How to Be a Member Missionary

Today's conversion story is from Maggie Steward. She says her family calls it the "Cub Scout Story", and groans when she starts to tell it. Enjoy!

SHORT STORY : One Cub Scout asks another to attend scouts at church with him. People are converted who later serve missions in Montreal, Peru, Italy, Brazil (3), Texas, and Indiana. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir gets a general manager. I get an eternal companion and four children.

LONG STORY : When I was in my early teens and living in La Habra California, my younger brother was a Cub Scout, attending the school's pack. He had a best friend there. One day this friend told him that he would not be a part of that pack any more as his mom wanted him to attend the "church pack" (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormons) instead.

My brother came home and asked if he could attend the church pack with his friend. He started attending and then, shortly before he turned twelve, he came home and said "The other guys get the priesthood when they turn twelve, but I don't 'cuz I'm not a member, so I want to join the Church." My parents wanted to investigate what he wanted to join, and had the missionaries come and teach the lessons to the whole family. My brother joined shortly thereafter and served a mission in Montreal in time.

I did not join then, but was convinced to sign up for early-morning seminary for my second year of high school. After attending seminary all year, I gained a testimony and told my parents that I wanted to join the Church also. So, once again, the whole family took the lessons and I was baptized.

The following year my sister went through the same process. The whole family took the lessons again and joined the Church. My parents never joined, but have been very supportive. My mother died fifteen years ago. My Dad attends Church almost every Sunday with us and is considered a part of the ward, although he is adamant about not joining. Who knows why.

But that is only part of the story.

When I was a senior in high school we moved to Santa Barbara, California. The following year I went to BYU. When I came home on my first break my brother was in the backyard studying with a very beautiful young girl. I asked my mother who she was. Apparently, my brother met her in his math class. The two struck up a friendship and he told her about the Church. She and her family were taking the missionary lessons at our house.

Karen joined the Church shortly thereafter (her parents were not interested.)

My brother dated Karen for a while, but the two decided that they were just friends. Karen started dating a non-member from high school, told him about the Church, he took the lessons and joined the Church. Scott is now the general manager of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and served a very successful mission to Italy. His two oldest children served missions in Brazil, and his youngest child is waiting for his call.

A few years later, while attending Santa Barbara City College, Karen, again in math class, was attracted to a young man who was attracted to her. Craig tried to talk to her after class, but she had to run off to Institute. He got curious, wanted to know what Institute was, started attending, gained a testimony, joined the Church, and served a mission in Peru. He came home and married Karen and had four beautiful children. Two of the children have served missions (Texas and Brazil) and one has been called to serve in Indiana.

Unfortunately, Karen fell away from the Church after about fifteen years and divorced Craig, leaving him with the four children. After a few years, he started dating again. After a few "false starts" he asked me out and we were sealed in the LA Temple on August 5, 1998. When I said "I do" I instantly became the mother of four wonderful children including the elder I took to Provo in February to Missionary Training Center to prepare for serving in the Indiana mission.

One Cub Scout invites another to Church resulting in missionaries sent to four countries and various states. Eternal families are formed AND the Choir gets a manager.

Thanks for letting me tell my story.

~ Maggie Steward

• Elder Matthew Steward - Indiana Indianapolis 2-08 thru 2-10
• Sister Kristine Steward - Texas Houston (Spanish speaking,) wife of Kevin Cook, and mother of Stellan Cook, prospective missionary in 2025
• Sister Stephanie Steward - Brazil Brasilia - marrying in the LA temple July 19, 2008

But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. (1 Nephi 1:20)

Usually when we think of missionary work we think of sharing the gospel with non-members, but reminding less active members of important covenants and blessings is also a part of missionary work. Great sensitivity and care should be taken, all in the spirit of Christ-like love and without judgment. Elder M. Russell Ballard encouraged "You and I must do everything we can to see that every member of the Church is completely fellowshipped and enjoying all the blessings the gospel has to offer." (Ensign, Sept. 2008, pg.8)

I was talking with some friends online recently about King Saul, Soloman, and David from the Old Testament. Isn't it great to be able to talk about gospel topics with friends all over the globe?!) One of the people in the group shared a personal experience she had and compared it to how some of those Old Testament kings fell from their righteous stature.

