{"id":8,"date":"2020-07-10T19:37:58","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T19:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/?page_id=8"},"modified":"2020-07-10T19:40:36","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T19:40:36","slug":"helping-investigators","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/?page_id=8","title":{"rendered":"Helping Investigators"},"content":{"rendered":"

Helping investigators progress towards baptism<\/font><\/font><\/h2>\n

How can we help our missionaries and members teach in a way that helps a larger portion of our investigators gain testimonies?<\/font><\/h2>\n
\nCommitting to Commitments
<\/a>This true story helps you see that when investigators stop progressing towards baptism, it often is because they don\u2019t know how to pray, how to study the scriptures, and how to keep the Sabbath day holy. \u00a0In other words, it is quite possible that an investigator\u2019s stumbling is not the fault of the investigator. It is\u00a0our<\/em>\u00a0fault for not properly teaching them the\u00a0how-tos<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Everyday Missionaries<\/a>
The middle section of this book addresses the challenge of helping investigators to resolutely more forward toward baptism. This section includes the story of Brian Carpenter, as well as other suggestions.<\/p>\n

Praying With Your Feet<\/a>
A wonderful talk given by President Russell Hancock of the Menlo Park CA stake that describes different ways in which we can develop testimonies. It is great for investigators, missionaries and members.<\/div>\n

Do you have any suggestions for making our baptismal services more inspiring?<\/font><\/h2>\n
1. Read the last page of the booklet, \u201cLeading a Great Ward Mission<\/a>.\u201d \u00a0It lists the basics.<\/p>\n

2. With the generosity of a leader in the Boston area, the Boston mission developed a portable open house — a set of panels that can easily be set up in the foyer of an LDS building. During the “down times” during baptismal services — waiting for things to start, waiting for the new convert to change clothing after being baptized; and after the service has ended — the members and missionaries can introduce the church to people who attended the service who have not yet been baptized. If you are interested in how to build these panels for your stake or mission, send us an email, and we’ll do our best to help.<\/p>\n

3. The following is condensed from a story in the \u201cThe Mission of the Wilmington Ward<\/a>\u201d case study:<\/div>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 During a stake training meeting when the leaders puzzled about how to inspire more members to share the gospel, Wilmington Ward Primary President Nancy Bittner spoke up.\u00a0 \u201cLet me tell you what we did for our son Daniel\u2019s baptism.\u00a0 He turned eight two months ago.\u00a0 We printed invitations to the baptismal service, and the missionaries delivered them to ten of the families of Daniel\u2019s friends \u2013 just saying on the doorstep that the Bittners had asked them to deliver these invitations.\u00a0 Eight of them came to the baptismal service.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cThe missionaries then welcomed everyone at the door at the service \u2013 because they would recognize those that they had visited.\u00a0 Instead of asking Daniel\u2019s grandmother to give the talk about baptism, we had Daniel give the talk. He explained for his friends and their parents what baptism means in our church. I\u2019m not exaggerating: Daniel gave a great talk. We practiced it, of course. But the parents of his friends were just stunned that Daniel could articulate so clearly why we are baptized at age eight.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cA few days after the baptism the missionaries went back to each friend\u2019s home, to thank them for coming, and asked, \u2018Do you have any questions about what you saw or heard that we could help you with?\u2019\u00a0 Two of the families had questions and invited them in, and one began taking the discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 The baptism of an 8-year old from an active member family can be a wonderful missionary opportunity.\u00a0 The ward mission leader should be deeply involved in the planning. There are two constituent groups at nearly every baptism. The first are members of family and the ward. The second are non-member friends and family. If the family plans ahead, there can often be more non-members than members at the service. It can be a great missionary opportunity, if designed well.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 Two many baptismal services for 8-year olds start ten minutes late. While the members enjoy this time to talk with their friends in the ward, the non-members sit awkwardly but silently, not knowing whether this is going to be a party or a Mormon \u201ccoming of age\u201d ceremony.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 While the typical talks given at a child\u2019s baptism are typically aimed at them, think about how powerful it could be for a child to think through and prepare a talk about why he or she has decided to enter the waters of baptism.\u00a0 They would remember far more about this experience and so could others..<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 The 10-15 minutes that pass while the child and father change into dry clothes and blow-dry their hair should also be filled with meaningful teaching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Helping investigators progress towards baptism How can we help our missionaries and members teach in a way that helps a larger portion of our investigators gain testimonies? Committing to CommitmentsThis true story helps you see that when investigators stop progressing towards baptism, it often is because they don\u2019t know how to pray, how to study … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21,"href":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8\/revisions\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionaryleaders.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}