Rivers Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 I have was called as a ward missionary recently and I am giving a talk in church soon. My topic is "missionary work and the Book of Mormon" I understand that the Book of Mormon is supposed to be the most valuable tool for missionary work, but it didn't seem to be all that effective when I served a mission. From my my experience, the best missionary tools were our teachings about the family, the plan of salvation, and social conversion.Maybe I just didn't know how to use the Book of Mormon the right way. So I don't feel qualified to tell people how to use the Book of Mormon in doing missionary work. Anybody have any advice for what to include in my talk?
CV75 Posted November 4, 2011 Posted November 4, 2011 Maybe I just didn't know how to use the Book of Mormon the right way. So I don't feel qualified to tell people how to use the Book of Mormon in doing missionary work.Anybody have any advice for what to include in my talk?Hopefully you have time to give out one or more copies and see how that stimulates a discussion about the Church.
Mariner Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 I have was called as a ward missionary recently and I am giving a talk in church soon. My topic is "missionary work and the Book of Mormon"From my my experience, the best missionary tools were our teachings about the family, the plan of salvation, and social conversion.Maybe I just didn't know how to use the Book of Mormon the right way. So I don't feel qualified to tell people how to use the Book of Mormon in doing missionary work.Anybody have any advice for what to include in my talk?I totally agree with you. In my experience, the Book of Mormon is a "tool" best left in the bag, along with the other uniquely LDS scriptures.
altersteve Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 The Book of Mormon is the guidebook to how I live my life. That, to me, is how it's the greatest tool for a missionary.
mfbukowski Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 I don't understand any of you.This church is based on personal revelation. Who would possibly believe in gold plates and all that crazy stuff without Moroni 10:4-5?No BOM, no church. Maybe that's why we have retention problems. None of the "converts" have testimonies because the missionaries don't care if they do or not.Family values are nice but not what is going to get you to do your home teaching or get out of bed to prepare and teach a lesson. 4
cdowis Posted November 7, 2011 Posted November 7, 2011 (edited) I remember when I went on my mission many decades ago, I was greatly influenced by a book which showed how to use the BOM as a missionary too, "The Book of Mormon, Key to Conversion", by Pearson. I remember using the principles in a discussion with a room full of JW's. I showed, for example, how the BOM showed that the Lord made a priesthood calling through a prophet.They nodded their heads, yes, that was what the BOM taught. I then showed how the Bible taught the identical teaching. Baptism, and other doctrines can be shown in the BOM and then show how it fits with the Bible itself. The two books testify for each other.How can we know that JS was a true prophet? Find out if the BOM is true. Don't argue about various doctrines, but simply show what the BOM teaches, find out if it is true scripture, and THEN you can know if JS taught correct doctrines as a prophet. It is indeed the "Key to Conversion" Edited November 7, 2011 by cdowis
Avatar4321 Posted November 7, 2011 Posted November 7, 2011 (edited) I gained my testimony of Joseph Smith and through that the Book of Mormon.But my one missionary success was through the Book of Mormon. Honestly, I don't know that I did that much. Just encouraged her to read 3 Nephi 11. And the Lord and the full time Elders did the rest.I think there is probably a reason that the Lord has said:55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—58 That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.(D&C 84:54-58)I think it might be wise if we started taking this more seriously and stopped being afraid to use the Book of Mormon to invite people to Christ. It may not be as effective as we like immediately, but those who recieve a testimony of the Book of Mormon become solid members. Edited November 7, 2011 by Avatar4321
ERayR Posted November 7, 2011 Posted November 7, 2011 I have was called as a ward missionary recently and I am giving a talk in church soon. My topic is "missionary work and the Book of Mormon"I understand that the Book of Mormon is supposed to be the most valuable tool for missionary work, but it didn't seem to be all that effective when I served a mission. From my my experience, the best missionary tools were our teachings about the family, the plan of salvation, and social conversion.Maybe I just didn't know how to use the Book of Mormon the right way. So I don't feel qualified to tell people how to use the Book of Mormon in doing missionary work.Anybody have any advice for what to include in my talk?Moroni 10: 3-7
mfbukowski Posted November 7, 2011 Posted November 7, 2011 Moroni 10: 3-7AND Alma 32.That's the whole gospel in 1 chapter and 4 verses.
Hamba Tuhan Posted November 7, 2011 Posted November 7, 2011 I am a disciple of Jesus Christ because of the Book of Mormon. I had read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation before ever reading the BofM. It made a good deal of sense in my head, and I liked the teachings, but I still didn't know the Saviour. I didn't really understand the Atonement...or how to access it. Then, in year 12, I read the Book of Mormon, and everything changed. What had formerly made sense in my head took up residence in my heart and started to grow exponentially. I experienced the power of Christ to change my life and to lift the burden of my sins. I became a different person--different personality, different desires and aspirations, different in my core values.Simply put, the book works. It brings people to Christ, and it provides them a detailed guide for successfully living 'after the manner of happiness.' It invites the Holy Ghost into the lives of those who regularly read from its pages. It converts people and their lives. And, because it works, I know it came from God. 2
Fly Fisherman Posted November 7, 2011 Posted November 7, 2011 (edited) Using the BOM in missionary work is not just for those receiving the message. The missionaries themselves can learn a lot about how to be a good missionary from Ammon's efforts, in Alma 17: http://lds.org/scrip...lma/17?lang=eng . How service can win the hearts of people and prepare them to receive the message. And Alma 18: http://lds.org/scrip...lma/18?lang=eng , building upon the beliefs of others to help them see the message. Edited November 7, 2011 by Fly Fisherman
Rivers Posted November 7, 2011 Author Posted November 7, 2011 This is all great stuff to include in my talk. Thank you.