With her permission, here are some of her reflections:

"I am sure they were pretty good men up until they started to commit a little sin. Guilt, even in slight degrees, alters a person’s personality. The guilt made them feel bad, but pride made them justify and desensitize themselves to those bad feelings as almost a form of self preservation. While they are desensitizing they are committing more sin, which catapults them into more guilt and the cycle spirals downward until the person at the bottom very little represents the person who once stood on top."

She continued,

"I had a little bit of a fall while in college. I went through a really ugly period of figuring myself out and I was mid spiral down when an old high school friend and I got together for lunch. As we were parting ways she frowned at me and said, 'Babe . . . you’ve lost your hi-pro glow.' I laughed at her and told her she was a nut-case, but she grabbed my arm and said, 'I mean it. You’re different. You’re a cold shadow of the person you used to be. Whatever’s going on in your life . . . you better put it to an end.' I laughed and pretended her words didn’t cut me to the core, but I bawled the whole way home and for hours into the night. She was right. I was different because I’d begun the spiral. It was like being in one of those water slide tubes where you almost have no way of stopping yourself. I put my hands out to stop the fall . . . and sometimes I still feel the burn marks on my hands."

As we talked about some of these Old Testament leaders who fell from grace my friend concluded

"I think these men had the same problem. They were in their own spirals, only they had a little more pride than a starving college student had to deal with. These men were kings. They were favored of God. Imagine the amount of pride they had. Imagine how far they would have to go to justify themselves in order to make themselves feel okay inside. Imagine the burn marks they’d get on their hands when they tried to stop their own fall. When I start on my spiral downward (since on a daily basis I am doing stupid stuff) I think of my friend grabbing my arm and telling me I’d lost my hi-pro glow. I’m quick to put my hands out so my falls don’t go down so far that I can’t stop. Those kings could have used a good friend to slap them upside the head."

Elder Merlin R. Lybbert of the Seventy gave an excellent talk in the May 1990 Ensign (page 81) where he shared the parable of the Good Samaritan and compared the passersby to members of the church and how we need to care for other members of the Church who may have been hurt on their journey. Said he,

"Most of us are acquainted with someone who is spiritually ill or wounded, lying on the roadside half dead, and who desperately needs the assistance of a good LDS brother or sister - that is, a Latter-day Samaritan. Our prophet has repeatedly reminded us that rescuing the less active is one of our greatest challenges of service."

Sometimes we may feel that we make little difference in the world as we go through our normal daily lives and schedules. Sometimes we're knee deep in diaper duty (or should I say doodee?)that we wonder how we can possibly build the kingdom of God here on earth. Remembering that great scripture in Doctrine & Covenants 64:33 can help us keep things in perspective: "Out of small things proceedeth that which is great."

Do we really understand the power of the small things we do and the effect they have on the people around us and on the eternities? To you, washing the dishes may seem like a chore, but to someone it may represent one of the many ways you show love for them. To you, dusting the furniture may seem like a thankless task, but for someone in your family it might be a part of the beautiful home you created for them to enjoy each day.

So it is with missionary work. To you, waving hello at your neighbor as you pull out of your driveway may just be a common courtesy, but to your neighbor it could be a witness that someone good in this world cares about them. Every time you help in your child's classroom or treat a co-worker to lunch or bring donuts into the office you're showing the world what a Mormon is. Those small and simple things are acts of kindness and goodness that build the kingdom.

President Kimball once said “It should be clear to us that usually we must warm our neighbors before we can warn them properly. Surely, 'it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor'—and to warm them in natural, friendly ways." (“Regional representatives’ seminar, Sept. 30, 1976, Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2) So if all you have time for today is to say something kind to your neighbor, remember that you ARE doing missionary work!

Serving a full-time mission is an honor and a privilege that will bless your life an hundred-fold. I recently ran across some quotes by President Kimball that I thought were worth sharing here. They offer powerful perspective on who has been called to share the gospel. The prophet spoke clearly of our duty. He said "I was asked a few years ago, 'Should every young man who is a member of the Church fill a mission?' I responded with the answer the Lord has given: Yes, every worthy young man should fill a mission. The Lord expects it of him. And if he is not now worthy to fill a mission, then he should start at once to qualify himself."

