After baptism...

[just_girl]

Okay, so I was wondering...

Now that I've made the decision to be baptized, have been baptized, got a limited Temple recommend and been to the Temple for my first time, and accepted a calling, I'm curious...

At one point, the sister missionaries told me there were lessons to be done even after conversion, but they haven't mentioned them to me yet. Quite frankly, my 'favorite' sister missionary recently went home because it was the end of her mission and I dont feel near as close with the two that are here now and I know that the one sister missionary that has been here already (not the new one) finds me annoying... approaching them is much more difficult than it was when the other sister was still here... knowing she doesn't care for me makes it even worse and I feel like any time I ask anything I'm just bothering them... even though they insist I'm not. Our personalities are just MAJORLY different, I realize that, but...

anyway....

So am I supposed to say something to them about the other lessons? Or just go about my way and not worry about it? I guess I'm wondering if I'm missing something here....

[ChooseTheSun]

With me the missionaries reviewed the lessons already taught during investigation. They expanded on themes and it seemed like new lessons. Also, a member family took the lead during these "second-round" lessons to help bridge from the missionaries to my new ward family. It was presented as an absolutely routine part of my conversion, and they referenced the second-round lessons even before the baptism.

I hope you find a way to get those lessons, one way or another :) Good luck!

[Wingnut]

Typically, the "new member discussions," as they are called, are taught to newly baptized members by their home teachers, or by ward members that are called as ward missionaries. The full-time missionaries (your "sisters") might sit in or do one of the lessons, but their primary focus is preparing you for baptism. Also, these lessons tend to be once every other week or so -- generally more spread out than the missionary lessons.

When I was a missionary, it was rare that a new convert actually received all six NMDs. Usually, they got up through about lesson 4 or so, and then things just tapered off with the lessons. A lot of their content was review of the lessons that we taught prior to baptism -- reinforcement, if you will. Not completely, though.

In my current ward, newly baptized converts and the NMDs are discussed in ward council (leadership) meetings. The bishop and other ward leadership are aware of the progress and need to complete them. It's likely that someone will be in touch with you about the first lesson soon. :)

[just_girl]

Gotcha... thanks! I just wasn't sure what I should expect... This helps... :)

[tubaloth]

Back in the day it was the Missionary that usually started the new member discussions. But now days, like Wingnut said, its more done on the ward level. Or more its the wards Job. Which usually means its can fall through the crack. You can either talk to the Bishop, the Relief Society President, or the Ward Mission Leader (if you know who he is). Any one of them could help.

You will probably never fill as Close to any missionaries as to the ones that helped you join the church. Actually at some point they are probably going to switch from Sister missionaries back to Elder Missionaries. A lot of new converts in a way have that jolt to where they have to realize why they joined the church, and where the testimony is at. Sounds like you are progressing nicely.

[just_girl]

Thanks tuba... Our ward actually has Sister missionaries AND Elder missionaries - we have four... the ward is a smaller ward, but the area of it is quite large, I guess, so there are two sets.

The sister missionaries asked me today about meeting this week, but the day they will be in my town I'm working and then heading out of town after school and I wont have time. Oh well. I'm sure that something will happen eventually - I just wasn't exactly sure as to what it was supposed to be! :)

[dahlia]

I had ward missionaries at first, but then I think people thought it was too much (ward missionaries, I was starting to do visiting teaching, and getting home teachers), and the ward missionaries stopped and my regular missionaries continued giving me post-baptism lessons.

I've liked it better - I know the missionaries (even when a new one came, at least I knew one of them), we can hang at my place and eat, and I don't have to worry about the schedules of married guys with kids and grad school.

[pam]

As others have said, in wards I have been in, once baptized the continuance of lessons are done by ward missionaries.

[bytebear]

As a member, you are no longer in the stewardship of the missionaries. You now have home teachers and visiting teachers (and a Bishop, and a Relief Society President, and a Stake President, and maybe a Young Women's President). In other words, you are now part of your ward family. And the missionaries are only temporary to that family. Start relying more on the ward members, and remember to be open and friendly with the new members who enter the ward as you have done. They will need your support too.

[just_girl]

Thanks again, everyone. I'm starting to understand the set up, I think, but it will still take getting used to. I dont have home teachers or visiting teachers assigned yet, since everything is so new, and at 31 and a single mother I don't quite think I qualify for YW. :)

Is it bad that I'm feeling kind of a sense of mourning since I wont be at church this coming Sunday? It was bad enough to miss for Easter, but missing this coming Sunday, the first Sunday back in the actual church building, is making me quite upset. Sighs. I never expected to feel this way at all!

[Jennarator]

It's ok to be sad you are not going to church this Sunday. But don't let that turn to guilt. You are doing the best you can to get there as often as possible.

So glad to hear you are excited about the new member disscussions. They are pretty cool. They can fill in some of those gaps you are feeling. Also, I think part of the reason they are taught by ward members is because then you can get to know the members better, rather than relying on the missionaries. (Not that you are doing that, but some people might depend on them and when they get transferred or go home, they slowly fall away.)

You are doing great!

[waywardsciotosaint]

I got my discussions from the full time missionaries, but we did not finish as far as I know. It has been over 4 months since my baptism and no home teachers yet even though I have requested multiple times. Before my baptism I asked the bishop to not give me a calling with the full time missionaries but instead call me to a position to get to know the ward members. I was called as Assistant Ward Mission Leader to a Ward Mission Leader who is working out of state (5 hours away) and will be moving soon, but others told me I should not have accepted since Preach My Gospel written by Apostles state that calling requires the Melchizedek Priesthood (which I do not hold). I feel like I should resign and hope for a calling I am qualified to do.

[Vort]

I got my discussions from the full time missionaries, but we did not finish as far as I know. It has been over 4 months since my baptism and no home teachers yet even though I have requested multiple times. Before my baptism I asked the bishop to not give me a calling with the full time missionaries but instead call me to a position to get to know the ward members. I was called as Assistant Ward Mission Leader to a Ward Mission Leader who is working out of state (5 hours away) and will be moving soon, but others told me I should not have accepted since Preach My Gospel written by Apostles state that calling requires the Melchizedek Priesthood (which I do not hold). I feel like I should resign and hope for a calling I am qualified to do.

Don't give up. Do your best in your calling and lean on others; you're called to assist, not to do all the work. As for your home teachers, I suggest you call your elders quorum president (or high priests group leader, if you meet with the high priests) and tell him you need home teachers. Call him today. Then follow up every Sunday. Might be a good idea to mention this to the bishop, as well, who will encourage your quorum/group leader to get the home teachers out. I hate to encourage nagging, but seriously, when someone needs home teachers, that just has to be taken care of.

[waywardsciotosaint]

Don't give up. Do your best in your calling and lean on others; you're called to assist, not to do all the work. As for your home teachers, I suggest you call your elders quorum president (or high priests group leader, if you meet with the high priests) and tell him you need home teachers. Call him today. Then follow up every Sunday. Might be a good idea to mention this to the bishop, as well, who will encourage your quorum/group leader to get the home teachers out. I hate to encourage nagging, but seriously, when someone needs home teachers, that just has to be taken care of.

I have mentioned it multiple times to the EQP and Bishop, been told to be patient. I promised the Bishop to not bother him until after Thanksgiving. The Ward just had two missionaries removed by the Mission President a couple weeks ago because they felt they were asking the members to teach with them too much and it was too much pressure. I guess they are wanting me to learn the lesson of forbearance. Thanks for your support. I think I will try to get with the Ward Mission Leader next time he is town and ask his advice, since he is really the only member I know somewhat.