28_Feb_1999.txt ________________________________________________________________ Minnesstolpar från sattelitutsändning från Tabernaklet där Pres. Gordon B Hinckley talade till församlings och stavsämbetsmän om att döpa och behålla nya medlemmar. Mina anteckningar är på engelska då jag inte tog del av den översatta utsändningen. ________________________________________________________________ Gordon B Hinckley speaks to ward and stake councillors on Conversion and Retention. These are a few items from that broadcast that I jotted down. There is a missionary choir singing "... Every hour I need thee ... Temptations loose their power when thou are nigh... Onwards, ever onwards..." (Called to serve.) Pres. Hinckley on Finding and Friendshipping: You give of your time, energy and means. The brethren asked me to share some words on missionary work. o After baptism immediately called to serve. o [Our] stance and love. o Never give up when there's the slightest interest. o Put to work immediately. [When success] the Bishop saw to it that he had friends in the church. 1. Finding Through the members of the church, that 2. Teaching - testify 3. Baptism - open his home 4. Fellowshipping - answer questions - is a friend Be not ashamed of the gospel! o The Bishop should communicate: "Let's all work to grow the ward." (Pres. Hinckley asked forgivness for the bad grammar in that.) o Do your best and leave the harvest to the Lord! (This was accompanied/presented as a story about a new Mission President replacing a very well qualified ditto, where the new Mission President had no previous experience of being on the mission field, who humbly asked his missionaries to simply do their best and leave the harvest to the Lord, because he had no previous experience what it meant to be a full time missionary. This lead to a special spirit forming in the mission, also among the members, that led to wonderful results.) o We need not be offensive or aggressive. - Goodness of our own lifes and examples is enough. Member referrals declining. This downward trend must be reversed. [It is our] Responsibility to reach everyone with the Gospel. [This] will take the very best effort of <list of all church leader callings>. Hymn. Pres. Hinckley on Retaining and Strengthening the convert: o Fellowshipping o Cannot have convert go in the front door and out the back. o Friendly hearts and hands needed. Or no point in doing missionary work. There is absolutely no point in baptizing if they don't stay active. o Every convert is a son or daughter of God. [Treat them with respect.] What would it profit a Missionary to baptize the whole world if they didn't stay active. I challenge you: If you don't know how it is being a new member you must imagine how it is. The church is much more different than we usually think, our culture much stranger than we think. Every convert need a friend constantly available. [I am reminded of the term "Mentor". /Leif Erlingsson] If this is not done, frustration leads to convert going back to well known things of the world. Important: o [Mentor] Friend always there. o Calling. - Think of the risk the Lord took when he called You! -- laughter -- o Must be nourished by the good word of the Lord. o Cannot be fully converted after only 6 lessons! Time spent by missionaries to integrate new members with ward does not go unrewarded. Treat new member right -- with respect -- they will be refined and become attractive. HOW GREAT OUR OPPORTUNITY HOW GREAT OUR CHALLENGE The field is white and ready to be harvested. o A new sense of responsibility.
Copyleft © 1999 Leif Erlingsson
Updaterad 7 mars 1999