The Lord has instructed,

"Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews.” (D&C 133:8)

President Kimball further added "Someone might also ask, 'Should every young woman, should every father and mother, should every member of the Church serve a mission?' Again, the Lord has given the answer: Yes, every man, woman, and child—every young person and every little boy and girl—should serve a mission. This does not mean that they must serve abroad or even be formally called and set apart as full-time missionaries. But it does mean that each of us is responsible to bear witness of the gospel truths that we have been given. We all have relatives, neighbors, friends, and fellow workmen, and it is our responsibility to pass the truths of the gospel on to them, by example as well as by precept. (Spencer W. Kimball, It Becometh Every Man, Ensign, Oct 1977, 3)

So, while I'm busy preparing my oldest son to enter the MTC next month I have to ask myself "Am I being a good member missionary today?" I'd love to be able to share conversion stories with him on his mission about people I've shared the gospel with!

Dear Friends,
As I reflect on the events that I've been a witness to in my lifetime, I can't help but recall the famous opening line from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." I also can't help but feel as if Dickens was writing about the 21st century for I honestly believe that in many ways, these are the best of times, but they are also the very worst of times.

When I look at the advances that have come about just in my own lifetime, I'm truly amazed at the gift of intellect that man is blessed with. I marvel at the leaps and bounds with which we've progressed in just a matter of a few short years. When I was a young girl, television (when one was able to afford one) was black and white, and the closest thing we had to a telephone at home was the one phone booth in town which was several miles away.

Those days when I wanted to write a family member in another country, I'd write on a piece of paper, put it in an envelope, add a stamp and mail it. Hopefully, I'd know within a couple of weeks if they'd received it or not. Today, I can simply pick up any number of phones I have at my disposal and call them. The Internet has enabled me to even send off a quick email and usually be able to hear back from them within a matter of hours or even minutes. We've made similar strides in most other fields as well. It is indeed an amazing time to be alive - the best of times, if you will.

Unfortunately, it is also the worst of times. We see more broken families today than ever before. We see evidences of all kinds of abuse everyday. Immorality abounds around us, in fact, it is almost revered in some circles today. Pornography is a deadly vice that seems to have a steady and increasing hold on many, including our young people. The same Internet that has made so many other wonderful things possible is also the conduit for so much that can be destructive. Studies point to the ease of access afforded by the Internet as a major contributor to the increase in pornography and child pornography.

The Internet has also made the publication and spreading of rumors and lies so much easier for those who seek to do damage to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members (also known as Mormons). Misinformation and half-truths about the Church are common on the Internet. It is small wonder then that many who seek for the truth about the Church sometimes feel confused and unsure. My friends, if this is you, I ask you to be careful about which voices you listen to, especially online. I understand that you need as much information as you can get about the Church. However, please be wary of where that information is coming from.

As a friend, I invite you to visit a couple of sites about the Church. This first site mormon.org is an official Church site. It will give you an idea of our beliefs and teachings. The next site I want to suggest to you is LDS.net. This is not an official Church site. Instead, it is a site hosted by faithful members of the Church. This site will put you in touch with real Mormons who are trying to live the Gospel and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. You can post questions to both of these sites.

I want to share my testimony of Jesus Christ and of the Gospel with you as well. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is my Savior and my Redeemer. I know that God lives and that He loves us so much. I know that this is the restored Church of Jesus Christ. My life is what it is because of my relationship with my Savior and my membership in the Church.

My dear friends, I hope that you all know how very special we all are in His eyes for we are all children of God. I pray that if you are wondering about the beliefs and teachings of the Mormon Religion, that you will also go to our Lord, and then have the courage to follow the promptings of the Spirit. Remember, we are promised in Mathew 21:22; "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

With Love,

Moira

In a 1959 general conference address, the president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, David O. Mckay, admonished members of the Church with a phrase now familiar and famous among Mormons: “every member a missionary.”

Any church that claims to be Christ’s Church must necessarily emphasize and initiate a missionary effort. Why so? Because Jesus prophesied that before He returned in glory for a thousand-year, millennial reign certain events would unfold:

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt 24: 14).

In the October, 2007 General Conference, Mormon Apostle, M. Russell Ballard gave guidelines for sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, with this preface:

“It is not easy to explain something as vast as the Church or as wonderful as the restored gospel to people who know little or nothing about us. Even questions on one specific aspect can be difficult to answer because every question seems to be connected to other questions.”

To simplify the process, Elder Ballard encouraged the saints to remember fundamental aspects of an effective explanation--two of which are Facts and Fruits. Within these two categories, the Apostle gave examples of information that could be shared with non-LDS friends. Here's a summary:

Facts

* The term “Mormon” is a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the Church are often referred to as “Mormons,” “Latter-day Saints,” or “LDS.” The term “Saint” means “member of the Church.”

