CHRISTLIKE ATTRIBUTES

MISSIONARIES STRIVE TO DEVELOP CHRISTLIKE ATTRIBUTES

Matt 25:40

• Server your fellow men.
• Do what Christ would do.
• "As ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

3 Nephi 18:24

• "Come unto me." Be like Him. Come unto Him.
• Don't let yourself be led into temptation. Follow the Lord.

MISSIONARIES ARE COMMANDED TO SERVE GOD WITH ALL THEIR "HEART, MIGHT, MIND AND STRENGTH"

D&C 18:15-16

• Serve with everything you have.
• Even if you only bring one soul to the knowledge of the truth, it was worth it.
• How great will be your joy when you bring souls unto repentance.

D&C 88:84

• "Tarry ye, and labor diligently." And go forth among the gentiles. We need to be missionaries and be 'perfected in our ministry'.
• We need to "prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come."

OBEDIENCE IS A VITAL ATTRIBUTE IN MISSIONARY WORK

John 14:15

• Can it get any simpler than that?
• "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
• I know we all love Him. So we must ALL keep His commandments.
• Keep the commandments.

1 Nephi 3:7

• Nephi was obedient. He was courageous.
• Let's be more like Nephi and be 100% obedient.
• Sheri Dew has counseled us, "Pray and ask Heavenly Father to help you to be more obedient than you need to be."
  

PREPARING INVESTIGATORS FOR BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION 2

MISSIONARIES HELP THOSE WHO ARE CONVERTED PREPARE FOR BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, AND MEMBERSHIP IN THE LORD'S CHURCH

Exodus 20:8-12

• Keep the sabbath day holy. We need to teach our new members the importance of this.
• "wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
• It is the day of worship and rest

D&C 59:9-10

• Sunday is the day for church and partaking of the sacrament. Remembering our Savior and his great atonement.
• "Thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day."

COVENANTS AND ORDINANCES NECESSARY FOR EXALTATION ARE RECEIVED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

D&C 131

• Temple marriage and being sealed is one important ordinance necessary for exaltation.
• We need to marry in God's temple. "And if he does not, he cannot obtain it."

D&C 132:15

• Not getting married in the temple is like not getting married at all.
• If you do not marry in the temple, your marriage will only last until death do you part. In the grand scheme of things life on earth is so small. Life on earth is just a little speck on the line of eternal life. Marry for eternity.

PREPARING INVESTIGATORS FOR BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION

AS INVESTIGATORS COME UNTO CHRIST AND PREPARE TO BECOME CHURCH MEMBERS, THEY MUST UNDERSTAND THE COVENANTS ASSOCIATED WITH SAVING ORDINANCES AND BE WILLING TO MAKE AND KEEP SACRED OBLIGATIONS

D&C 20: 37

• Those who desire baptism shall be recieved by baptism into His church
• Those who come forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit shall be baptized

D&C 45:9

• "every person who belongeth to the church of Christ, shall observe to keep all the commandments and covenants of the church."
• So that means every person who is preparing to become a member of the church and be baptized needs to keep all the commandments too if they want to be baptized and become a member of the church.
  

USING TIME WISELY TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST

FINDING PEOPLE TO TEACH IS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR MISSIONARIES AND CHURCH MEMBERS

D&C 123:12

• There are people out there, everywhere, who don't know the truth, who have never even heard the truth.
• It is our duty, our privilege, to go out and find them.
  
• They are "kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." We need to find them!

EFFECTIVE PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, AND TIME MANAGEMENT HELP FOCUS MISSIONARY EFFORTS AND INCREASE SUCCESS

D&C 109:8

• "Organize yourself: prepare every needful thing, establish a house.. a house of order, a house of God."
• Being organized is such an important thing! If you are not organized things become stressful and the Spirit is harder to find in a messy place :)
  

PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PREPARATION

PROSPECTIVE MISSIONARIES SHOULD PREPARE FOR THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEMANDS OF A FULL-TIME MISSION

D&C 4:2

• Missionaries need to prepare physically so they can be ready for any type of service that will be required of them.
• "See that ye serve Him with all your might, mind and strength." Prepare yourself that ye may be ready to serve Him in whatever He calls you to do.

