Comments on: A Simple Proposal to Completely Revolutionize the LDS Missionary Effort

By: Keith Held

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:27:52 +0000

Great idea. My son has done it by creating an event on
Facebook and inviting his facebook friends. He has done it twice
and has had about 10 non-member friends attend. 2 the first time
and 8 at his mission farewell.

By: Brian Duffin

Brian Duffin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:52:03 +0000

I’m glad to see you broadcast this post on Buzz. It was a needed reminder for me. I forwarded a copy of the link to the WML in my ward.

By: ctrstandards

ctrstandards — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:27:25 +0000

Who has put this idea to the test? Love to hear some feedback. I think it is something that if done at an individual initiative without the feeling of pressure from a Bishop or others it could be more effective, it would be more sincere.

One time I was asked if I’d like to put a musical number together for Sacrament meeting. I invited a number of men about my age in my area to sing. We then invited a few neighbors to come hear us sing. They did appreciate the invite. Maybe a more formal invite on paper would have helped. Maybe after two or three events or talks they may have come with a formal invite. Living in Utah I think most of our neighbors have expectations they will be invited to events and have prepared in their minds their answers already. I think with more prayer for our friends and neighbors, the Lord can prepare them with events and circumstances that will better help them feel the need to find out more. As well, the Lord can help us be even better Christ like examples and what it means to have Charity. http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/7

Very good suggestions Max!

By: Lani Wendt Young

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:38:11 +0000

This is an excellent suggestion. Im preparing to teach a lesson in RS on Elder Perrys talk and I was looking for concrete ideas on ways to follow his counsel. ( esp. since we all KNOW we’re supposed to be member missionaries but have trouble with the open our mouths part) I am defn going to incorporate this idea into my lesson. I also agree that the same principle could be used with great effect at baptisms and baby blessings etc. Thank you for your thoughts.

By: Bruce A Crow

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:31:39 +0000

Absolutely wonderful. Why wait? I could do this without official sanction from the Ward leadership.

By: Bookslinger

Bookslinger — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:38:42 +0000

Great idea. I’ve thought about this in the past. Thanks for putting it into words.

Invite your Evangelical, Pentecostal, and A.M.E friends and have your own “amen chorus”.

By: Jonathan Max Wilson

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:42:45 +0000

I’ve updated the invitation documents to conform with the official church guidelines for how local units are to use the church name.

I also added that there is no collection plate (Thanks Hildagaard!)

By: Hildagaard

Hildagaard — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:00:42 +0000

Jon

This is a wonderful idea. I have a suggestion for the invitation. I might add that there is no collection plate. From what I understand a number of people will avoid visiting a church because they don’t lie to be hit up for money.

I would also also be a good idea to print invitations like this for baby blessings and baptisms. It might also be a good idea to include a small map on the invitation.

I told one of the councilors in the bishopric about this idea and he really liked it.

By: Mandi Acholi Stieb

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:48:24 +0000

what a good idea! i’m going to use this for sure

By: J. Max Wilson

J. Max Wilson — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:51:51 +0000

@RichardAlger Great suggestion. I’ve updated the post with a couple of additional document types.

I also have a graphic designer friend who may put together some more attractive invitations that I will make available here in teh future.

By: Rich Alger

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:57:09 +0000

Do you have ldsspeakinginvitations.pdf in an more easily editable format, like MS-Word, rich-text etc?

It would allow a ward to add their specific info.

By: Stephanie Huang Porter

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:19:49 +0000

Jon… how do we get this implemented… like today?

You are brilliant my friend. Brilliant. Love this.

By: Mormon Soprano

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:17:20 +0000

Great thought-provoking ideas! I sure love the idea of formal pass-along invites and email invites. Church members need to be focused on being INclusionary instead of Exclusionary when it comes to our Sunday meetings. We seem to be doing better on the weekly activity invites as a whole, so now we need to take the next step. Congratulations on being featured in todays Mormon Times Bloggernacle Back Bench. Hopefully many will read and try your suggestions. – Best wishes, MoSop

By: Cynthia Bailey Lee

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:20:29 +0000

Great idea! And I completely agree with your analysis about the various benefits (less awkward, unique participatory nature of our church, etc). It should also make Sacrament Meeting a better experience for *everyone* present. Also, I would be less nervous to invite a friend to church even on some random Sunday, knowing that the speakers will have nonmenbers in mind when they write and give their talks.

By: Steve Cottrell

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:01:00 +0000

“Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks” Jer. 16:16

Yes we do need more variety in the way we approach sharing the Gospel. I like your idea and think it has great merit. I’m certain that if I invite my friends to hear me speak at church, some of them will come. Hopefully they will then be open to the spirit to teach them.