Be a Missionary
by Shauna Gibby

Member-missionary work is powerful and essential to establishing and building up the Church. But our current level of member-missionary work is inadequate. We can and must do better. In the United States, only about 35 percent of active members consistently do member-missionary work.

Member-missionary work is powerful and essential to establishing and building up the Church. But our current level of member-missionary work is inadequate. We can and must do better. In the United States, only about 35 percent of active members consistently do member-missionary work.

(M. Russell Ballard, “Members Are the Key,” Ensign, Sept. 2000, 8)

Song:

“I Want to Be a Missionary Now,” Children’s Songbook, p. 168.

Scripture:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.

(Romans 1:16)

Object Lesson:

Materials Needed: treats for your family.

Application: Begin by taking a treat for yourself. Eat it and describe how good it tastes. Ask someone to describe how good it tastes. (They won’t know.) Ask why that person doesn’t know. (They have not tasted it.)

Explain that the gospel is like this treat. Others can see that you have it, but not until you offer to share it they cannot enjoy it themselves. Discuss the importance of sharing the gospel with everyone. Share the treat with the entire group.

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Building Blocks for Better Lessons, p. 44.)

Story:

Taxi Talk

(Janet Peterson)

“I create opportunities for missionary work,” states Bill Cortelyou, who has been a cab driver in a Boston suburb for twenty-two years. During the past fifteen years Brother Cortelyou has given away more than 6,000 copies of the Book of Mormon and 10,000 pamphlets of The Prophet Joseph Smith’s Testimony to his passengers and other people he meets.

Brother Cortelyou files the material alphabetically by language and keeps them in a box in his cab or in an athletic bag that he carries when he uses public transportation. “Then when I meet an Ethiopian, for example, and asks if he speaks Amharic, I can quickly had him the appropriate copy,” says Brother Cortelyou. “I usually have something with me to give away. Otherwise, it is a lost opportunity.”

Because Boston is a center for medicine, technology, finance, and education, people from all over the world gather there. Since Brother Cortelyou’s route includes Logan International Airport, he transports visitors from places such as India, Nigeria, Japan, Bolivia, and Italy. Among his passengers have been scientists, doctors, Nobel Prize winners, priests, rabbis, and government officials from many nations. He has given away copies of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith pamphlets in more than thirty-five languages, including Polish, Thai, Greek, Swahili, and Vietnamese. “Rarely do I encounter somebody who speaks a language that I don’t have something for,” he says.

On an average day Bill makes twenty trips in his cab. He typically gives Joseph Smith pamphlets or copies of the Book of Mormon to four or five of his passengers. “People don’t often turn down my offer, because the Spirit helps me,” he says. “They’re usually very kind and receptive. Sometimes my offer leads to a discussion of the Church.

“I know of one person who has been baptized from my giving her a Book of Mormon. I would love to know about others, but when we give service we do not always know the outcome. My missionary work is to create opportunities for someone to make the choice about learning the truth of the gospel.”

Brother Cortelyou grew up on Long Island, New York, and joined the Church while in his thirties. Though he did not have the opportunity to serve a full-time mission, missionary work is now one of the great joys of his life.

(Jay A. Parry, Everyday Heroes, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002] p. 81.)

Activity:

To be better prepared to teach others what you believe have each family member memorize one article of faith.

Divide your family into missionary companionships. Have a three-legged race with each companionship to show that missionaries succeed when they find ways to work well together.

(Clark L. and Kathryn H. Kidd, Kent D. and Shannon Pugmire, Ward Activities for the Clueless [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 2001], p. 161.)

Refreshment:

Chocolate Balls

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

¼ cup cocoa

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

6 to 8 tablespoons chocolate-flavored sprinkles

Small foil or paper decorator cups

Combine condensed milk, cocoa, and butter or margarine in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 7 to 8 minutes or until candy forms a ball around the spoon and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat and shape cocoa mixture into 1-inch balls. Gently roll balls in the chocolate sprinkles and place in individual decorator cups. Cover and chill before serving. Makes about 2 dozen balls.

(Lion House International, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997] p. 124.)