Comments on: Artificial

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 17:56:31 +0000

But we can still deliberately prepare ourselves to make the most of such opportunities when they come.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 03:48:36 +0000

“I think people with Christlike love can deliberate and plan to say things to their friends, neighbors and acquaintances about the Gospel”

Perhaps. I’ve found, however, that my best missionary experiences have never been planned, but simply a matter of the evolution of our conversations.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I agree with your comments about love, but disagree about a lot of the rest.

People are converted when they feel the spirit.

Generally Missionaries are not artificial. They live a lifestyle that promotes a constant companionship of the spirit. I think when a missionary comes home they don't have the spirit with them as strong or as often. It's simple to become (the) natural (man) and lose the spirit when doing everyday activities such as watching television or working fulltime.

I don't think shoveling sidewalks will convert, but continued selfless service will. Why, because people can't help but to feel the spirit when they are served as the savior would serve them.

Your last sentence is right on the mark. We need to become more like Jesus, (especially me).

Thanks for posting this and making me think.

By: RCH

RCH — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Amen, amen, amen! I feel so uncomfortable with the set-a-date challenges simply because I know how much I hate to be someone's "project."

...Of course, being somewhat antisocial, I'm not good at interacting with my neighbors naturally, either. LOL. So I still have something to work at....

By: Susan M

Susan M — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Our ward missionaries came over the other night and asked if we had any missionary experiences to share with them. I ended up talking about a couple of people our family has influenced to start attending church. Not our church, but church. Not everyone is ready to accept the gospel. It cheered me to realize we were having a good influence on people spiritually.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

ok, just so you all know, Kim isn’t saying missionaries are FAKE, just that they are doing something, for a period of time that is not part of “reeal life”, if that makes sense. He is not doubting their sincerity in their work (obviously, since he was a full time missionary himself and loved every minute of it. well almost every minute of it).

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I do think hey are fake, just not in the sense that they are insincere or deceitful. Rather in the sense that they are created or man-made. Missionaries are completely different individuals during their two (or 1.5) years than they are any other time in their lives.

By: Mary Siever

Mary Siever — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

i know, that’s what i meant. you don’t mean they are “faking it” intentionally.

By: Kim Siever

Kim Siever — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hugh, do you think that the Spirit is tied to whether someone reads the newspaper or watches TV or gets up at 6:30 or not?

By: rick

rick — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The question I've had for a number of years now is, why does the church continue to use missionaries in the same way? Door-to-door salesmen are few and far between these days, and if all you're looking to do is spread the word, there are far better ways that tracting door-to-door or showing up at public events.

Here's an even better use of the missionaries: Have them go somewhere where they will be wanted and appreciated. Do you honestly believe that some affluent suburb in Utah is a reasonable place to send a missionary? Send these young men to Africa where they can do some good. Send them to New Orleans to spread the good word through good deeds. Send them to somewhere where there is no question that they will be able to make a real difference in the day-to-day survival of people.

Allow them to come back to their native country for the last 3 months of the mission and fellowship people in another region, spreading news of all the good works they've done and showing members' selflessness and reminding members of their own core beliefs.

Stop making missionaries act like salesmen.
Start allowing them to act like Christ.

...and all this from a non-member, who'd have thunk it?