D&C 88: 124

• To be a missionary you need to be physically stong and prepared.
• You need to have self control, not sleeping in or being idle.
• Go to bed early and arise early, "That your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." That's especially important on the mission so that you can be in tune and ready to teach.

THERE ARE HONORABLE ALTERNATIVES TO FULL-TIME MISSIONARY SERVICE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS EXCUSED BY PRIESTHOOD LEADERS BECAUSE OF THEIR PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCE

• Pres. Hinckley: "There are other areas where those with serious limitations may work and have a satisfying experience. And the Lord will bless them for what they are able to do."
• Richard G. Scott: "..For you there are other ways to render meaningful service compatible with your condition."
  

FAITH AND CONVERSION 2

FAITH LEADS TO CONVERSION

2 NEPHI 31:19-20

• Have hope. Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ.
• If you endure to the end you will have eternal life. Have faith to endure to the end. Have faith to have eternal life.

Alma 32: 41

• Faith. "if ye will nourish the word.."
• Nourish the word with your faith. Have patience. It will spring up to everlasting life.

CONVERSION INCLUDES REPENTANCE, BAPTISM, AND THE RECEPTION OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST

Matt 3:16

• The dove is the symbol of the Holy Ghost
• When you are baptized and confirmed you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

John 3:5

• Baptism is the first step that leads us to eternal life.
• "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
  

FAITH AND CONVERSION

FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH

1 Nephi 7:12

• "Wherefore let us be faithful to Him."
• We must exercise faith in Jesus Christ. If we have enough faith His will will be done, always.

2 Nephi 9:23

• We all need to repent and come unto Him.
• To be baptized we must repent. Repenting requires faith that we can be forgiven. We must love and trust our Lord.
  
• "Having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel."

FAITH CAN INCREASE

Jacob 4:6

• We all can recieve our own spiritual witness. We can recieve personal revelation.
• "Having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken."
• Our faith can, does, and will continue to grow as we have these witnesses. We can have enough faith to that the very trees obey us, according to the will of our Father.
  

THE RESTORATION AND THE COMING FORTH OF NEW SCRIPTURES 2

THE BOOK OF MORMON HELPS BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST

1 Nephi 6:4

• We need to come closer to Christ.
• Christ wants us to com unto God
• "that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham."

• The Book of Mormon helps bring people to Christ in many ways. In this scripture from the Book of Mormon Christ himself is speaking, even telling men to come unto God.
• "For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham."

1 Nephi 19:18

• Nephi is also trying to 'persuade' them.
• "I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer."

2 Nephi 25:23

• The word 'persuade' is used again in this scripture. "to persuade our children.. to beleive in Christ."
• Believe in Christ. "Labor diligently" so that we may 'persuade' others to believe in Christ with us.

THE BOOK OF MORMON IS CONVINCING EVIDENCE OT THE RESTORATION

1 Nephi 13:40

• These 'plain and precious things' have been taken from the earth (apostasy) and now through Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon we have them back agian restored on earth.
• "The lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world."

D&C 20:8-12

• Wow. That sums it all up right there. Right from the first verse I felt the Spirit really strong.
• "And gave him power from on high." How awesome is that?
• Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon and through him this church was restored again to the earth, bringing the world out of apostasy.
• He was blessed with the power. Power from on high. And through revelation, even personal revelation, we can know that that is true and that the Book of Mormon is true, that a true prophet who holds the keys restored the church. We can know that.

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

Acts 3:20-21

• Heavenly Father sent His son Jesus Christ, and He will send Him again.
• The prophets have testified of it and they still do today.
• Jesus is our teacher, our Savior, our brother.