* The Church was restored in 1830 in upstate New York with Joseph Smith as its first prophet and president. Today it is headquartered in Salt Lake City, with President Gordon B. Hinckley as prophet.

* There are currently over 13 million Mormons in 176 countries and territories. About 6 million members reside in the United States, making the “Mormon” Church the fourth largest Christian denomination in America.

* Mormons complete a new chapel every working day. Members pay a 10 percent tithe of their income, which makes the building of these new chapels possible.

* Local congregations called “wards” are led by volunteer, unpaid members of the Church. Both men and women accept callings to serve in leadership positions.

* Mormons are well represented in politics and government; for example, in the United States there are 16 members in Congress from both political parties. Latter-day saints also serve in high and trusted positions throughout the world in business, medicine, law, education, media, sports, and entertainment.

Fruits

* One of the fruits of being a member of the LDS Church is a longer life. Studies show that practicing Mormons are healthier and therefore live longer than the national average. In 1833 the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith the Word of Wisdom--a way of living that ensures a long and healthy life.

* Those who are married in and attend the temple regularly have a divorce rate far below the national and world average.

* Mormons achieve an educational level that is higher than the national average.

* Over 70,000 members of the Church volunteer at their own expense to serve for 18 to 24 months in humanitarian efforts, Church service assignments, and full-time missionary service throughout the world.

* The LDS Church places strong emphasis on self-reliance and a solid work ethic; it encourages active involvement in communities and in providing service to others.

* The “Mormon” Church continues to donate substantial money, goods, and services to humanitarian causes around the world, including untold hours of labor donated by members to assist in disaster cleanup and relief.

In addition to Facts and Fruits, Apostle Ballard identified two other aspects that can help organize and simplify effective explanations of “Mormon” belief; the four facets are: Faith, Family, Facts, and Fruits. Read the entire talk!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints currently has over 50,000 full-time missionaries serving throughout the world. Many members of the Church are called to serve as stake and ward missionaries in the areas where they live. In addition, members of the Church are encouraged to be aware of moments when they can share their knowledge and beliefs with others. They are considered to be member missionaries.

Why does the LDS Church put such a strong emphasis on missionary work? Because the Lord commanded it.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

Latter-day Saints believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restoration of the church Christ organized during His ministry on earth; they believe that the LDS Church is the only one to contain the full gospel of Jesus Christ. As such, members of the Church believe it is their responsibility to share the message of Jesus Christ and the doctrines of the LDS Church with all of God's children.

It is because of their belief in a restored church that members of the Church seek out all who might be interested in learning more. They naturally want to share this knowledge with all who will hear their message. They share because of love for the gospel and love for their friends and neighbors.

Latter-day Saints are not only encouraged by their leaders to share the gospel with love and respect, but to also honor the religious beliefs of our friends and neighbors.

"But even more important than respecting other churches for the good work they do, we should respect our fellow human beings—not in spite of their beliefs, but because of them! A man or woman who carefully obeys all the laws and teachings of the Catholic or Buddhist or Shinto or Lutheran religion is obviously striving to do right." (Gerald E. Jones, “Respect for Other People’s Beliefs,” Ensign, Oct 1977, 69)

It is not the desire of the LDS Church to condemn or criticize those of other faiths, but to share their beliefs and knowledge to those who desire to learn more about them. Latter-day Saints are encouraged to share with an attitude of love, accepting their friends and neighbors as they are. Former Church President, George Albert Smith, explained:

"President George Albert Smith, a man of unusual warmth and compassion, expressed very cogently the attitude we ought to take into a conversation with nonmembers: 'We have come not to take away from you the truth and virtue you possess. We have come not to find fault with you nor to criticize you. We have not come to berate you because of things you have not done; but we have come here as your brethren. … We are asking [you] to keep all the glorious truths that you have acquired in your churches, that you have absorbed from your scriptures. … Then let us sit down and share with you some of the things that have not yet come into your lives that have enriched our lives and made us happy.' (Sharing the Gospel with Others, pp. 12–13, 217–19.)." (Gerald E. Jones, “Respect for Other People’s Beliefs,” Ensign, Oct 1977, 69)

When the Lord commanded all who believe in Him to go forth and "preach the gospel to every creature," He did not say, "except those who might believe something else or who do not look interested." His intent was for every person to hear His gospel and be provided an opportunity to accept or reject it by their own free will and choice. Therefore, every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is obligated to share the message of the gospel with everyone.