Strengthening New and Returning Members: Suggested Training Outline

Members and missionaries play a vital role in helping new and returning members continue on the covenant path. Elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies are responsible for the day-to-day missionary efforts in the ward, including the nurturing of new and returning members. Under the direction of the stake president and bishop, elders quorum and Relief Society presidents are responsible for ensuring that ward leaders and ministering brothers and sisters receive and act on the following instruction.

For new and returning members to stay on the covenant path, it is essential for them to (1) feel that they belong through strengthened relationships with God and other members, (2) believe in Jesus Christ and strengthen their faith in Him, and (3) become disciples of Christ through key experiences.

The following activities will help you teach other members how to use important resources to assist in this effort. These activities may be completed in a stake or ward council setting with the full-time missionaries. The first two sections should also be given to ministering companionships assigned to new and returning members.

Chart: Helping New and Returning Members Stay on the Covenant Path

1. Open Gospel Library (the app or the web page) and go to Handbooks and Callings, then Ward or Branch Callings, and then Strengthening New and Returning Members. (The materials you will need for this training are found in this section.) Open and review “Helping New and Returning Members Stay on the Covenant Path.” As a companionship or group, discuss:

   • Why are these experiences key for helping people enter and stay on the covenant path?

2. Watch the video segments “The Bush Family Story” (in the Strengthening New Members Videos section) or “The Battina and Sydney Story” and “The Lynette and Sean Story” (in the Strengthening Returning Members Videos section). As you watch the videos, look for how the items on the chart under “Before Baptism or Returning to Church,” “Soon after Baptism or Returning to Church,” and “Within the First Year” were applied in each story.

   Discuss:

   • What are we doing well to help new and returning members progress?

   • What are one or two areas we feel we can improve in?

3. Watch the video segment “The Importance of Friendships.” Discuss:

   • Why is having genuine friendships with members one of the strongest factors in helping new and returning members enter and stay on the covenant path?

   • How can we help build genuine friendships as early as possible? How can we maintain these friendships?

4. Watch the video segment “Working Together.” Discuss:

   • How did the members and missionaries work together to meet the needs of the Bush family?

   • What could be improved in our unit to have members and missionaries work together more effectively in these efforts?

5. Watch the video segment “Blessing New and Returning Members Through Councils.”

   Discuss:

   • How did the bishopric, ward council, and missionary coordination meetings work as one in helping Salvador progress?

   • How did the Covenant Path Progress tool help assist the leaders?

   • What could be improved in our unit to have these councils and meetings better meet the needs of new and returning members?

My Covenant Path

6. In the same section in Strengthening New and Returning Members in Gospel Library, open My Covenant Path and go to the “My Covenant Path” introduction. Read this page together and discuss how My Covenant Path could be used to help new and returning members. Review at least two experiences within My Covenant Path. Discuss:

   • How can ministering brothers and sisters and missionaries work together to help new or returning members?

   • How could these experiences help new and returning members learn the gospel, feel the Spirit, and build lasting friendships with other members?

7. Plan how you will help new and returning members you are ministering to get access to My Covenant Path. If they use an Android device, they can download the Gospel Library app from the Google Play store here. If they use an iOS device, they can download the Gospel Library app from the Apple App Store here. You might also provide a print copy. (Note: New and returning members can find My Covenant Path by going to Adults and then New or Returning Members in Gospel Library.)

Covenant Path Progress

The Covenant Path Progress report is used to help new and returning members track their progress along the covenant path during their first two years of Church membership or returning to Church activity. It’s also used to support people being taught by the missionaries. It is available to local leaders through the Reports menu in the Member Tools app and LCR.

The Covenant Path Progress report is integrated with the Preach My Gospel app the full-time missionaries use. When information is updated in one of them, the other is automatically updated. The report should be used as a key coordination tool by local leaders. They should open and review it regularly, including as part of ward council meetings, coordination meetings, and when they meet with the full-time missionaries.

The following leaders can access and updated the progress of a new or returning member through Covenant Path Progress:

• New member (including parents of children)

• Bishopric (including clerks and secretaries)

• Elders quorum presidency (including secretaries)

• Relief Society presidency (including secretaries)

• Ward mission leader (including assistant ward mission leader)

• Ward missionaries

8. To access the report, open the Member Tools app (or Leader and Clerk Resources [LCR] online), go to Reports, and then choose Covenant Path Progress. You will have the option to select one of the three sections: New Members, Returning, and Being Taught. Each section displays basic information about those who have been baptized within the last two years and live in your unit and those who are currently being taught by the missionaries. When viewing the Returning Members section, the following leaders have access to add a returning member after receiving permission from the returning member to add them:

   • Bishopric (including clerks and secretaries)

   • Elders quorum presidency

   • Relief Society presidency

   • Ward mission leader (including assistant ward mission leader)

   Review the list of new or returning members and discuss how they are progressing.

9. Select the name of a new or returning member (or select View Details in LCR and iOS). Additional information about the individual’s progress is displayed. Discuss:

   • What is the relationship between this information and My Covenant Path?

   • What needs to happen to help each of our new or returning members progress?

10. Those with edit access can:

    • Record sacrament meeting attendance. (Note: If the new or returning member is unable to attend sacrament meeting due to health reasons, mark them as attending if the new member has been able to have the sacrament at home or attend sacrament meeting through remote means.)

    • Add the name of a friend to the new or returning member’s information.

    • Update the principles taught (postbaptism missionary lessons).

    • Make sure the information about ministering brothers and sisters is correct.

11. In-app notifications will appear when an individual’s Covenant Path Progress suggests lower involvement in Church activity.

12. New and returning members can also update their own progress. Have the new member locate their profile from the directory in Member Tools. Next, have the member tap on Covenant Path Progress.

13. Elders quorum and Relief Society presidents are responsible for making sure member information is updated in a timely manner. They may delegate this responsibility. Discuss who will update the member information, how often it will be updated (preferable at least weekly), and how Covenant Path Progress will be used in ward council and weekly coordination meetings.

Conclusion

14. Show the video segment “How Temples and Family History Strengthen New Members.”

    Discuss how your efforts can help new and returning members stay on the covenant path (see John 15:16) and ultimately receive all the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. Plan what your unit will do to nurture new and returning members as well as those being taught by the missionaries in your congregation.