D&C 1:30

• This church was brought out of 'Obscurity and out of darkness'
  
• Those who the Lord called had the 'power to lay the foundation of this church'.
  

The Restoration and the coming forth of new scripture

GOD CALLED JOSEPH SMITH TO BE THE PROPHET OF THE RESTORATION

D&C 136:37

• Jesus Christ brought forth His work. So did Joseph Smith
• "Ye shall behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words."

JS History 1:17

• Joseph Smith was literally called by God.
• In a grove of trees God the Father and His son appeared to Joseph Smith in person. "This is my beloved son. Hear Him!"

JOSEPH SMITH TRANSLATED THE BOOK OF MORMON AND BROUGHT FORTH OTHER SCRIPTURES BY THE GIFT AND POWER OF GOD

1 Nephi 13:39-40

• "I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them."
• "The records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true."

2 Nephi 1:29

• God gave Joseph Smith that power, the power to translate.
• "My servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God by the power of God, the Book of Mormon."
  

PROPHETS AND APOSTASY 2

THE REJECTION OF THE SAVIOR, HIS TEACHINGS, AND PRIESTHOOD AUTHORITY RESULTED IN THE APOSTASY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

Matt 24:24

• There are false prophets even in the world today. We must not be fooled.
• So great is their deceitfulness that, "If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Acts 20:29-30

• There will be many who will and have tried to decieve and they have been succuessfull. Do not let them be successfull in you.
• Men will, "Speak perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Don't be deceived.

THE EUROPEAN REFORMATION HELPED PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE FINAL RESTORATION

Joel 2:28-29

• He will pour out His spirit.
• And show many signs, "I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
  

PROPHETS AND APOSTASY

THE LORD PROVIDES TRUTH, PRIESTHOOD AUTHORITY, ORDINANCES, AND ORGANIZATION THROUGH HIS PROPHETS

Alma 12:27-30

• Like angels, prophets speak with the voice of God
• Heavenly Father speaks through them and He makes things known unto us through the prophets according to our faith repentance

Matt 16:18-19

• To the prophets are given unto them "the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
• And what they say on earth, shall also be bound in heaven. They speak from God.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY THERE HAS BEEN A RECURRING PATTERN OF APOSTASY AND RESTORATION

2 Thesalonians 2:1-3

• The church fell through (scripture mastery)
• There have been many 'falling aways' before in the past. This is called an apostasy.

2 Nephi 25:17

• After a fallen state (apostasy) the Lord will restore His people for a second time.
• Then, my favorite part of the scripture, "He will proceed to do a marvelous work and wonder among the children of men."
  

Heavenly Father's plan 2

HEAVENLY FATHER PREPARED DEGREES OF GLORY FOR HIS CHILDREN

John 14: 2

• Seek to inherit the Celestial kingdom.
• The Lord has prepared us mansions on high. Let us inherit them.

D&C 98: 18

• Not only will we be blessed with mansions on high, we will dwell where God dwells.
• It is in our Father's house that our mansions have been prepared for us. So "Let not your hearts be troubled."

Heavenly Father's plan

THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES OF SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL DEATH

2 Nephi 9: 10-13

• "Oh how great the goodness of our God."... "Oh how great the plan of our God."
• Heavenly Father created a plan that will prepare a way for us to be resurrected and reunited with our bodies. And to escape the evil monster hell and death.

D&C 93:33

• I'm not really sure what this means but I think it is talking about our bodies and our spirits. (element and spirit)
• When the spirit and element are connected we will receive a "fullness of joy."
  

Heavenly Father's plan

THERE ARE THREE STAGES OF HEAVENLY FATHER'S PLAN: PREMORTAL, MORTAL, AND POSTMORTAL

Jeremiah 1: 5

• Heavenly Father knew us before the womb becuse we had a life before this one. We had a life with Him.
• Heavenly Father sent us to earth. How cool is it to know that before he sent us, "formed thee in the belly," he "sanctified thee." He has a plan for us. We need to live righteously in this life so we can fulfill his plan and return to him after this life.

