I began this post right after reading about a new survey done objectively about members of the Church. It seemed well done and accurately as possible it presented results that for the most part were encouraging and positive in presenting who we are. We have had the great opportunity to make friends here in Brasil who know very little or nothing about the Church. Usually they know nothing about us as we are serving in areas where the Church is new and congregations are small. In presenting a copy of the Book of Mormon to these people who are not members of the Church as we say our goodbyes to them, they have been ecstatic about the gift, removing it from the ribbon and wrapping and opening it. Commitments to read it were the general result. Since we are not called to be proselytizing missionaries here, we leave them with our testimony written inside and our prayer that when they see those young men and women two-by-two at their door or in their neighborhood to please welcome them to hear more.
Now, Elder Perry asks us to use these ideas on our own:
- Be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ.
- Be righteous examples to others.
- Speak up about the Church when people ask.
- Remember when we are hesitant that “. . . perfect love casteth out fear.”
- Use the internet and the social media to reach out and share our religious beliefs.
- In speaking about the Church, don’t try to make it sound better than it is.
Now is the day to follow this advice and counsel. It is the day that the world is being challenged to know about the Savior and to bring their lives into line with His teachings by receiving the ordinances and doctrines.
We honor Elder Perry for this reminder to remember our covenants in this matter daily.
1 comment:
Elder Perry expressed it so well. "What we have (in our church doctrine & teachings) is a pearl of great price."
With our medical issue helpers, our neighbors, our park friends where we go to walk, the people who have waited on us in the post office, hair dresser, barber, service station helpers, we feel like they have gotten to know us over the past two years and we them. It was easy and flowed very smoothly to share our testimony with them, give them a Book of Mormon and to tell them that we are sharing with them the greatest gift we could give to them as our parting gift to our Brasilian friends. We found that as Elder Perry stated in his remarks, "Perfect love, casteth out fear." "There is no fear in love, love God and our neighbors." We left them with a challenge to read and then when they see the young Elders and Sisters at the door or on the streets to invite them in to answer their questions and share a message with them.
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