Sunday, December 09, 2007
Why Missionary Work Is So Important
A couple of weeks ago, one of the missionaries I've been meeting with jokingly suggested that I prepare a Sacrament meeting talk. For those of you not familiar with the LDS Church, the main gathering of the ward (congregation) each week is called the Sacrament meeting. One element of the meeting is two members of the ward being asked to give talks (speeches) regarding an assigned topic. Once given the topic, the person is free to take the talk in whatever direction they see fit. Partially to see if I could do it, partially as a thank you to the missionaries, I decided to write a hypothetical talk regarding "why missionary work is so important" (download PDF). Please let me know what you think if you're so inclined.
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3 comments:
Received via email:
This is an excellent talk--it has the maturity of a talk someone would give having been in the Church 14 years, except having the conversion experience fresh in her/his mind.
Here are some minor comments, in no particular order:
On conversion, one of my favorite scriptures is in Mosiah 27, where Alma the Younger has been visited by an angel, and he drops unconscious from astonishment. When he wakes up, he explains his change of heart. The key scriptures start in verse 24. My favorite phrase is that we must become "new creatures" (v. 26). It's another way of saying you have been born again (v. 25). But since conversion is a lifelong experience, you can become a new creature every day.
You state a couple of times that we should work on "building personal testimonies." What is the best way to build your own testimony? I think it is to have personal spiritual experiences. When you go through rough patches, these are the experiences that you can fall back on to keep going. How do you have personal spiritual experiences? The usual answers: pray, read the scriptures, bear testimony, etc. I think that's why those are emphasized so much.
You make lots of good points about how one can be a missionary without formal proselyting. It is good not to try to force anything on anyone. It sometimes helps to pray for experiences, and to pray to be ready for experiences, and to pray to recognize opportunities. If God knows you want such experiences, he is more likely to steer them toward you. Or perhaps they are always there, but we need our minds opened a little more to recognize them.
Some practical comments on discussing the church. You mention that it can be awkward to share, so one should share the joy that you experience. I compare it to doing something unusual that others, at the least, are curious about, and maybe even have heard negative things. For example, sometimes people hear that I practice yoga. "Why would you ever do that?" is a frequent inquiry to me (outside California, that is). I usually answer that I'm stronger, more flexible, and more relaxed. So what's the downside? I would guess that's similar to the feelings others have about the LDS Church. There's so much that's great about it, and you can share one thing that you like a lot: "I like how much it emphasizes the family." "I like how much meaning it brings to my life." And so on.
Another thing LDS members can do is to know how to speak in regular religious language, and not LDS church language. Learn to say "congregation" instead of "ward," and "worship services" instead of "sacrament meeting," to members of other faiths. You don't want to spend time teaching jargon first, and doctrine later. It should be the reverse. (In missionary language, this is called "building on common beliefs.")
I hope this helps. Thanks for sharing your hypothetical talk.
Another received via email:
The most illuminating, and surprising, part of the talk concerned your own experience with your wife's family. You describe a dynamic I had not considered: that if they had too-often mentioned the church, or if they had ever pressured you into investigating, you probably would have avoided it simply to maintain your independence. That's a key insight. I've heard so many stories to the contrary, where someone confronts a long-time nonmember spouse, resulting in a sudden/miraculous conversion which presumably could have taken place years earlier. I think your story is very important, both to the friends and the family of folks like yourself. I wish you would expand on that episode to the degree you feel comfortable saying more about it.
Comment left on my blog but contained my first name. Including as-is (except changing my name to my initials).
Hard to believe you are already talking about missionary work. As I read through your essay, a few things come to mind. First, I sense your excitement for deciding to join the LDS Church. I agree with an earlier comment that describes your talk as one that is mature. I would go a step further by saying that it sounds like an essay I would read from a long time member and apologist--in other words, I'm impressed by the research and depth of knowledge you have expanded on.
However, I am disappointed as well. I think your excitement has made you overlook some basic questions. Do you really understand the doctrine of the Restoration? What does it mean to have a personal testimony? I am particularly frightened by your reference to Elder Ballard and his statement that personal testimony is the foundation of the LDS faith. By the way, I guess this is true as long as it falls in line with all church teachings. Once you deviate from the teachings, then your testimony is nothing more than gross error. Also, you quote him as saying that, "Testimony – real testimony, born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost – changes lives.” What in the world is "real testimony" and what does it mean to be born of the Spirit and confirmed by the Holy Ghost? How in the world you determine this. Wait, I'm not sure if this talk came from General Conference or not. If it did, man am I scared. You ever hear of the Branch Davidians led by David Koresh. His teaching and philosophy was built on personal testimony, but I guess because he defied the U.S. and died a fiery death, his testimony/church and revelations were not "real."
GNP, I hate to tell you this, but you are starting to drink the kool-aid. Look, I am happy you've joined the church and want I want to continue to support you. But I also think it's important to nudge you when it's appropriate--this entry, I believe was that time. Missionary works suggest you believe everything about this church to be true! Either you know everything there is to know about the church (burning the midnight oil huh?) and have been quiet about it or you know enough to be dangerous. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would have thought you were in the latter camp. If not, and If you're ready to declare the importance of missionary work, then you've bought into everything LDS faith has to offer including. That also means you need to be open to discuss all criticism that is, unfortunately, always dismissed as anti-mormon rhetoric. Do you remember what someone said during Priesthood last Sunday? Let me refresh your memory. "People who question the leaders of the church are already in apostasy." Wow! That brings me back full circle to the essence of your essay: personal testimony. President Hinckley is right when he said in General Conference that the entire LDS faith rests solely on the account of Joseph Smith. I challenge you to review those accounts for yourself. Stop trusting your feelings and look at the evidence. Did Christianity really need to be restored? Is there enough evidence about the First Vision that enables you to conclude without a reasonable doubt that what Joseph Smith said is true. If so, cannot the same logic be used by anyone claiming to have visions and direct communication with God (i.e. David Koresh). Sorry, I don't mean to use a bad example, but I had to be a bit extreme here to make my point: faith doesn't mean we have to throw away all rational thinking.
I think that's one reason I shy away from telling people what I believe. I think only God knows when the right time is for Him to reveal himself to someone. Sometimes it's subtle and other times it comes my miracle. Whatever the case, I leave those thing up to Him. My job is to live my life as a Christian through example. If someone asks, I will share with them what I believe, but I don't see that as missionary work--I leave the conversion business up to God.
The most important point to understand is the inner turmoil anyone of any faith must deal with as they open their minds to the evidence of their religion. Notice I say religion and not faith. Take, for example, the young child during sacrament meeting on a fast Sunday. Even at a young age they are encouraged to bear their testimony in front of the congregation, a collection of friends and family members proclaiming the truth of the Gospel. Again, I cringe when I hear this coming from a 7 and 8 year old, sometimes younger who says that, "He knows the Church is true, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the book of Mormon is true." Accompanying these words were strong feelings and experiences. If he can no longer believe his own experiences, nor what he has taught and proclaimed to mankind, he will have to accept that he made a grievous mistake--a mistake of the greatest magnitude. Why? All because of personal testimony, the trusting of feelings and emotions. Can you see why I am nudging you?
In any case, you are a brother and I love you no matter what. I respect your decision and I welcome your insight. It helps me think about why I believe what I do and why it is necessary to confront people when I have genuine questions and concerns.
Good night and good luck.
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