Old Missionary Handbook

[savedbygrace]

I recetly came across an old missionary handbook. In it one of the directions to the missionaries with regard to inquireres was "create the need for a prophet" any thoughts?

[Kenngo1969]

The instruction to missionaries could have been better phrased, perhaps (and I'm absolutely sure you would not have left out any needed context), but I agree with the intent. We do need prophets today, just as much (if not more than) people did anciently, and I do believe that potential converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be so taught. Do you disagree?

[Rivers]

My mission president was a business consultant and would tell us, "no need no sell."

[Rivers]

Duplicate

Edited January 26, 2013 by Rivers

[go_utes01]

The instruction to missionaries could have been better phrased, perhaps (and I'm absolutely sure you would not have left out any needed context), but I agree with the intent. We do need prophets today, just as much (if not more than) people did anciently, and I do believe that potential converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be so taught. Do you disagree?

I agree - help the investigator understand the need for prophets/revelation to lead and guide the modern Church - just as in the ancient Church. Seems fine to me.

[savedbygrace]

In the context of bringing people to Christ, specifically through the belief in a restoration of all things, I would have thought that create the need for a saviour would be the focus. As with thse case of the apostles of old, who proclaimed the good news of salvation through Christ crucified, our only high priest who has fulfilled all things and who is the one whom the prophets pointed towards.

[Calm]

Most investigators in the past were likely Christians already and thus already aware of the need for a saviour. However, due to certain teachings the understanding that one still needs prophets to point towards Christ has been lost by many and thus needs to be "created" for them.

I assume that the old missionary handbook has something to say about Christ as well.

[bluebell]

In the context of bringing people to Christ, specifically through the belief in a restoration of all things, I would have thought that create the need for a saviour would be the focus. As with thse case of the apostles of old, who proclaimed the good news of salvation through Christ crucified, our only high priest who has fulfilled all things and who is the one whom the prophets pointed towards.

Having served a mission in Northern California, i can honestly say that I only taught three people during the whole 18 months that did not already believe in the need for a Savior. Of those, all but maybe one or two of the hundreds of people i got to speak to about the gospel of Jesus Christ (as i believe it to be) had no belief in the need for prophets though.

[Kenngo1969]

In the context of bringing people to Christ, specifically through the belief in a restoration of all things, I would have thought that create the need for a saviour would be the focus. As with thse case of the apostles of old, who proclaimed the good news of salvation through Christ crucified, our only high priest who has fulfilled all things and who is the one whom the prophets pointed towards.

Nice job moving the goalposts, there, SBG! (I'm sure, though, that your motives are entirely pure, and that your movement of the goalposts was purely unintentional!) You asked a question about ... prophets ... so, naturally, my answer had something to do with ... prophets ... ( shocking, I know!) My mission as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ (see what I did there? ) was to bring people to Christ. President Thomas S. Monson's mission as God's prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ is to bring people to Christ. The mission of prophets and other leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ is to facilitate my relationship with Jesus Christ, not to impede it.

Edited January 26, 2013 by Kenngo1969

[Kenngo1969]

My mission president was a business consultant and would tell us, "no need no sell."

In other words, if investigators already had a belief in Jesus Christ but didn't necessarily see a need for prophets, you spent far more time focusing on the latter than on the former. (That's just a wild-@$$ guess, though! )

[savedbygrace]

there are many people who have grown up in Christian traditions of one kind or another who may not understand the saving work of Christ, the actaul need that the world has of the saviour who overcame sin and death, they may well say they know of Christ but not have an understanding of God's grace towards man in the saving sacrifice of our Lord

[Calm]

And they can learn of the grace of God through the words of the prophets that witness of Christ and the Spirit, the Atonement, the Creation and all things pertaining to Christ, can they not?

Edited January 26, 2013 by calmoriah

[savedbygrace]

And that is all found in the Bible, which is God's word that he watches over

[Nathair/|\]

And that is all found in the Bible, which is God's word that he watches over

CFR

[Calm]

And that is all found in the Bible, which is God's word that he watches over

Which as a statement of faith is perfectly fine; however, those of us who believe differently feel it is as important to teach the Word of God as he has given it to us through prophets, ancient and modern.

[Nathair/|\]

Which as a statement of faith is perfectly fine; however, those of us who believe differently feel it is as important to teach the Word of God as he has given it to us through prophets, ancient and modern.

And from "more nations than one".

[Calm]

And that is all found in the Bible, which is God's word that he watches over

If you feel it would be inappropriate for an atheist to tell you that not only is it a waste of time to preach the grace of God and Christ, but wrong to do so, then you will understand what many LDS feel when people tell us that we are in the wrong to preach that God speaks to prophets in this day and age as he has done so in the past and instead should only focus on teaching the beliefs that they find acceptable.

[Stargazer]

In the context of bringing people to Christ, specifically through the belief in a restoration of all things, I would have thought that create the need for a saviour would be the focus. As with thse case of the apostles of old, who proclaimed the good news of salvation through Christ crucified, our only high priest who has fulfilled all things and who is the one whom the prophets pointed towards.

This of course would be the approach when proselyting in a predominantly non-Christian country, or teaching someone who was not already a nominal Christian. In my mission experience, virtually everyone I ever taught already had a belief in Christ as their Savior. We covered the Plan of Salvation in the 4th discussion of the "legendary six discussions", but most everyone already believed what we were teaching.

Edited January 27, 2013 by Stargazer

[Stargazer]

there are many people who have grown up in Christian traditions of one kind or another who may not understand the saving work of Christ, the actaul need that the world has of the saviour who overcame sin and death, they may well say they know of Christ but not have an understanding of God's grace towards man in the saving sacrifice of our Lord

Yes, that might be the case, but every single person that I recall teaching understood the saving work of Christ to one extent or other. I assume the missionary handbook you're talking about is the famous "Six Discussions"? Not called that, actually, but that set of lessons was what I remember being taught when I investigated the Church, and was what I learned to teach on my own mission.

[savedbygrace]

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his son whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made all the worlds..." Heb 1: 1-3

[halconero]

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (New Testament, Revelation, Chapter 19)

I have a testimony of Jesus, therefore I am a prophet.

[savedbygrace]

I am very pleased for you halconero. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ my saviour and God, who died for me and established his church on earth which he promised he would never leave, and never has, because he cannot lie, that I know is truth, because Christ upholds his church through the Spirit of Truth. However I am not a prophet, not having been given that gift by the Spirit who gives his gifts as he wills

[Nathair/|\]

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his son whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made all the worlds..." Heb 1: 1-3

What does this passage mean to you?

[Saints Alive]

...I have a testimony of Jesus Christ my saviour and God, who died for me and established his church on earth which he promised he would never leave, and never has, because he cannot lie, that I know is truth, because Christ upholds his church through the Spirit of Truth...

Nor did he ever leave, however men can and did turn their backs on him. Not all at once, but slowly over time so much so that a restoration was necessary. At least according to the view of the majority of posters here (myself included).

Your ever so subtle suggestion that LDS believe Jesus lied when he said he would never leave is not appreciated.

[savedbygrace]

Exactly what it says. I am not suggesting the LDS believed he lied, my point is that he cannot lie, so what he said he meant. He did not leave us orphans, the Holy Spirit came to the church, and he is to stay forever, Christ is with the church for all time, that is his promise, and he has been with the church ever since, he is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, his word does not change.