Implementing 'another way' to increase missionary success in our stake

                                                                               15 January 2015                                               

Dear Bishops,

Thank you for attending Elder Ballard’s training last weekend and our special meeting on January 8 when we discussed how to turn the keys to move forward the Lord’s work in our stake.

You are all mighty men, called of God specifically in this day and time, to unlock the door of revelation and powers of Heaven on behalf of the members of your ward.

As a stake presidency, we feel that the Lord has planted in our hearts the vision to add two new units (wards or branches) in our stake before the end of 2016. We believe strongly He will bring it about, if we will do our part through (1) convert baptisms, (2) reactivation of less-actives, and
(3) retention of current members by strengthening testimonies.

We also feel strongly to encourage you to consider the following two matters:

WARD MISSIONARIES: As we review the monthly mission report (prepared by the ZLs), we continue to have deep concerns about the commitment level of the ward missionaries. Few are attending weekly coordination meetings and even fewer, it seems, are making themselves available in the evenings to work side-by-side with the full-time missionaries.

Will you please identify and address the commitment level of your ward missionaries by helping them to re-commit to their calling…or, if necessary, consider calling new ward missionaries?

WARD MISSIONARY FAMILIES: You may remember that Elder Risenmay, our Area Seventy, taught us that if we are not having success we should not become discouraged, but learn from the prophet Alma and consider approaching the work “by another way” (Alma 8:18).

You will recall we were taught “another way” in a presentation by Elder Daniel Johnson, of the First Quorum of Seventy, last November. We were introduced to the concept of calling Ward Missionary Families.

Here’s how it can happen:

·   The bishopric prayerfully considers 5 to 10…or more…families in the ward (including the families of the stake leaders, bishopric and ward council members, even empty-nest couples and singles) to be called as Ward Missionary Families.

·   The bishopric personally visits each home, briefly teaches the doctrine of the Work of Salvation, and then calls the family or individual to serve as a Ward Missionary Family. You may want to make it for a specified time, such as six months or a year. This does not replace their current stake or ward callings.

·   If the family accepts, the bishopric explains the expectation: to schedule a time in which the full-time missionaries will meet with them for 10-15 minutes at the same time each week and to allow the missionaries to pray with them and help them with their commitment to share the gospel — as Elder Ballard taught us — by regularly taking three actions: 1) set a goal or date, 2) pray daily to know who to approach, and 3) regularly invite others to learn more. 

·   Hold the Ward Mission Leader or his assistant accountable to receive a report from the full-time missionaries each week on the progress of each family. A report is then made weekly to the bishopric.

As these families respond to the commitment to 1) set a date, 2) pray, and 3) invite, miracles will begin to happen in their lives and in their home. Eventually the excitement for the work will spread like a brush fire throughout the ward as other members observe the excitement and love these Ward Missionary Families are experiencing.

Will you please give serious consideration to implementing
this “other way” in your ward?

The key to this approach will be in the commitment level of the leaders and the expectation of accountability. Specifically:

·   The full-time missionaries must be committed and organized so they never fail to keep the established follow-up appointment each week.

·   The Ward Mission Leader (or his assistant) must be committed to hold the full-time missionaries accountable on the progress of each weekly follow-up appointment and be ready to send ward missionaries to fill in, should the full-time missionaries have a conflict.

·   The bishopric must be committed to expect and, if necessary, request a weekly report from the WML on each Ward Missionary Family’s progress.

Brethren, as we take bold and ambitious steps to move the work forward, let us also follow the patterns of success that are being taught to us by our leaders. There are few things we can do that will have more impact in our stake than having 30 to 60 committed families regularly 1) setting a date, 2) kneeling in prayer, pleading for the Lord’s assistance in meeting their goals, and 3) then exercising faith by inviting others to “come and see” the majesty of the Lord’s Plan of Happiness.

We love you and thank you for your faithfulness. We are especially grateful that each of you has a deep desire to turn the keys of missionary work in your ward to bring forth the blessings and miracles of Heaven in this part of His vineyard.