Apprehensive About Missionary Work?

[UAtraveler]

Missionary work is something I've struggled with for a long time. Even though I served a full time mission to the best of my ability, I still struggle with preaching the gospel. On my mission, I frequently got a stomachache knocking on people's doors, and if I think about it now, that pit in my stomach comes back just as strong.

The entire side of my mom's family is not LDS, and despite fact that I grew up in the church, the gospel wasn't really discussed in my home all that much. When I was in middle school I was invited by one of my friends to attend his Presbyterian church barbeque and although I didn't take him up on the offer, I remember the strange way it made me feel. There have been other people that have tried to befriend me into their religion and it always made me uncomfortable.

As a result of my past experiences, I grew up learning how to relate to people not of our faith in different ways, and I totally respect individuals for who they are. I've never wanted to make others have the same feelings I've experienced when other religions have been pushed on me, even in subtle ways. This, however, makes it very difficult for me to open my mouth sometimes about the church. My extended relatives have made it quite clear they don't want anything to do with Mormonism and so I've rarely discussed it with them.

Truthfully, if I were called to go on a mission now in my 30s, it would be very difficult for me to take that leap of faith, and sometimes I wonder if missionary service in the spirit world is just as challenging as it is on Earth.

Does anyone else have similar fears or feelings about missionary work? I know it's a true principle, but I worry that my apprehensive nature toward it will ultimately prevent me from returning to live with Heavenly Father and the Savior.

[LDSVALLEY]

Missionary work is not about pushing our beliefs at other people.

I dislike Missionary work yet I was recently a Mission Leader.

Missionary work is about presenting an opportunity to hear of the gospel. What they choose to do with that is up to them.

Being kind to non members is missionary work.

being an example is missionary work

Being helpful is Missionary work.

Casually talking about your beliefs in a non threatening or pushy manner is Missionary work.

I will never go dooring.

I will never stand on a corner passing out Book of Mormon's, or pass along cards.

I hate that for the last 6 months 90% of the talks are on Missionary Work and I pity visitors who must get the impression that is all the church is about.

But I do carry a couple of Book of Mormon's in the car and a few business cards with our Ward address and Sacrament time on them. When I have felt good about it I have handed those things to a person who I felt inspired to do so.

None of my or my wife's family are members and most likely never will be but their hearts have been softened over the years simply by our example. And our family has helped bring several people to the Gospel.

But I still dislike Missionary Work

[Latter Days Guy]

But I do carry a couple of Book of Mormon's in the car and a few business cards with our Ward address and Sacrament time on them. When I have felt good about it I have handed those things to a person who I felt inspired to do so.

The first thing that struck me when reading this was the scene in the movie 'The Best Two Years' where one of the elders goes off on one about how it's :

singular = book of Mormon.

plural = books of Mormon.

Did make me chuckle reading that little piece of your post!

As for missionary work, I find that I feel terrible in the time leading up to doing some missionary work but once I've started that goes away. The same happens with testimony sharing in sacrament or before I get up to give a talk. I remember the first time I gave a talk after returning to the church, my knees were literally knocking together and my hands were shaking! But after a while a calm feeling descended upon me and those nerves vanished.

[LDSVALLEY]

The first thing that struck me when reading this was the scene in the movie 'The Best Two Years' where one of the elders goes off on one about how it's :

singular = book of Mormon.

plural = books of Mormon.

Did make me chuckle reading that little piece of your post!

As for missionary work, I find that I feel terrible in the time leading up to doing some missionary work but once I've started that goes away. The same happens with testimony sharing in sacrament or before I get up to give a talk. I remember the first time I gave a talk after returning to the church, my knees were literally knocking together and my hands were shaking! But after a while a calm feeling descended upon me and those nerves vanished.

Funny I was thinking of the movie when I wrote it as Book of Mormon's!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am the same way with Missionary Work, if I go to an investigators home I feel like I will be sick, but afterward feel very spiritual.

