Called to serve - as a CYBER Missionary?

[Heather]

A great place to participate in a non-LDS environment is the Washington Post faith blogs. Check some of these out and add/reply to comments. You'll notice quite a few LDS.net members already participating:

Michael Otterson: On Faith at washingtonpost.com
Kathleen Flake: On Faith at washingtonpost.com
Richard Bushman: On Faith at washingtonpost.com

[justamere10]

Originally Posted by Heather

A great place to participate in a non-LDS environment is the Washington Post faith blogs. Check some of these out and add/reply to comments. You'll notice quite a few LDS.net members already participating:

Michael Otterson: On Faith at washingtonpost.com
Kathleen Flake: On Faith at washingtonpost.com
Richard Bushman: On Faith at washingtonpost.com

That's exactly the kind of information that is helpful in organizing the Cyber Missionary focus and effort. I put your links on my 'to do' list.

[Tough Grits]

Originally Posted by AlexanderX

Unfortunately you are at a disadvantage, since I am not in a controlled environment starring at a couple of 19 year old Elders. I am free to roam libraries and get all the information I need to make an educated decision.

If all investigators did this, the Church would have to rely on membership births to continue the growth of the Church.

I am shocked by the final statement of your post.

Very rarely will I quote a comment that I am in disagreement with, as I try not to be confrontational.

However, based on how you, yourself, respond back to others, I do not feel that you will be offended or hurt by my doing so to you.

I am not a "born into" member. I spent 24 years of my life as an agnostic. I was exposed to MANY religions, concepts, and ideas.

I DID investigate this Church. I CHOSE to be baptized. Nor am I the only convert.

Also, you do realize that just because somebody is born into the Church, that does not mean that they have been converted. Even "born into" members need to reach the moment of conversion where they have a testimony for themselves, not merely by what they had been taught as a child.

Not only did your final comment come off as rude and false, but to state that you are in a position to make an "educated" decision, does that mean LDS members who are converts are uneducated?

You did not just type the word, but you italicized it as well. Why?

What has happened to make you so aggressive towards the Church and it's members?

I do not call those who choose to be Catholics, Buddhists, etc. uneducated because of their decision.

It seems to me, that it would be hard to even find and know truth, if I had so much negativity and angst in my heart and mind.

Just a thought.

[justamere10]

Originally Posted by Tough Grits

I am shocked by the final statement of your post.

Very rarely will I quote a comment that I am in disagreement with, as I try not to be confrontational.

However, based on how you, yourself, respond back to others, I do not feel that you will be offended or hurt by my doing so to you.

I am not a "born into" member. I spent 24 years of my life as an agnostic. I was exposed to MANY religions, concepts, and ideas.

I DID investigate this Church. I CHOSE to be baptized. Nor am I the only convert.

Also, you do realize that just because somebody is born into the Church, that does not mean that they have been converted. Even "born into" members need to reach the moment of conversion where they have a testimony for themselves, not merely by what they had been taught as a child.

Not only did your final comment come off as rude and false, but to state that you are in a position to make an "educated" decision, does that mean LDS members who are converts are uneducated?

You did not just type the word, but you italicized it as well. Why?

What has happened to make you so aggressive towards the Church and it's members?

I do not call those who choose to be Catholics, Buddhists, etc. uneducated because of their decision.

It seems to me, that it would be hard to even find and know truth, if I had so much negativity and angst in my heart and mind.

Just a thought.

I think AlexanderX was warned several times, persisted in breaking the rules, and was banned. So you're not likely to get a response from him.

[Vanhin]

I am all about missionary work, and that is the primary reason I participate on these forums. However, I would caution about taking it upon ourselves to preach the gospel in an official capacity, or to come off as official representatives or missionaries of the Church. Our role in missionary work is to prepare and encourage people to be taught by the full-time missionaries of the Church. They are the ones called and set apart to teach the gospel, and the keys of teaching and baptizing converts belong to the juristiction of the mission president of a given geographical area.

Our fifth article of faith is more than just about the way priesthood is transmitted. It is also about the authority to preach the gospel.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. (AoF 5)

Women also are called to preach the gospel as sister missionaries, but of course they do not hold the priesthood and cannot perform the ordinances. But they have been "...called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel..." Full-time missionaries have truly set themselves apart from the world, and live a higher standard so that they can more fully enjoy the companionship of the Spirit. Their only focus is missionary work, and that's all they do. Yes, they are weak and simple, but they are the Lord's chosen, and even Seventies and other Church leaders defer the teaching of their friends to the full-time missionaries. That's their job, to teach and to baptize converts into the Church. :-)

I think it's noble and most important for us to preach the gospel, and share the light with everyone that we can. We just need to be careful to follow the proper channels of priesthood authority, and to do things in the order that God has given to us. I'm not necessarily saying this to anyone specifically, but just as an observation and a caution from my understanding and perspective. I think Satan lays waiting for an opportunity to turn our zeal into pride and to bring us down.

