Missionary Stories

Dear family,

Today I wanted to share with you some of the amazing examples of member missionary work that we have seen this week, because we all know that when it comes to missionary work, the success rate for an individual accepting the gospel is about 10 billion times more when invited by a member than when invited by a missionary!

1. Hayley has been dating a guy from her work. They have had lots of gospel discussions, and this week she invited him to see Meet the Mormons with her! After the movie she invited Monroe to learn from us. It's interesting that Monroe told her that he won't meet with us, because he knows that if he meets with us he will join, and he is afraid of that because he knows his family would not approve. Hayley's family disowned her after her baptism and still haven't talked to her since then, so she can absolutely relate to what he is feeling. What I love about Hayley's missionary work is that she considers herself a success! She isn't a success because Monroe said yes or because he's now getting baptized, but shes a success because she INVITED! You succeed when you invite! Hayley celebrated her success by inviting Emma to go to the temple with her this Wednesday. There's nothing like hearing that your recent convert invited your other recent convert to go to the temple with her. :)

2. Heather's main fellowshipper has been a girl in our ward named Krissy. Lots of love for Krissy! This week Krissy invited her friend Marina to get pizza with her, and while there they got into a discussion about the plan of salvation. Krissy drew out the plan of salvation on a pizza box, and afterwards invited Marina to see Meet the Mormons with her. Just like Hayley did, Krissy invited Marina to take the missionary discussions afterwards! Marina said she wanted to think about it, and the next day she contacted Krissy and told her that she actually really would love to met with us! We're meeting Marina later this week. When Krissy told us about this experience she told us that she couldn't think of a time that she has felt greater joy.

3. We had dinner with the family of a girl in our ward last night- The Allens- who are amazing examples to me! They have two sons on missions, and they invite their  nonmember friends over for dinner every Sunday. Their family tradition is that they always do their family Book of Mormon reading right after dinner- before anyone gets up and before any dishes are done. What was amazing about this family's missionary work is that they were simply being themselves. There was no show, and no trying to shy away from having the gospel conversations that are a normal part of their lives. When it comes to sharing the gospel we need to be very direct and very loving. There is no need to wait to build up a friendship with someone or to "plant seeds" or to "prepare someone" to be asked to hear about the gospel. We simply share, and we share by making the gospel such an ingrained part of our lives that if we were to invite a nonmember to our home for dinner, they would see that the gospel is simply our way of life. I wish you all could enjoy dinner with the Allen's! There was such an incredible spirit in their home. I know that the friedn they had there felt it!

There is no greater joy than can be found from sharing the gospel! I know that as you pray for the strength to be brave, and as you open your mouths to invite EVERYONE you will see miracles happen not just in the lives of those you shared the gospel with but in yours as well. Your testimony is not yours until you share it, and you cannot enjoy the full blessings and joy of the gospel until you give it to someone else. Our Heavenly Father's work will go forth with or without our help, but I certainly don't want to miss out on the joy of being an instrument in His hands, and I can promise that you won't want to miss out on that either.

Lots of love!

Sister Slade

P.S. I can't wait to hear about all of your missionary experiences! You're running out of time to write me, so if I haven't head from you so far... don't procrastinate the day of your repentance. Better get on that :)