[jayanna]

I love doing missionary work actually. I love going with the elders to teach investigators and less active members. I love sharing the gospel and the positive changes it has made to my life.

Concerning agency...not sharing the gospel is taking their agency away, not the other way around...how can they chose to live the gospel when they haven't even been given the chance to find out what it is? Agency is an educated choice.

I am asked questions about God, about my church, 4,5, sometimes 6 times a day by different people. Most of the time the same people come back later and ask some more questions. They ask because they know I won't judge them, or make them feel stupid, and I'll tell them the truth. I don't challenge them to make commitments, but I do invite. I like having some church activity to invite people to, or to come to my house to have a discussion with the elders.

The gospel has brought me such peace, hope, and completeness to my life. I have a purpose. My family love each other more. I am a better parent, a better wife, I know how to love others, I know how to love myself. When there are troubles, I can handle them better...how can I not share this?

I know that not everyone feels this way, maybe if you aren't ready, your talents may lie elsewhere. Maybe its music, or administration, primary, genealogy, home/visit teaching, service projects or any number of different things that are important to forwarding the Lord's work on the earth.

[NeuroTypical]

We had a member of the Stake Presidency describe missionary work in a very simple way that always stuck with me.

We offer people cookies. "Would you like a cookie?" Don't want no cookie, no problem. It's not a show-stopper. You don't think differently of them. If someone accepts a cookie, it's also not a huge thing. It doesn't mean they want a dozen cookies.

If they are happy with the cookie you offer them every time you see them, then hooray everybody. Not asking for a big shipment of cookies is not a problem.

If they ask us for the recipe, we're more than happy to give it to them.

The offering of the cookie, equates to offering to share messages, yes, but it also equates to just plain letting our light so shine before men. The gospel offers something the world hungers for. When people stand next to a righteous countenance, someone who knows what peace and joy feel like and where to get it, they react in different ways, but they react.

Now, if missionary work means a bunch of tricks, if you've learned the commitment pattern without knowing peace, if someone taught you to share a testimony you've never had - then of course there are issues. People don't naturally like to be liars or bad guys. And suckering someone into getting baptized just so you can give a good report to someone, well, something like that ought to leave a bad taste in your mouth.

[Seminarysnoozer]

Missionary work is something I've struggled with for a long time. Even though I served a full time mission to the best of my ability, I still struggle with preaching the gospel. On my mission, I frequently got a stomachache knocking on people's doors, and if I think about it now, that pit in my stomach comes back just as strong.

The entire side of my mom's family is not LDS, and despite fact that I grew up in the church, the gospel wasn't really discussed in my home all that much. When I was in middle school I was invited by one of my friends to attend his Presbyterian church barbeque and although I didn't take him up on the offer, I remember the strange way it made me feel. There have been other people that have tried to befriend me into their religion and it always made me uncomfortable.

As a result of my past experiences, I grew up learning how to relate to people not of our faith in different ways, and I totally respect individuals for who they are. I've never wanted to make others have the same feelings I've experienced when other religions have been pushed on me, even in subtle ways. This, however, makes it very difficult for me to open my mouth sometimes about the church. My extended relatives have made it quite clear they don't want anything to do with Mormonism and so I've rarely discussed it with them.

Truthfully, if I were called to go on a mission now in my 30s, it would be very difficult for me to take that leap of faith, and sometimes I wonder if missionary service in the spirit world is just as challenging as it is on Earth.

Does anyone else have similar fears or feelings about missionary work? I know it's a true principle, but I worry that my apprehensive nature toward it will ultimately prevent me from returning to live with Heavenly Father and the Savior.

One way to open avenues of sharing the gospel with friends that I have found is to make sure you acknowledge any bit of truth they share with you. This has worked for me, I have similar fears. Once a person knows what you have in common with them, it is easier to take about differences. So, I just try to make it a point to praise anything I hear that my friends are doing that I think is heading in the right direction.

