Hamba Tuhan Posted April 5, 2018 Posted April 5, 2018 (edited) 6 hours ago, Avatar4321 said: Can you share any wisdom on how to find? I'm not sure how wise it is, but here's my advice: You can't 'share the gospel', if you don't have anything to share. Live so that your life is filled with joy, peace, revelation, service, etc. People will see that you have something, and you will be bursting to share it. Do good things, and then invite people to join you. For example, if you want to go hiking with your friends, plan a really great adventure, and then prayerfully ask each other and the Lord who needs to go with. Ask to be inspired to know what to say/do when you're all together. It might just be to be friends. Or you might feel impressed to share a personal experience. Whatever it is, be confident and natural. Don't rush things. People are drawn to genuine love and kindness. Borrowed from Elder Bednar when he came here for training three years ago: don't fall into the temptation of treating people like objects to be manipulated. Instead, they are agents to be empowered to make their own choices, even when those choices might be ones we disagree with. Edited April 5, 2018 by Hamba Tuhan 3
Marginal Gains Posted April 5, 2018 Posted April 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Hamba Tuhan said: I'm not sure how wise it is, but here's my advice: You can't 'share the gospel', if you don't have anything to share. Live so that your life is filled with joy, peace, revelation, service, etc. People will see that you have something, and you will be bursting to share it. Do good things, and then invite people to join you. For example, if you want to go hiking with your friends, plan a really great adventure, and then prayerfully ask each other and the Lord who needs to go with. Ask to be inspired to know what to say/do when you're all together. It might just be to be friends. Or you might feel impressed to share a personal experience. Whatever it is, be confident and natural. Don't rush things. People are drawn to genuine love and kindness. Borrowed from Elder Bednar when he came here for training three years ago: don't fall into the temptation of treating people like objects to be manipulated. Instead, they are agents to be empowered to make their own choices, even when those choices might be ones we disagree with. Aren’t you being manipulative if you set out with the plan and the objective of sharing the Gospel?
Bernard Gui Posted April 5, 2018 Posted April 5, 2018 (edited) 6 hours ago, Marginal Gains said: My comment was in response to the thread starters comment that “the Lord is up to something” and I was trying to find out what that poster thought the Lord was up to. But your questions are interesting - why are people less receptive to the product that missionaries and members are selling? I’d be interested in your views on that. Well, first, it’s inappropriate to call the Gospel of Jesus Christ a product that is for sale. Second, as was stated in Conference, God does not impose himself on people. They can and do receive invitations and manifestations of the Spirit, but they have their inviolable agency to choose how they respond. The Savior knocks on the door (often in the form of missionaries doing just that), and the homeowner chooses to ignore the knock, answer and turn them away, or accept them in. I have no experienced all three responses. Third, I believe the Book of Mormon and Bible are true records. Both have multiple examples of this very thing....people turning away and rejecting the Christ. They do it out of complacency, wealth, hardened hearts, pride, prejudice, anger, or wickedness. If there is a decline today, it is because of one or more of theses things. Fourth, my experience has been that those I know with whom I have successfully shared the Gospel were prepared to receive it before I met them. I am aware of others who joined the Church later by observing my conduct and seeking the Gospel out on their own. I also know some whom I unfortunately influence the opposite way, for which I am sorry and hope God will make compensation. Edited April 5, 2018 by Bernard Gui 1
MormonMason Posted April 5, 2018 Posted April 5, 2018 On 04/04/2018 at 9:39 AM, Marginal Gains said: If it’s a hastening, why is it taking so long? Personally? I don't see the full-on, really-nasty, end-times events happening for another 200 years or so. Everything has been set up and heading toward that end. But, in the context of 2 Peter 3:8, such a length of years would seem a relatively short time.
Calm Posted April 6, 2018 Posted April 6, 2018 14 hours ago, Marginal Gains said: Aren’t you being manipulative if you set out with the plan and the objective of sharing the Gospel? Are you manipulative if you set out with a plan to help educate others about self sufficiency, activism in politics, service to the needy, the usefulness of education? 1
Marginal Gains Posted April 6, 2018 Posted April 6, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Calm said: Are you manipulative if you set out with a plan to help educate others about self sufficiency, activism in politics, service to the needy, the usefulness of education? For me, the manipulation or otherwise comes in the overtness of the stated intention. ”Would you like to come on a hike?” whilst having an agenda of sharing the Gospel, is being manipulative in my view. ”Would you like to come on a hike as I’d like a chance to share some thoughts on the Gospel with you?” Isn’t being manipulative. Edited April 6, 2018 by Marginal Gains
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