Favorites from the "We Are Women" Blog

When I found out that our mission was a part of the pilot program for facebook/blogging missionary work, I didn't immediately start up this blog. Instead, I occassionally slipped a post on my old collaborative blog, "We Are Women." Here are some of my favorites:

An Eternal Perspective of Families

Moments That Matter Most

Learning That I Am An 8 Cow Wife

Goal: Be an Active Member Missionary!

Every person who I have taught and helped prepare for baptism during my mission has come because a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had the courage to share what they knew to be true. Every time. And from that, I have a huge testimony of the power of member missionary work.

There are so many simple things that we can all do to help spread the joy of the gospel. Here are some ideas:

• Pray for missionary experiences. Pray for the missionaries worldwide, and in your own ward/branch/stake.
• Offer the missionaries rides, if needed.
• Invite the missionaries over for dinner and, if possible, have a non-member or less-active member present. Even if you don't have a non-member or less-active member over, we love getting to know the active families. There is such peace in members' homes that is sometimes hard to come by elsewhere.
• Prepare to share the gospel with others. Think of some questions that friends have asked you about the gospel, and prepare simple one or two sentence answers to them. Then, when you are eventually asked about that topic, you don't have to sift through the deep doctrine files in your mind to find the simple answer they're looking for.
• Have some pass-along cards or Book of Mormons in your car/purse/desk, etc., ready to share when the Spirit prompts you do.
• Be familiar with various church media that you can share with others. Check out the pages and videos on Mormon.org, make your own Mormon.org profile, and check out the Lds.org Media Library. You can easily e-mail/message these videos to your friends, or post them on your facebook wall. You can get DVD copies of some of the videos from the missionaries, like "Finding Faith in Christ" or "Joy to the World" (the first is about Christ, the second is Christmas-specific, but both would make great gifts).
• Read the Ensign/New Era/and Friend magazines. Sometimes, just by reading something, I'll get an idea of who I can share it with, or who needs a visit this week. You can easily print the article off from the website and drop it by / mail it to them. I love sweet, simple acts of service like that.
• Invite family friends over for Family Home Evening. Even being in your home can help them feel that special spirit that the gospel brings.

Member missionary work can be so simple, but it is absolutely essential. I am grateful for the wonderful members who I have worked with on my mission. Miracles have come from their simple efforts.

Some excellent talks on the subject:
"Be Thou an Example of the Believers," by Elder Russell M. Nelson
"The Member Missionary Effect," by Don L. Searle
"Be a Missionary All Your Life," by Elder Quentin L. Cook
"How Great Shall Be Your Joy," by President Henry B. Eyring
"Letting Go of My Fear," by Gilda Hughes Christensen

"Guard Him, Joseph" - 21 December 2011

My Top 5 LDS Video Resources

If I were to refer you to five of my favorite short movies available on LDS.org,

what would they be, you ask?

In no particular order, I present,

"My Top 5 LDS Video Resources":

1. Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

("Forgiveness and the power of Jesus Christ enable a man to survive losing his wife

and several children in a car accident—and allow the offending driver to begin

rebuilding his own life.")

2. "I Am A Child of God"

(starts out slow, but keep going! You will love it!)

3. Finding Faith in Christ

("Thomas, who once doubted, beholds the power, majesty, and love of Jesus Christ.

Faith in Christ will help individuals resolve personal challenges.")

4. The Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos

I love these beautiful short movies about aspects of Christ's life.

They just released the first six just in time for the Christmas season.

5. Mormon.org

I would recommend this excellent website to anyone, especially anyone who

1. wants to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or

2. is already a member, has some spare time, and wants to watch

some awesome videos about fellow-Latter-day-Saints.

Enjoy!