Replacing Fear With Real Faith

Are you afraid to open your mouth and share the gospel? Are you hesitant to bring up your religion around your friends, your co-workers, your family. I can promise you with no reservation that you are not alone. Maybe it's just you and me that find ourselves tongue-tied and terrified when presented with the opportunity to share the gospel...

but somehow I doubt it. 

Each of us have heard the call again and again:

"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."

Thomas S. Monson

“After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel” Joseph Smith Jr.

“We will attain our exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom only on the condition that we share with our Father’s other children the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and observe the commandments that will enrich our lives here and hereafter” George Albert Smith

 “Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.” D&C 88:81

Each of us know what is being asked of us but still we hesitate. Some even hesitate to pray for missionary experiences because they are afraid they might receive one! Who is guilty of this? Do you trust that your Father in Heaven knows you and knows how to answer your prayers?

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? “Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye … know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:7-11.

"Fear will be replaced with faith and confidence when members and the full-time missionaries kneel in prayer and ask the Lord to bless them with missionary opportunities. Then, we must demonstrate our faith and watch for opportunities to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ to our Heavenly Father’s children, and surely those opportunities will come."

"We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.... May I suggest that we can all be more consistently involved in missionary work by replacing our fear with real faith, inviting someone at least once a quarter—or four times every year—to be taught by the full-time missionaries."  M. Russell Ballard

Did anyone else do a double take at that comment this last general conference, or was that just me? Every member challenged to invite someone at least once a quarter to be taught by the full-time missionaries. How is that even possible? 

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." 1Nephi 3:7

Is he a prophet or not? Is this a commandment from the Lord or not?

Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked you to do!

Four new investigators a year are not going to fall into your lap while you sit on your couch watching Dr. Phil. God is asking us to stand with Him, to join the fight. This is going to require PRAYER, PLANNING, PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE, and PREACH MY GOSPEL 

(link to lds.org).

"To help in the 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... this is a guidebook for missionary work--which means it is a guidebook for all of us." M. Russell Ballard

I can testify that our prophet speaks for God. I can testify that your Savior is asking you to stand with Him, to witness for Him. Each member of the church made solemn sacred covenants when we were baptized to do this. We promised to take upon ourselves His name, to stand as Him witness, 

are you keeping your promise?

I know that opening your mouth can be scary. I can personally testify that it is intimidating and nerve wracking and absolutely wonderful! President Monson said, "Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with faith have courage as well." In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Are you thinking of Him?

This holy Easter week is so very important and I pray that each of us are taking the time to think of our Savior and all that He has done for us. Thursday was a vitally important day in the last week of Christs life. It was today that he invited his apostles into the upper room to have his final meal. Here He instituted the blessing of the Sacrament and by so doing gave each of us the opportunity to renew our covenants with God and start fresh every week. I am eternally grateful for this gift, my life if so much more because I can rely on the Saviors atonement each week, each day.

After leaving this famous last supper our Savior and brother walked to the Garden of Gethsemane and changed the whole world. Everything had led up to this point and the entire future hinged on it. Jesus Christ offered Himself a sacrifice for sin. He suffered so that if we would repent we wouldn't have to suffer. This was the greatest act of love and it happened on Easter Thursday. 

Are you thinking of Him?

I am grateful for my knowledge and testimony of the Saviors love for me. I testify that His only motivation was a sincere and unending love for you and me. I know that there is no way that I can ever pay him back for all that He is done for me, but I can love Him back! I can show that love through remembering Him, living the was He has asked, and standing as His witness. He lives, He loves, He is involved.

I Have Given You An Example

Think of the person in your life that has influenced you the very most. What did they do? Why was their influence felt stronger than others? How has your life changed because of them?

Richard G. Scott spoke of a few people in his life that were tender influences that aided his path to eternal progression. God blessed him with people who loved him enough to guide him in the right direction.

When speaking of his Grandmother he said, “I don’t remember the specifics of what she said but what she did that stirred something within my heart… In every appropriate way she helped us find the gospel.”

What is the appropriate way? Christ said “Do as I have done unto you.”

Later he said, “Mostly I knew that she loved me and loved the gospel… her righteous influence changed the direction of my life for eternal good.”

His family and friends loved him enough to share their conviction of how the gospel would bless his life and then gave him the opportunity to work out the direction of his own life.  Nobody chorused him or made him feel bad about the person he was, they simply loved him and loved Father in Heaven.

How can we become such an influence to those around us? 

1^st We must sincerely love those we want to help in righteousness so they can begin to develop confidence in God’s love. This trust in a God who loves us perfectly can be difficult to develop. It’s easier when they have family and friends who love them in a similar way.

Show your interest in their well-being, and then share your testimony of Jesus Christ.

Ask them questions that make them think and then allow them sufficient time, Days, hours, months, maybe years, to ponder and seek the answers on their own.

They need to know that we love them and want what’s best for them.

2^nd As a companion to that love, Trust them.  It may seem difficult but find some way. The children of Father in Heaven can do amazing things when they feel trusted. Every child in mortality chose the Saviors plan, trust that given the opportunity they will do so again.

3^rd Remember we all grow line upon line. You have followed that same pattern

Keep your sharing of the gospel simple. Your personal testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is a powerful tool.

Concentrate on this: The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes possible our becoming more like our Father in Heaven so we can live together eternally in our family units. There is no doctrine more fundamental to our work then the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The greatest example who ever walked the earth is the savior Jesus Christ

His mortal ministry is filled with, Teaching, serving and loving others. He sat with individuals who were judged to be unworthy, He loved each of them. He discerned their needs and taught them His gospel. He invites us to follow His perfect example. 

Remember to do as He has done by share our love, trust and knowledge with other who have not yet embraced the brilliant light of the gospel.

I love General Conference and I felt the Holy Ghost confirm truth to my heart and I heard the words of Elder Richard G. Scott this weekend. I pray that each of us can strive to be a little more like our Savior as we share the most important thing with have with our friends in LOVE AND TRUST!