23.

Sharing the Gospel and Strengthening New and Returning Members

23.0

Introduction

Inviting all to receive the gospel is part of God’s work of salvation and exaltation (see 1.2 in this handbook; Matthew 28:19–20). It includes:

• Participating in missionary work and serving as missionaries.

• Helping new and returning Church members progress along the covenant path.

23.1

Share the Gospel

23.1.1

Love

One way we show our love for God is by loving and serving His children (see Matthew 22:36–39; 25:40). We strive to love and serve as Jesus Christ did. This love inspires us to reach out to people of all religions, races, and cultures (see Acts 10:34; 2 Nephi 26:33).

23.1.2

Share

Because we love God and His children, we naturally want to share the blessings He has given us (see John 13:34–35) and help gather Israel. We seek to help people feel the joy that we feel (see Alma 36:24). We speak openly of the Savior and His influence in our lives (see Doctrine and Covenants 60:2). We share these things in normal and natural ways as part of personal, online, and other interactions.

23.1.3

Invite

We pray for inspiration and guidance on how to invite others to:

• Come and see the blessings available through Jesus Christ, His gospel, and His Church (see John 1:37–39, 45–46).

• Come and serve people in need.

• Come and belong to the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

Often, inviting simply means including our family, friends, and neighbors in what we are already doing.

23.2

Strengthen New Members

Each new member needs friendship, opportunities to serve, and spiritual nourishment. As members of the Church, we give new members our love and support (see Mosiah 18:8–10). We help them feel a sense of belonging in the Church. We help them progress along the covenant path and become more deeply “converted unto the Lord” (Alma 23:6).

23.3

Strengthen Returning Members

Some members choose to stop participating in the Church. “Unto such,” said the Savior, “shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them” (3 Nephi 18:32).

Members who are not fully participating are more likely to return if they have strong relationships with Church members. Like new members, they need friendship, opportunities to serve, and spiritual nourishment.

23.4

Hold Weekly Coordination Meetings

Every week, brief informal meetings are held to coordinate efforts to share the gospel and strengthen new and returning members. If a ward mission leader is called, he conducts these meetings. Otherwise, the member of the elders quorum presidency who fills this role conducts.

Others who are invited include:

• Assigned members of the Relief Society and elders quorum presidencies.

• Ward missionaries.

• An assistant in the priests quorum (or the teachers or deacons quorum president if there are no priests in the ward).

• A presidency member of the oldest Young Women class.

• Full-time missionaries.

23.5

Stake Leaders

23.5.1

Stake Presidency

The stake president holds the keys in the stake for sharing the gospel and strengthening new and returning members. He and his counselors give overall direction for these efforts.

Usually monthly, the stake president meets with the mission president to coordinate efforts between the stake and ward leaders and the full-time missionaries.

23.5.3

High Councilors

The stake presidency may assign high councilors to instruct and support elders quorum presidencies and ward mission leaders. One or more high councilors may be assigned to lead these efforts. However, all high councilors have these responsibilities for the wards and quorums to which they are assigned.

23.5.4

Stake Relief Society Presidency

Under the direction of the stake president, the stake Relief Society presidency instructs and supports ward Relief Society presidencies in their responsibilities for sharing the gospel and strengthening new and returning members.

23.6

Ward Leaders

23.6.1

Bishopric

The bishopric coordinates with the elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies as they lead the ward’s efforts in sharing the gospel and strengthening new and returning members. These leaders counsel together regularly.

The bishopric ensures that these efforts are discussed and coordinated in ward council and ward youth council meetings.

The bishop interviews new members of the appropriate age for a temple recommend to perform proxy baptisms and confirmations (see 26.4.2). He also interviews brethren of the appropriate age to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. He normally conducts these interviews within a week of the member’s confirmation.

23.6.2

Elders Quorum and Relief Society Presidencies

The elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies lead the ward’s day-to-day efforts to share the gospel and strengthen new and returning members (see 8.2.3 and 9.2.3).

These leaders have the following responsibilities:

• Help inspire members to love God’s children, to share the gospel, and to invite others to receive the Savior’s blessings.

• Assign ministering brothers and sisters to new and returning members (see 21.2.1).

• Lead the work of the ward mission leader.

The elders quorum president and Relief Society president each assign a presidency member to help lead these efforts. These two presidency members work together. They attend weekly coordination meetings (see 23.4).

23.6.3

Ward Mission Leader

The bishopric consults with the stake president to determine whether to call a ward mission leader.

The ward mission leader should be a Melchizedek Priesthood holder. If a ward mission leader is not called, a member of the elders quorum presidency fills this role.

The ward mission leader supports the elders quorum presidency and Relief Society presidency in their missionary responsibilities. He also has the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate the work of ward members and leaders, ward missionaries, and full-time missionaries.

• Lead weekly coordination meetings (see 23.4).

23.6.4

Ward Missionaries

Ward missionaries help ward members experience the joy of sharing the gospel as described in 23.1. They serve under the direction of the ward mission leader or the member of the elders quorum presidency who fills this role.

23.6.5

Ward Council and Ward Youth Council

Sharing the gospel and strengthening new and returning members should be discussed regularly in ward council meetings. The bishop may invite the ward mission leader to attend ward council meetings.

Resources like the following can help in these discussions:

• My Covenant Path.

• Covenant Path Progress record.

The ward youth council gives special attention to (1) youth who are new and returning members and (2) youth being taught by the missionaries.