More than anything, this book teaches you to listen to the Spirit, trust it and teach by it. There are 4 steps to teaching the gospel that we have been learning. First we look for the necessities of those we teach. What are they interested in, what do they need? Second, we search for scriptures that answer that necessity. Third, we look for inspired questions that help them to see and have a desire to fulfill their own needs. Fourth, we teach blessings. We teach that if they do this, they can have that blessing and wouldn't they like to have that blessing in their lives?
The gospel has so much to offer people if they will just listen to their hearts. They can understand that they are loved and that they can return to be with those people who love them the very most for eternity if they will only commit to follow the Lord's example, live a Christ like life and make the necessary covenants through baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and being sealed for eternity in the temple. We must then live those things we have been taught which in turn brings us happiness.
The missionaries were asked to pick their favorite missionary from the Book of Mormon and tell why that missionary is their favorite. They were also asked what characteristics of that missionary they would like to develop in themselves. One of the things that was brought out in that discussion was that Abinadi may not ever have known that he had a convert before his life was taken. But that convert, Alma Senior, who was a descendent of Nephi, became a prophet of the Lord. His son, Alma Junior, also became a prophet of the Lord as did the following three generations; Helaman and Nephi,who was the son of Nephi, who was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ.
We may never know what becomes of the seeds that we plant in people's hearts but that is what we are here to do. Plant seeds in their hearts and let the Spirit work until they become followers of Christ.
If the only one we convert is ourselves, it is still worth the effort. The times are such that the Lord is stepping up His work to spread the gospel over the earth and when people hear the truth it rings true.
We would like our grandchildren and children to also pick their favorite missionary from the Book of Mormon and think about why that person is their favorite. There are so many who are great examples of men and women who followed Christ's teachings and were blessed because of it. We are grateful to be able to serve here, to brush shoulders with the wonderful people who are also serving here and who have given of their time and talents to make life better for those around them through service to the Lord.
