What a great opportunity we have to follow the inspired vision of our beloved prophet, President Monson to reach out and rescue those who have fallen from the path of activity. We have a received an inspired document from our Area Presidency entitled “Abide-Stay” that serves as an invitation to all to remain faithful and stay on the path as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints. In Matthew 25:1-13 we learn in the Parable of the Ten Virgins that five of the virgins took oil with their lamps in preparation to meet the bridegroom and enter into the marriage. The other five virgins did not take oil. In D&C 45:56,57 we learn that this oil represents “receiving the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been decieved.”
As we go forth and extend this invitation to come back and remain in activity, it is important that we remember that at one time these dear brothers and sisters did have oil in their lamps. They did receive the truth and did take the Holy Ghost as their guide. But for one reason or another, their “lamps are gone out.” (Matthew 25:8) Help these brothers and sisters reflect back on the time in their lives when their lamps were lit by inviting them to share feelings they had as they were being taught by the missionaries. Ask them to express the feelings they had as they came up from the waters of baptism being clean and pure and then receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost to guide them in their lives. These memories can bring the spirit back in great abundance and open hearts to accept the invitation to come back to activity in the Church.
One of the keys in helping these brothers and sisters return to activity is Sacrament meeting attendance. It is essential that they partake of the Sacrament and renew their convenants that they made with the Lord at baptism. This is a wonderful opportunity for all to feel the Spirit and be renewed and strengthened in faith and testimony. We can liken this to the marriage attended by the five wise virgins and the bridegroom. It must have been a glorious event. We have an important responsibility to help our wonderful bishops and branch presidents ensure that sacrament meeting is a place where all can add oil to their lamps by partaking of the Sacrament in a spirit of reverence and worship. This will be a great blessing in the lives of those who accept the invitation to return to the path of activity in the Church.
President Monson, in the July 2009 Liahona shared the story, “Sugar Beets and the Worth of a Soul”:
“Many years ago, Bishop Marvin O. Ashton (1883–1946), who served as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, gave an illustration I’d like to share with you. Picture with me, if you will, a farmer driving a large open-bed truck filled with sugar beets en route to the sugar refinery. As the farmer drives along a bumpy dirt road, some of the sugar beets bounce from the truck and are strewn along the roadside. When he realizes he has lost some of the beets, he instructs his helpers, “There’s just as much sugar in those which have slipped off. Let’s go back and get them!”
In my application of this illustration, the sugar beets represent the members of this Church for whom we who are called as leaders have responsibility; and those that have fallen out of the truck represent men and women, youth and children who, for whatever reason, have fallen from the path of activity. Paraphrasing the farmer’s comments concerning the sugar beets, I say of these souls, precious to our Father and our Master: “There’s just as much value in those who have slipped off. Let’s go back and get them!”
Lord emphasized the worth of each man or woman, youth or child when He declared:
“The worth of souls is great in the sight of God. …
“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
“And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” (D&C 18:10, 15–16).
May the Lord bless us in this great work in inviting others to come unto Him and may we do it with great faith, power and authority. President Monson said that we are entitled to His help, “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88).
We love you and pray for your success,
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
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