Alma 34: 32

• Like I said above, "This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God." This is what this life is for. It's our test.
  
• "This life is the day for men to perform their labors." We must do our part. The very best of our part. We chose to come to earth, we need to do our part so we can return home to Him. To pass our test on earth!

Alma 12:25

• The Savior was resurrected so that we may be forgiven of our earthly sins and return home to our Father.
  
• The resurrection is essential to God's 3 stage plan. It is His plan. We will be resurrected, reunited with our bodies, and dwell with our Father above after this life.

JESUS CHRIST IS CENTRAL TO HEAVENLY FATHER'S PLAN

Moses 6: 62-63

• Heavenly Father's plan, the plan of salvation, comes through our Savior Jesus Christ. "Through the blood of mine only begotten."
• Jesus Christ is Heavenly Father's plan for us.

Abraham 3: 22-26

• We are sent here to prove that we will keep God's commandments
• If we do what we are supposed to do here, we will move on to our next estate. "they who keep their first estate shall be added upon."
  

We learn to teach "By study and also by faith," Part 2

WE OBTAIN THE WORD FAITH

Romans 10:17
D&C 42:14

• "And the spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith." Have faith. With faith ye can obtain the word. Through the word, you can obtain faith.
• Have faith in the word. You faith will grow. If you have faith, you may have the word.

D&C 88: 118

• If ye have faith, ye can learn. Seek learning by faith.
  
• Teach one another of wisdom. Learn and teach by faith. Seek good things to learn wisdom from. If you have faith you can learn good wisdom.

GOD PROMISES THE HOLY GHOST TO THOSE WHO TREASURE UP HIS WORD

Alma 17: 2-3

• The sons of Mosiah had fasted and prayed, because of that and their faithfulness they were blessed with the spirit of prophecy.
• They searched and studied the scriptures diligently. "They were men of sound understanding." We can be too if we are diligent and faithful, treasuring up the word.
  

We learn to teach "By study and also by faith," Part 2

BEARING TESTIMONY INVITES THE SPIRIT INTO OUR TEACHING

D&C 100:5-8

• Like it says in the manuel, sharing your testimony often is one of the most powerful ways of inviting the Spirit and helping others feel the Spirit.
• Don't be afraid to share your testimony. The Spirit will guide you.
• I used to be terrified of sharing my testimony. I knew I had one, but I didn't think I would be able to put it in words. I have a hard time saying what I feel or what is in my mind and thoughts. But I know that if I share with the Spirit those thoughts and feelings will come out as needed to help others in the way needed.
• I love this scripture so much. I have no fear when I think of what this scripture says. I especially like the part that says if you speak the thoughts He puts in your heart, "you shall not be confounded before men." And that after you say what you say and are not confounded "the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say."

2 Nephi 33:1

• Not only will you not be confounded before men but the Holy Host will carry what you say "unto the hearts lof the children of men."
• So where can you go wrong?
• Fear not, go forth and teach His gospel. Let the spirit guide you. Share your testimony, share the spirit.
  

WE LEARN TO TEACH "BY STUDY AND ALSO BY FAITH," PART 1

We obtain the word by study and by preparing to teach the restored gospel

D&C 88:118

• Like the manual says, certain blessings are only to be found in the scriptures
• We must study the scriptures, seek those blessings and be diligent
• Read the scriptures more

D&C 109:7

• It must be important if it is said again, almost word for word. "Teach one another words of wisdom; yeah, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom.."
• Read the scriptures more. Seek wisdom
• Not only do we seek wisdom we teach one another

SCRIPTURE STUDY METHODS AND STRATEGIES

1. Look for principles
2. Mark scriptures
3. use the study aids in the scriptures
4. Ask questions relating to the text
5. Notice questions asked in the scriptures
6. Look for definitions of unfamiliar words or phrases
7. Notice and learn about symbols
8. Insert you name
9. Notice scripture lists
10. Memorize key scriptures
11. Ponder and pray about specific passages
    

