Guys! We are awesome!! We've been so busy spending time with our families and enjoying the holidays that I forgot to get us a new topic! We will start off this year with one post a month and then hopefully work our way up to more. I'd really love to have some more participation. It only takes a few minutes and I think we'll all benefit greatly from each others insights and thoughts. Love you all!
Joe picked this one. I hope you all like it.
The topic is Missionary Work!
Jacob 5:71
ReplyDeleteAnd the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ya labor with your might with me ya shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
The end is at nigh? The season speedily cometh?
I testify that this is now. Not tomorrow. Not in a month. Not even next year!! It is 2014 and this year, we (as servants of the Lord) need to be laboring with all of our might to nourish the vineyard! Each day, every second, he wants us to be looking for opportunities to share the Gospel and acting upon those. You all know that if you pray for the Spirit to help guide you to who needs to hear it, it will happen! All in the right time and the right place. If we labor with all our might with him, what will we get? Joy! Not only joy in ourselves, but we have led others to that same joy which makes us even more joyous! It is just a flawless circle of Joy!!!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
-Amber
So, this message is for those of us who have a difficult time engaging in gospel discussion with nonmembers and especially inactive and (anti) former members, who are only interested in a debate or argument. This is an Ensign message from Marvin J. Ashton, published in May 1978. I'll say no more, here are some selections of the article.
ReplyDelete"We have no time for contention. We only have time to be about our Father's business.... There never has been a time when it is more important for us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to take a stand, remain firm in our convictions, and conduct ourselves wisely under all circumstances. We must not be manipulated or enraged by those who subtly foster contention over issues of the day.... We can maintain proper relationships and avoid the frustrations of strife if we wisely apply our time and energies. Ours is to conscientiously avoid being abrasive in our presentations and declarations. We need constantly to remind ourselves that when we are unable to change the conduct of others, we will go about the task of properly governing ourselves.... Our principles or standards will not be less than they are because of the statements of the contentious. Ours is to explain our position through reason, friendly persuasion, and accurate facts. Ours is to stand firm and unyielding on the moral issues of the day and the eternal principles of the gospel, but to contend with no man or organization. Contention builds walls and puts up barriers. Love opens doors."
He also quotes 3 Nephi 11:29, 30. Then as the article closes he gives some specific steps we can take to alleviate contention and be better missionaries when someone is trying to be contentious.
"1. Pray to have the love of God in your heart. Sometimes this is a struggle, but the Spirit of the Lord can soften hard feelings and mellow a callous spirit.
2. Learn to control your tongue. There is an old maxim and an excellent one: 'Think twice before you speak and three times before you act.'
3. Don't allow emotions to take over; rather, reason together.
4. Refuse to get embroiled in the same old patterns of argument and confrontation.
5. Practice speaking in a soft, calm voice. The peaceful life can best be attained not by those who speak with a voice of "great tumultuous noise" but by those who follow the Savior's example and speak with "a still small voice of perfect mildness." (Helaman 5:30.)"
He ends with
"Let us 'Cease to contend one with another, cease to speak evil one of another' (D&C 136:23) We only have time to be about our Father's business. To these truths I leave my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen."
I am loving the comments here! I was thinking about the five things listed near the end of Joe's comment and that these things could be applied to our conversations with anyone about anything! I especially like #5: Practice speaking in a soft, clam voice. I also believe that how we treat our friends and family members and the people around us can be a form of missionary work. If others see us loving and serving each other they will fell the spirit and have a desire to have that in their lives!
ReplyDeleteEven something as simple as being an example to the people around you can be a huge form of missionary work! At my new job 16 out of 21 of us in my department are LDS. The people I work with aren't afraid to talk about the thing they did at church or other things about being a member. It's a really cool environment and we're all friends which is really cool. This catholic lady is super nice and kind ang loving, which is awesome. Our supervisor talks about getting drinks with her friends. What i love is that none of us are judging one another. Everyone is kind and doesnt have one mean thing to say. Watching middle aged mormon mothers who are stalwart follwers not duging, is a testimony to me that i am living my life correctly. Living my religion and loving everyone, even if they don't.
ReplyDeleteThese are very good points Seeca. I believe living what we believe and living others and not judging is one of the best forms of missionaru work.
ReplyDelete