Mormons Asked to Help Missionaries Find People Interested in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ

Salt Lake City, UTAH – The number of Mormon missionaries has nearly doubled, and more are on the way, but the number of converts has remained about the same. That may soon change if church members follow advice given this weekend at the 184th General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In a report given in the weekend conference broadcast world-wide to the more than 15 million members, it was revealed that 85,039 missionaries are now serving around the world (a record high), and 14,375 are preparing to begin serving in the next few months. In the past year 282,945 converts were baptized, a significant number but not an increase over previous years.

In fact, there were a number of years when the yearly number of converts reached more than 300,000 a year while there were only about 40,000 full-time missionaries. For example, in 1990 there were only 43,651 missionaries and the number of converts that year reached 330,877.

Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, counseled members to make a stronger effort to help the missionaries find people to teach. He advised all church members to read and follow the guidelines in the book Preach My Gospel, which is the instruction manual used by missionaries.

“Preach My Gospel teaches everyone how to not only invite but also how to follow-up on our invitations,” explained Elder Ballard. He asked all members to get a copy of the book and use it. “Read it, study it, and then apply what you learn to help you understand how to bring souls to Christ through invitation and follow up.”

He said that the Lord has called the greatest number of full-time missionaries in the history of the world, and has given members an opportunity to assist Him in the “great harvest of souls.”

Elder Ballard advised members to tell missionaries that they are reading and studying Preach My Gospel, and to write letters to their family members who are full-time missionaries about the things learned from the book and the ways they are putting it to use.

“If we follow up, the Lord will not let us down. I have seen the unspeakable joy that accompanies testimony-driven inviting and faithful follow-up among members of the Church the world over,” said Elder Ballard.

He told an inspiring story of a young boy by the name of Joshua who invited his friend to come to church. The friend showed up to an open house with his entire family because of the boy’s invitation.

“It is my testimony that as we strive to do our part seeking the one, inviting and following up with trust and faith like little Joshua,” he concluded, “we will find hundreds of thousands of God’s children who will join with us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

President Thomas S. Monson, considered to be a modern prophet of God, also encouraged members to help missionary work. He told the story of a young girl who sacrificed to help someone she did not know. That sacrifice led to a life-long friendship, and eventually that friendship led to membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Every day of our lives we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us,” said President Monson.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, counselor to President Monson, told members they need to overcome the things in their lives that “it is easy to become sleepy with regard to building the kingdom of God.”

He warned against selfishness and putting personal desires over service to others. He said acts of kindness can change hearts and lives. He also warned against competing priorities and putting the work of the Lord first over other competing interests.

“Dear friends, know that you are sons of light. Don’t allow selfishness! Don’t allow habits that could lead to addition! Don’t allow competing priorities to lull you into indifference or detachment from blessed discipleship and ennobling priesthood service!”