Small Steps in the Right Direction

This week I've thought a lot about a talk Elder Ballard gave in April 2014 General Conference. It was a bold, powerful talk, and I loved it because he gave some simple suggestions of where to begin with missionary work. Here is a link to the video segment that really stood out to me.

He gave the challenge to each member to invite someone to meet with the missionaries once a quarter. With that intimidating challenge, he gave us a place to begin. Here's what he said:

"To help you in this process, I invite all members, regardless of your current calling or level of activity in the Church, to obtain a copy of Preach My Gospel. It is available through our distribution centers and also online. The online version can be read or downloaded at no cost. It is a guidebook for missionary work—which means it is a guidebook for all of us. Read it, study it, and then apply what you learn to help you understand how to bring souls to Christ through invitation and follow-up. As President Thomas S. Monson has said, “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."

^{Step 1- Obtain a copy of Preach My Gospel}

^{Step 2- Read and Study it}

^{Step 3- Apply what you learn}

^{So, that's where I'm beginning. I've tried to open up my Preach My Gospel every day this week and I've been trying to think of ways these familiar words can apply to me now as a member missionary. I really believe that actively taking small steps in the right direction, following the words of an apostle, will make a difference.}

 

One Year Ago

One year ago, I stepped off the plane. I was HOME. I remember stopping just around the corner from the escalator where I knew my family was waiting. I was so nervous! It had been quite some time since I'd last seen my family and they were just on the other side! I took a deep breath and made my way to the escalator. I put on a smile and just as I saw my family the smile became genuine and real. All the nervousness washed away. I loved these people. This was home.

On my mission, I remember feeling so deeply that I wanted this experience to change me. I wanted to feel the joy that came from serving the Lord and sharing His truth for the rest of my life. I can't say that this past year has been one filled with missionary opportunities; I haven't been the queen at handing out pass-a-long cards or mastered the art of bringing up my testimony in regular conversation, but I think the Lord has placed inspired leaders, people, and experiences in my path that have kept urging me to keep trying. 

This book, The Power of Everyday Missionaries by Clayton M. Christensen, has been one of those messages for me. Sharing his personal experiences, Clayton Christensen shows a whole spectrum of ways to share the gospel with love. I don't have to be the queen of pass-a-long cards in order to be a missionary! There are SO many ways to share this incredible message about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I guess you could say I'm beginning a journey. I want to to be an "everyday missionary" and I hope to be able to share my experiences on this blog. I love hearing the ideas and experiences of people that help me believe that it's possible, so I imagine I'll be sharing many of those as well. 

Who knows where I'll be a year from now, but I hope to have more courage, experiences, and ideas of what it means to be a MEMBER MISSIONARY.