Sharing Our Heavenly Father’s Plan (1987)

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hat am I to do in the current member, missionary, and media effort?

E v e r y t h i n g that's b e e n o r g a n i z e d h a s b e e n d e s i g n e d to h e l p y o u s h a r e o u r H e a v e n l y Father's plan w i t h y o u r nonmember friends a n d relatives.

Y o u h a v e a g o o d o p p o r t u n i t y right now to h e l p t h e m u n d e r s t a n d that through Jesus C h r i s t , our H e a v e n l y F a ther h a s p r o v i d e d a p l a n for f a m i l i e s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s to f i n d peace a n d h a p piness.

A s they learn about our H e a v e n l y Father's plan, y o u can give them a n opp o r t u n i t y to i n v e s t i g a t e a n d j o i n the Church.

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ow do I begin?

P r a y e r f u l l y set a d a t e i n the n e a r future by w h i c h y o u w i l l invite s o m e o n e to p a r t i c i p a t e i n the f i r s t missionary discussion.

S h a r e w i t h the s t a k e a n d f u l l - t i m e m i s s i o n a r i e s the d a t e y o u ' v e set.

Prepare nonmembers y o u k n o w especially close friends a n d relatives w h o a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n the C h u r c h — s o that w h e n t h e y feel the S p i r i t , y o u c a n i n v i t e t h e m to m e e t w i t h the missionaries.

ow can I help my close friends and relatives get to the point where I can ask them to meet with missionaries?

S h o w t h e m that y o u c a r e a b o u t t h e m s i n c e r e l y . D o s u c h t h i n g s as: • D i s c u s s the g o s p e l w i t h t h e m especially our H e a v e n l y Father's plan, J e s u s C h r i s t , p r o p h e t s , a n d the B o o k of M o r m o n . A d d i t i o n a l i d e a s m a y c o m e to y o u as y o u l o o k at the Study Guide f o r the f i r s t m i s s i o n a r y d i s c u s sion ( a s k a stake or full-time m i s s i o n a r y to s h o w y o u the Study Guide).

• S h a r e w i t h t h e m a B o o k of M o r m o n o r o t h e r C h u r c h l i t e r a t u r e a n d tell t h e m y o u r feelings about specific p a r t s of these m a t e r i a l s .

•Share w i t h them audiovisual present a t i o n s , s u c h as the Our Heavenly Father's Plan a u d i o t a p e o r v i d e o t a p e .

•Attend C h u r c h w i t h them. (The p a m p h l e t Come and See, P T M I 8 2 3 0 , c a n be u s e d to h e l p y o u e x t e n d a n i n vitation.)

• P a r t i c i p a t e w i t h t h e m at a f a m i l y home evening.

W h e n the s t a k e a n d f u l l - t i m e m i s s i o n a r ies v i s i t y o u as p a r t of this effort, t h e y w i l l help y o u by: • R e v i e w i n g the n a m e s of y o u r n o n member friends a n d relatives w h o are i n t e r e s t e d i n the C h u r c h .

• H e l p i n g y o u set a d a t e to h a v e s o m e one r e a d y to r e c e i v e the m i s s i o n a r y d i s c u s s i o n s , o r c o n f i r m i n g the d a t e y o u h a v e set.

• Discussing various plans for prepari n g f r i e n d s a n d r e l a t i v e s to accept y o u r i n v i t a t i o n to m e e t w i t h m i s s i o n aries.

•Practicing w a y s you can approach y o u r close friends a n d relatives w h o are i n t e r e s t e d i n the g o s p e l .

• G i v i n g y o u reinforcement a n d support.

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hen I feel it's right to invite them to meet with missionaries, how can I prepare them to feel the presence of the Holy Ghost?

D o such things as: •Pray w i t h them.

• B e a r y o u r t e s t i m o n y to t h e m .

•Share a spiritual experience w i t h them.

• M a k e a n a u d i o v i s u a l p r e s e n t a t i o n to t h e m , s u c h a s the Our Heavenly Father's Plan v i d e o .

•Read the scriptures w i t h them.

• D i s c u s s the g o s p e l w i t h t h e m .

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hen they feel the Holy Ghost, what should I do?

I n v i t e t h e m to m e e t w i t h the m i s s i o n a r ies o n a d e f i n i t e date a n d t i m e . T h e m i s s i o n a r i e s c a n teach a f i r s t d i s c u s s i o n . ( I f t h e y a r e n o t r e a d y f o r the d i s c u s s i o n , the v i d e o Our Heavenly Father's Plan c a n be s h o w n . ) W h e n y o u r close f r i e n d s a n d r e l a t i v e s accept the i n v i t a t i o n , be s u r e to f o l l o w u p w i t h t h e m s o that t h e y d o m e e t w i t h the m i s s i o n a r i e s .

Be c o n f i d e n t i n y o u r a p p r o a c h to y o u r friends a n d relatives. Y o u are offering the greatest gift t h e y w i l l e v e r r e c e i v e .

W h e n members approach nonmember friends and relatives w i t h w h o m they a l r e a d y h a v e a close r e l a t i o n s h i p , the friends a n d relatives are generally pleased a n d their relationship i m proves.

OW should I be involved when ^^^H meet with the I ^ ^ M I missionaries?

Continue friendshipping them during a n d after the d i s c u s s i o n s . R e i n f o r c e good feelings that t h e y h a v e d u r i n g the discussions, and help resolve any concerns they m a y have.

H e l p them b e c o m e - a n d s t a y - a c t i v e m e m b e r s of the C h u r c h , so that t h e y c a n enjoy a l l the g o o d t h i n g s a b o u t the g o s p e l that y o u enjoy.

Copyright © 1987 by Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America

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