“April 11. How Can I Invite All to Come unto Christ? Doctrine and Covenants 30–36,” Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes: Doctrinal Topics 2021 (2020)
“April 11. How Can I Invite All to Come unto Christ?” Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes: Doctrinal Topics 2021
April 11
How Can I Invite All to Come unto Christ?
Counsel Together
Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; approximately 10–20 minutes
At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Young Women Theme or the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme. Then, in addition to counseling together about specific class or quorum business, you may want to discuss impressions and themes from general conference. The following questions may help.
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What themes or messages stood out to us? What strengthened our faith in Jesus Christ?
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What strengthened our testimonies of living prophets? What did we feel prompted to do because of what we learned or felt?
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What do we need to do as a class or quorum to remember and act on counsel we heard in general conference?
At the end of the lesson, as appropriate, do the following:
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Testify of the principles taught.
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Remind quorum or class members about the plans and invitations made during the meeting.
Teach the Doctrine
Led by an adult leader or youth; approximately 25–35 minutes
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
Just months after the restored Church was organized on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York, the Lord began calling missionaries to gather the “elect from the four quarters of the earth” (Doctrine and Covenants 33:6). What started as the efforts of a handful of new converts in a limited geographical area has grown into an army of missionaries proclaiming the gospel throughout the world. But missionary work isn’t limited to those serving full-time missions. The Lord wants each of us to invite those around us to come unto Him.
What experiences have you had with inviting others to learn about the Savior’s gospel? What can you do to inspire quorum or class members to fulfill their duty to bring souls to Jesus Christ? As you prepare to teach, consider reviewing “What Is My Purpose as a Missionary?” in Preach My Gospel ([2019], 1–16) and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s message “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 15–18).
Learn Together
Doctrine and Covenants 30–36 mentions the names of several people who were called on missions in the early days of the Church. A few days before your meeting, you could give each quorum or class member one of these names (see the headings to sections 30–36) and invite him or her to learn what counsel the Lord gave to help that person share the gospel. How can we apply that counsel to ourselves? The ideas below can further inspire those you teach to invite those around them to come unto Christ.
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Do those you teach understand what it means to come unto Christ? You could ask them to share their thoughts. If it would be helpful, you could share this explanation: “To come to the Savior, people must have faith in Him unto repentance—making the necessary changes to bring their life into agreement with His teaching” (Preach My Gospel, 2). Quorum or class members could also read scriptures that include phrases like “come unto me” or “come unto Christ” to help answer this question—for example, Matthew 11:28–30; Omni 1:26; Moroni 10:32; Doctrine and Covenants 20:59. Why do we want people to come unto Christ? What are some simple things we can do to help them? Quorum or class members could make plans to invite someone they know to come closer to Christ.
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Learning about how others have shared the gospel is a great way to inspire those you teach. You could show one or more of the videos found under “Supporting Resources” or invite quorum or class members to read the counsel and examples found in Sister Cristina B. Franco’s message “Finding Joy in Sharing the Gospel” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 83–86). What do we learn from these examples? Discuss together what your quorum or class could do to invite others to come unto Christ.
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When it comes to sharing the gospel, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said that some of us may “feel uncertain about how to do it. Or we might feel timid about going outside our comfort zone” (“Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 16). If quorum or class members feel this way, the five simple suggestions Elder Uchtdorf gave in his message could help them. You could invite each class member to read about one of his suggestions and share what they learned.
Act in Faith
Encourage quorum or class members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. How does today’s lesson relate to personal goals they have made? If they would like, quorum or class members could share their ideas.
Supporting Resources
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1 Timothy 4:12 (Be an example of the believers)
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Alma 17:2–4 (The sons of Mosiah prepared themselves to share the gospel)
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Doctrine and Covenants 42:6–7 (Preach the gospel by the power of the Spirit)
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Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” (worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018), supplement to the New Era and Ensign, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
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“Inviting All to Come unto Christ: Sharing the Gospel,” “Inviting Others to ‘Come and See,’” “Inviting Others to ‘Come and Help,’” “Inviting Others to ‘Come and Stay’” (videos), ChurchofJesusChrist.org