, to dinner, to dances and to play at our homes. For many of us this is second nature. What if we took the Savior’s lead and did as He did and invited and enticed all to come unto Him (Moroni 7:13)?
As families the Lord has often given us the opportunity to extend invitations at a place that the Bible Dictionary says compares in sacredness only to the temple - our home (BD-temple). In the protective walls of our own home we have the opportunity to start sacred conversations about the Savior and His doctrine, which includes faith in Him and His atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.
How does all this begin? By the "prayer of faith” The Lord says in Doctrine and Covenants 93:52, “By the prayer of faith, with one consent, I will uphold him.”
When we as a family, seek and petition the Lord to allow us to bless the lives of those with whom we associate, a synergistic power occurs. Let me explain.
When starting a fire, it is much easier to start it using small tinder than trying to start one big log. When we collectively decide as a family to bless the lives of those with whom we associate, we are symbolically using tinder to start the fire of faith.
An illustrative example might help. Let’s say John invites Joe to come over and then to have dinner. At dinner dad blesses the food - specifically remembering to ask the Lord to bless Joe. A couple of days later, John and Joe are studying after school. They are talking about a big test. Sue comes in and hears the conversation. She comments how the Lord answered her prayer for help on her last test. She then walks out of the room. At school Joe finds out that a teacher he really respects because of how much he cares about everyone is a member of the Latter-day Saint faith. Joe continues to have experiences that expose him to the Spirit of the Lord,which comes as a natural result of testifying of truths and living those truths.
When we are not afraid to casually, matter-of-factly speak of Christ and His doctrine and how we apply that doctrine to our benefit, our ability to bless others increases significantly. Those around us feel the Spirit, “love, joy, peace”(Galatians 5:22-25), and our families petition to be an instrument in His hands to say and do what he would say and do if he personally were ministering on the earth (my mission commission).
While building a fire, there comes a time when bigger logs are added so as to sustain the fire. This fuel is found with the missionaries. How you know the time to offer someone the opportunity to listen to the missionaries is based upon your friend’s level of interest. If they begin to ask several questions, invite them to have the missionary lessons. An easy way to say that is, “Our church has missionaries specifically called to answer questions. Would you like to have the missionaries come and teach you this concept and several others?
Could you answer all of your friend’s questions? Probably. But it seems the plan is two fold. Members help with social conversion while unconsciously modeling the results of applying gospel truths and covenant keeping. Missionaries help with spiritual conversion using doctrine, commitments and promises.
The Lord says that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall my word be established. As I ponder this scripture it seems that this fits the hastening of His work. The Lord has asked, through His prophet, that members and missionaries stand together to offer their witness.
I testify that this is true. We are the tinder the Lord is counting on to start that fire of faith that will sweep the earth at His coming. I testify of this truth, in His name, the Holy One of Israel, even Jesus Christ, amen.
As families the Lord has often given us the opportunity to extend invitations at a place that the Bible Dictionary says compares in sacredness only to the temple - our home (BD-temple). In the protective walls of our own home we have the opportunity to start sacred conversations about the Savior and His doctrine, which includes faith in Him and His atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.
How does all this begin? By the "prayer of faith” The Lord says in Doctrine and Covenants 93:52, “By the prayer of faith, with one consent, I will uphold him.”
When we as a family, seek and petition the Lord to allow us to bless the lives of those with whom we associate, a synergistic power occurs. Let me explain.
When starting a fire, it is much easier to start it using small tinder than trying to start one big log. When we collectively decide as a family to bless the lives of those with whom we associate, we are symbolically using tinder to start the fire of faith.
An illustrative example might help. Let’s say John invites Joe to come over and then to have dinner. At dinner dad blesses the food - specifically remembering to ask the Lord to bless Joe. A couple of days later, John and Joe are studying after school. They are talking about a big test. Sue comes in and hears the conversation. She comments how the Lord answered her prayer for help on her last test. She then walks out of the room. At school Joe finds out that a teacher he really respects because of how much he cares about everyone is a member of the Latter-day Saint faith. Joe continues to have experiences that expose him to the Spirit of the Lord,which comes as a natural result of testifying of truths and living those truths.
When we are not afraid to casually, matter-of-factly speak of Christ and His doctrine and how we apply that doctrine to our benefit, our ability to bless others increases significantly. Those around us feel the Spirit, “love, joy, peace”(Galatians 5:22-25), and our families petition to be an instrument in His hands to say and do what he would say and do if he personally were ministering on the earth (my mission commission).
While building a fire, there comes a time when bigger logs are added so as to sustain the fire. This fuel is found with the missionaries. How you know the time to offer someone the opportunity to listen to the missionaries is based upon your friend’s level of interest. If they begin to ask several questions, invite them to have the missionary lessons. An easy way to say that is, “Our church has missionaries specifically called to answer questions. Would you like to have the missionaries come and teach you this concept and several others?
Could you answer all of your friend’s questions? Probably. But it seems the plan is two fold. Members help with social conversion while unconsciously modeling the results of applying gospel truths and covenant keeping. Missionaries help with spiritual conversion using doctrine, commitments and promises.
The Lord says that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall my word be established. As I ponder this scripture it seems that this fits the hastening of His work. The Lord has asked, through His prophet, that members and missionaries stand together to offer their witness.
I testify that this is true. We are the tinder the Lord is counting on to start that fire of faith that will sweep the earth at His coming. I testify of this truth, in His name, the Holy One of Israel, even Jesus Christ, amen.