Sunday Happenings

Sister Baumann taught our lesson last Sunday on Member Missionary Work. We had some special guests from the Senior Primary come in and sing "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission". They did such a great job! Sister Baumann told the story of how her Mom was converted to the church through a neighborhood friend. She stressed the point that "We are all on a mission. We are called to teach".

L. Tom Perry told this story in the May 2009 Ensign. While driving up Provo Canyon there were emergency vehicles blocking the road. He said, "As I looked up the rock face along the east side of the entrance to Provo Canyon, I saw some men climbing. I assumed they were the search and rescue people. What were they climbing to? Eventually I saw it. Somehow a ewe, a lost sheep, had made her way about 25 feet (8 m) up the rock face, and she was stranded there. She was not a mountain goat or mountain sheep, just a white ewe separated from a shepherd’s flock.
As I had nothing else to do, I searched the rock face for a way up to where the ewe stood. I could not for the life of me figure out how she ever got there. Nevertheless, she was there, and all the commotion in front of me was focused on her rescue. To this day, I don’t know the end of the story since the police figured out a way to get the traffic moving again.
As I drove away, a concern bothered me. While the search and rescue personnel were certainly well intentioned, how would the ewe react to them? I’m sure they had a plan for how they would calm her—perhaps they would shoot her with a tranquilizer dart from a close distance so they could catch her before she fell. Knowing nothing of their plan but knowing a little about how animals react to being cornered by strangers, I worried about the feasibility of their rescue effort. And then I wondered, “Where is the shepherd?” Certainly he would have the best chance of approaching the ewe without alarming her. The shepherd’s calming voice and helping hand were what the situation needed, but he seemed to be missing in action.
As members of the Church, sometimes we seem to be missing in action, just like this shepherd. Consider for a moment what President Monson told the newly called mission presidents at the 2008 seminar for new mission presidents. He said: “There is … no substitute for a member-oriented proselyting program. Tracting will not substitute for it. Golden questions will not substitute for it. A member-oriented program is the key to success, and it works wherever we try it” (“Motivating Missionaries,” June 22, 2008, 8).

What can we do to share the gospel with those we live by, work with, or meet?

D&C 88:81- Warn our neighbors
D&C 33:7- Open Your Mouth
D&C 18: 15-16- How great shall be your joy!

We need to be looking for opportunities and be prepared for those opportunities when they are presented. You never know when your testimony will touch someone. There are many missionary opportunities: Family History, Food Storage, Gardening, etc... that could start a conversation.

Elder Perry stated "Missionaries will continue to do the best they can, but wouldn't it be better if you and I stepped up to do a job that is rightfully ours?"

Have you had any opportunities this week to share the gospel? If not, what could you do next week?