Need to Change the View

Several weeks ago, I was invited to change my perspective.  The invitation has been on my mind a great deal. The fact that we have been asked to hasten the work of the Lord has only compounded this invitation.  Then each week, I have the opportunity to chat with my eldest son who is out in the heart of it.  But then, I guess that is where I need to change.

Every time we are invited, encouraged, or commanded to participate in hastening the work, I think that many of us just look to the young men and women who have placed their lives on hold to serve full time.  We expect them to lead the way.  Each week we meet in councils and ask them how the work is going.  Oh, and occasionally we invite them over to our houses for dinner.  That is all good right, we are hastening the work, NOT.

The past week I was reading a talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard about putting our trust in the Lord.  In this talk, he declares that there are really only two reasons we are not seeing the work moving more hastily.

• FEAR
• We don't understand the work.

I think I have been guilty of both.  Way back in the day when I was serving full time, our approach was different.  I did spend a several hours knocking doors, visiting and eating with members, and asking them if they knew anyone that would be interested in listening to what we had to say.  We had some success, but not as much as we probably could.  

I remember that one area I was assigned to was a newly opened area, well for us. It had been closed for some 10 years.  My companion and I were the first to start pounding the pavement there in a long time.  We did not have members to visit or call upon.  There was one family that we knew of living in the area.  We had breakfast and a late lunch with that family every day.

Then we found a family that had been lost for a very long time.  They wanted to come back, but the church building was too far for them to travel.  They did not have a car and public transportation would have taken half of their weekly income to get the entire family to the church and back. So we asked the Mission President and Bishop of the ward if we could hold services in the families home.  They agreed and sent a member of the Bishopric to preside over the meeting.  I remember that first meeting like it was yesterday.  They were so excited to have meeting that they invited friends, family, and neighbors.  We had 31 people attend.  It was incredible.

The people wanted more.  The holidays were just around the corner, so we decided to have a mini activity in the area.  The women cooked all day, the men brought sweet bread, and one family brought a pinata.  My companion and I made hand made invitations and delivered them to many individual.  It had an effect on all.  They saw and felt the light.

As I reminisce on this experiences, I realize that I need to change my view on what the work is.  I need to accept the invitation I was given and pray differently about the work.  I realize that hastening the work is so much more.  It requires that I do something where I am and not sit around waiting for those young men and women to ask me to do something.  I should be creating and providing opportunities for them to be exposed to those round me.  I need to be find them work to do.  

How you ask?

Maybe we all need to change our views on the work.  It starts with trusting in the Lord.  Trusting that when we are just being ourselves, our light will shine through.  Others will notice and want to have the same.  Maybe we should start planning our activities with the young men and women who are serving.  They need to be able to show that people they can be trusted.  Then need to see them in their natural light.

Maybe it is inviting them over for Ginger Bread House decorating party, cake decorating, game night, family home evening, family barbecue, or something like that.  They don't always have to share a formal message, but be allowed to share the informal ones.

Maybe it is a ward talent show, spaghetti dinner, hobo dinner, or ice cream social.  It just an opportunity to share, get to know and allow a bond of trust to be built.  Then we trust in the Lord and the rest will follow.

I invite you to change your view.  Change your prayers.  Change your actions.  Don't ask that the  Elders and Sisters will be successful, but ask how you might know how they can help you share the gospel.  Put them to work, invite them to your presidency meetings.  Pray about those families within your organization that might benefit from a visit from you with them.  Give them the work that you cannot handle alone.  Help them serve.  There are so many ways.  Let us all demonstrate as many of them as we can.