orion88 Posted November 8, 2011 Posted November 8, 2011 I am a disciple of Jesus Christ because of the Book of Mormon. I had read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation before ever reading the BofM. It made a good deal of sense in my head, and I liked the teachings, but I still didn't know the Saviour. I didn't really understand the Atonement...or how to access it. Then, in year 12, I read the Book of Mormon, and everything changed.You make a very strange comment about still not knowing the Saviour after readingthe Bible --- considering that one learns much more of Jesus Christ from the Bible thanfrom the Book of Mormon. If you didn't understand the Atonement after reading theBible then you have a spiritual problem.
altersteve Posted November 8, 2011 Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) You make a very strange comment about still not knowing the Saviour after readingthe Bible --- considering that one learns much more of Jesus Christ from the Bible thanfrom the Book of Mormon. If you didn't understand the Atonement after reading theBible then you have a spiritual problem.That's completely uncalled for. If the Book of Mormon is true, and if its claim to contain the fullness of the gospel is true, then one does in fact learn more about the Savior and the Atonement from it than from the Bible. Edited November 8, 2011 by altersteve 1
ldsfaqs Posted November 8, 2011 Posted November 8, 2011 Also, isn't there a STAT which states that the BOM alone mentions Christ actually more than the entire Bible?
altersteve Posted November 8, 2011 Posted November 8, 2011 Also, isn't there a STAT which states that the BOM alone mentions Christ actually more than the entire Bible?Yes, He is mentioned 2.7 times per verse on average, which is 25% more times than the Bible does.
diglot Posted November 8, 2011 Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) [nevermind Edited November 8, 2011 by diglot
BCSpace Posted November 8, 2011 Posted November 8, 2011 If you didn't understand the Atonement after reading theBible then you have a spiritual problem.That's completely uncalled for. If the Book of Mormon is true, and if its claim to contain the fullness of the gospel is true, then one does in fact learn more about the Savior and the Atonement from it than from the Bible. I've found the BoM descriptions of faith, mercy vs. justice, and the resurrection etc. to be so superior that I honestly don't believe one can truly understand the Atonement without the BoM.
mfbukowski Posted November 8, 2011 Posted November 8, 2011 You make a very strange comment about still not knowing the Saviour after readingthe Bible --- considering that one learns much more of Jesus Christ from the Bible thanfrom the Book of Mormon. If you didn't understand the Atonement after reading theBible then you have a spiritual problem.Such arrogance! You are clearly a true "Christian". I want to be just like you. 1
Hamba Tuhan Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 If you didn't understand the Atonement after reading the Bible then you have a spiritual problem.Yes, I did have a spiritual problem. Thankfully, God is a God of mercy, and He provided me with another witness to His great plan for my salvation. Problem solved. 3
mfbukowski Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 Yes, I did have a spiritual problem. Thankfully, God is a God of mercy, and He provided me with another witness to His great plan for my salvation. Problem solved.Dang, you're good. Love your posts- every dang one!
Sandy Petersen Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 well I can't speak for others' experiences, but on my mission (75-77) I learned that IF I could get an investigator to read any significant portion of the Book of Mormon and then IF that investigator prayed about the truth of it, every single time that investigator told me to my face that he or she knew the Book of Mormon was true. (Of course not all of them would read it, and not all of them would pray.)Despite this spiritual witness, these people did not all join the church - Word of Wisdom problems, family relations, etc. kept many from baptism. But those who tried the promise agreed that the Book of Mormon was a true book.At least it boosted my own testimony when I saw Moroni's promise work as advertised 100% of the time. One sad case was a college girl who read the Book of Mormon, prayed about it, received a firm witness of its truth, and then decided to join the Reorganized Church instead. Well, at least the book's promise worked. I wonder what she feels now that the Community of Christ has ditched the BoM?FWIW, my mission was in the California Los Angeles.
diglot Posted November 9, 2011 Posted November 9, 2011 well I can't speak for others' experiences, but on my mission (75-77) I learned that IF I could get an investigator to read any significant portion of the Book of Mormon and then IF that investigator prayed about the truth of it, every single time that investigator told me to my face that he or she knew the Book of Mormon was true. (Of course not all of them would read it, and not all of them would pray.)What do you mean when you say the investigators "knew the Book of Mormon was true"? Are you saying that they thought the teaching contained therein was true? Or that they thought the book contained historically accurate events and was revealed to Joseph Smith by Moroni? Or something else?
Rivers Posted November 9, 2011 Author Posted November 9, 2011 well I can't speak for others' experiences, but on my mission (75-77) I learned that IF I could get an investigator to read any significant portion of the Book of Mormon and then IF that investigator prayed about the truth of it, every single time that investigator told me to my face that he or she knew the Book of Mormon was true. (Of course not all of them would read it, and not all of them would pray.)Despite this spiritual witness, these people did not all join the church - Word of Wisdom problems, family relations, etc. kept many from baptism. But those who tried the promise agreed that the Book of Mormon was a true book.At least it boosted my own testimony when I saw Moroni's promise work as advertised 100% of the time. One sad case was a college girl who read the Book of Mormon, prayed about it, received a firm witness of its truth, and then decided to join the Reorganized Church instead. Well, at least the book's promise worked. I wonder what she feels now that the Community of Christ has ditched the BoM?FWIW, my mission was in the California Los Angeles.That's awesome. I just had a really hard time getting people to do sincerely follow Moroni's promise.
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