WE LEARN TO TEACH "BY STUDY AND ALSO BY FAITH," PART 1

Supporting scriptures and statements

1 Nephi 11:1

• The Lord knows our desires. We need to ask Him. He is just waiting for us to ask.
• Believe that the Lord will reveal unto us. "Ask and ye shall receive." If we pray and ponder our prayers may be answered. Even through revelation
  

D&C 19:38

• "Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you." Prepare yourself for that spirit. What an awesome promise. "I will pour out my Spirit upon you."
• Pray always and ponder always.. Have the spirit always.
• 
  

We must seek to obtain the word

D&C 11:21

• If we do not ask of Him we may fall, we need Him, we need to be lifted.
• If we do not seek our Lord we may not be on the right path. Maybe our deeds will be come evil. We cannot let this happen!
• Stay close to our Savior. Ask of Him. Seek Him. Follow Him. He is there with His hand out, waiting for us to reach for Him.

D&C 84: 85

• This is one of my favorite scriptures. It give me such comfort. "Neither take ye thought beforehand."
• I am always nervous about the things I should say, especially concerning the gospel to those who need to hear it. I get so scared that I might say the wrong thing, or might not say something that I should say. Then I remember this scripture. And I feel comforted. The spirit will guide us. We need not worry. Never. If we are living righteously and seeking for good and Him, we will be blessed with the spirit. And blessed in doing and giving and saying good.
  

TEACHING BY THE SPIRIT 2

Missionaries can invite the Holy Ghost into their teaching

D&C 84:62

• It is our job to teach this gospel unto all the world.
• "You, as the teacher, must do all in your power to prepare the hearts of men so the Spirit can teach." Elder Cook
• We need to help prepare others so that they may receive the fullness of this gospel too. We cannot sit back, we need to get to work. Our brethren are out there.

D&C 100:7-8

• "When the Spirit touches the heart, hearts are changed." Hearts are changed. By the Spirit we may know everything there is to know of truth.
• We need to go out, share the Spirit, and change hearts through the Holy Ghost.

Missionaries should practice methods of teaching that edify

Romans 14:19

• We need to teach in a way that edifies.
• My favorite part of this scripture is "follow after things which make for peace." So simple. Peace.
  
• "Personal testimony is the factor which turns people around in their living as they come into this Church." This is one very important method in teaching. Share your testimony. Personal testimonies have an amazing power and spirit that is so strong and so real it is hard to ever be denied. Testimonies are real.

D&C 50:13-14

• "Preach my gospel." That's what this is all about. Teach by the comforter.
  
• Here are some edifying teaching methods that the Savior used:

Pray
Use the scriptures
Use music
Share stories and examples
Use objects and pictures
Ask questions
Live the commandments
Expound
Use events

Every one of these methods can invite the influence of the spirit. I know this to be true. If our Lord Jesus Christ used these methods, it must be so.

TEACHING BY THE SPIRIT

Personal preparation and worthiness are necessary to teach by the spirit

Alma 5:46

• "The Lord will bless prepared and worthy missionaries with His spirit." The first sentence says it all.
• Some ways we can prepare ourselves for things, whether it be a mission or anything else, are by fasting and praying. Fast and prayer can help us find answers and manifestations of the truth. And answers will help us grow and be better prepared.

Moroni 10:4-5

• By the power of the Holy Ghost you will know the truth of all things.
  
• "If you prepare spiritually, the Holy Ghost will help you know what to do and say in your teaching." This is such a great comfort to me. I don't know about anyone else, but I am terrified to teach the gospel. I am soo excited to, but at the same time terrified. What if I say the wrong thing or cause the investigator to understand incorrectly and then he stops believing. Because of me. Well I know that by the power of the Holy Ghost I can say what needs to be said, and the listener will understand how he needs to understand. I am not speaking the spirit is speaking. I hope I can be prepared and worthy enough for that.