I had a friend who after many years decided to go to mass at her church. I know she hadn't gone to any church in a long time, so I told her that's great, can I go with you? She said yes. That opened up other conversations about the church I attend. Where before I would have felt funny talking to her about going to church. She has come to church with me now twice.

[mrmarklin]

All my closest friends are non members as well as 100% of my co-workers.

Because I'm in a position of authority at work, it would be totally inappropriate to invite anyone anywhere (most are female), but they are all aware I'm a Mormon, and I've answered questions and had discussions about religion from time to time.

All my non-Mormon friends belong to various clubs that while social, there is an unwritten rule that politics and religion are not discussed. I would certainly become a pariah if it was ever percieved that I was "pushing" religion, however subtly. I have socialized and even traveled for extensive periods of time with these friends. Again, they all know I'm a Mormon and from time to time I've answered questions about the Church, and we've had very occasional and general mild discussions about religion on a one to one basis.

I guess I'm not a good missionary, because I've never had any conversion stories over the years, but I believe that by setting an example most of the people I come in contact with respect the church, and maybe in another setting might be open to further knowledge.

[Dove]

Hello, everyone

It's been a long time since I've posted on LDS net, so I hope my words will be helpful in this discussion.

For me, the best way to do missionary work is by doing all that I can to live true to gospel principals and to emulate, as much as is granted to me, the pure love of Christ. I believe in not forcing my beliefs on others in any way; but, when asked, to be honest about what I do believe.

Being an example is so important. Don't forget prayer and faith that when a person is truly searching for the answers our religion can provide, that one is at the ready to be used as God's instrument in pointing the way to that person in finding what they are seeking. To me, this takes an openness in several forms; to the promptings of the Spirit, while not forcing someone to listen, not being ashamed of sharing why being LDS is what we want to be, not being frightened, but loving and focusing on the needs of our brother/sister in that moment.

I think some of the most important missionary work that can be done is amongst other members of our church. It is so easy to fall away once in.......people do it all the time. I've heard that the great majority of people in our church are inactive. So sad, because there is greater condemnation in knowing the truth, and falling away, then there is in not knowing at all. I think it is important to always work on emulating Christlike attributes to anyone and everyone; especially other members. Christlike love is so important....

Dove

[Seminarysnoozer]

All my closest friends are non members as well as 100% of my co-workers.

Because I'm in a position of authority at work, it would be totally inappropriate to invite anyone anywhere (most are female), but they are all aware I'm a Mormon, and I've answered questions and had discussions about religion from time to time.

All my non-Mormon friends belong to various clubs that while social, there is an unwritten rule that politics and religion are not discussed. I would certainly become a pariah if it was ever percieved that I was "pushing" religion, however subtly. I have socialized and even traveled for extensive periods of time with these friends. Again, they all know I'm a Mormon and from time to time I've answered questions about the Church, and we've had very occasional and general mild discussions about religion on a one to one basis.

I guess I'm not a good missionary, because I've never had any conversion stories over the years, but I believe that by setting an example most of the people I come in contact with respect the church, and maybe in another setting might be open to further knowledge.

What you are doing is wonderful, keep up the good work!!

I have been in similar situations, here in San Diego, it is difficult to work in almost any field without having the majority of people being non-mormon. This is just me, for whatever that is worth, I have pushed myself to be more active in sharing the gospel by making sure people have a glimpse of not only the "work-me", which may be a good example, but also the "home-life-me".

For example, if someone shared a story about a family get together ... I would also share something that included a statement that explained we have regular planned get togethers on a weekly basis, Family Home Evening, and the value of that program. Or even a simple, "It is comforting to know we can see them again in the next life ..." when a co-worker was dealing with a family death.

I think opening the door for further discussion isn't "pushing" but there are many who will not walk through that door unless opened for them or at least invited.

[prophetofdoom]

I believe that timing is key. My Ward recently had a Public Relations Chairman for the Stake visit and talk to us. He said the problem many members face is acting like anyone one who asks about the church is "interested" in hearing the gospel. There is a difference between someone being curious vs. someone being interested in investigating the church.