Sincerely,
Vanhin

[justamere10]

Originally Posted by Vanhin

I am all about missionary work, and that is the primary reason I participate on these forums. However, I would caution about taking it upon ourselves to preach the gospel in an official capacity, or to come off as official representatives or missionaries of the Church. Our role in missionary work is to prepare and encourage people to be taught by the full-time missionaries of the Church. They are the ones called and set apart to teach the gospel, and the keys of teaching and baptizing converts belong to the juristiction of the mission president of a given geographical area.

Our fifth article of faith is more than just about the way priesthood is transmitted. It is also about the authority to preach the gospel.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. (AoF 5)

Women also are called to preach the gospel as sister missionaries, but of course they do not hold the priesthood and cannot perform the ordinances. But they have been "...called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel..." Full-time missionaries have truly set themselves apart from the world, and live a higher standard so that they can more fully enjoy the companionship of the Spirit. Their only focus is missionary work, and that's all they do. Yes, they are weak and simple, but they are the Lord's chosen, and even Seventies and other Church leaders defer the teaching of their friends to the full-time missionaries. That's their job, to teach and to baptize converts into the Church. :-)

I think it's noble and most important for us to preach the gospel, and share the light with everyone that we can. We just need to be careful to follow the proper channels of priesthood authority, and to do things in the order that God has given to us. I'm not necessarily saying this to anyone specifically, but just as an observation and a caution from my understanding and perspective. I think Satan lays waiting for an opportunity to turn our zeal into pride and to bring us down.

Sincerely,
Vanhin

I think most active Latter-day Saints appreciate the full-time missionaries and acknowledge their official call and setting apart.

Many of us who are often online also see the great opportunities for missionary work in this new medium and are heeding Elder Ballard's recent requests that we join in religious discussions where there are non-members participating.

The purpose of doing what we do is to help correct the many misunderstandings that are all over the internet about our beliefs. By doing that we are teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Which is, of course, MISSIONARY work.

Missionary work is the responsibility of EVERY active Latter-day Saint, officially called and set apart or not.

.

[Vanhin]

Originally Posted by justamere10

I think most active Latter-day Saints appreciate the full-time missionaries and acknowledge their official call and setting apart.

Many of us who are often online also see the great opportunities for missionary work in this new medium and are heeding Elder Ballard's recent requests that we join in religious discussions where there are non-members participating.

The purpose of doing what we do is to help correct the many misunderstandings that are all over the internet about our beliefs. By doing that we are teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Which is, of course, MISSIONARY work.

Missionary work is the responsibility of EVERY active Latter-day Saint, officially called and set apart or not.

Every member a missionary.

Every member online a CYBER missionary...

No doubt.

I think maybe you are confusing my point and replying to something I did not say. So, as a point of clarification for the readers of these forums, I am not discouraging members from doing missionary work. On the contrary, I acknowledge it as "noble and most important" for us do, and that I myself am here at this time for that purpose. Since I'm not cautioning members about doing member missionary work, I will not respond to the subject of your post other than this clarification.

I think my original post stands on it's own, so I will just leave it at that. Not to seem too redundant, here is my point in a nutshell:

"I am all about missionary work, and that is the primary reason I participate on these forums. However, I would caution about taking it upon ourselves to preach the gospel in an official capacity, or to come off as official representatives or missionaries of the Church. Our role in missionary work is to prepare and encourage people to be taught by the full-time missionaries of the Church. They are the ones called and set apart to teach the gospel, and the keys of teaching and baptizing converts belong to the juristiction of the mission president of a given geographical area." (Called to serve - as a CYBER Missionary?)

Regards,
Vanhin

[justamere10]

Originally Posted by Vanhin

No doubt.

I think maybe you are confusing my point and replying to something I did not say. So, as a point of clarification for the readers of these forums, I am not discouraging members from doing missionary work. On the contrary, I acknowledge it as "noble and most important" for us do, and that I myself am here at this time for that purpose. Since I'm not cautioning members about doing member missionary work, I will not respond to the subject of your post other than this clarification.

I think my original post stands on it's own, so I will just leave it at that. Not to seem too redundant, here is my point in a nutshell:

"I am all about missionary work, and that is the primary reason I participate on these forums. However, I would caution about taking it upon ourselves to preach the gospel in an official capacity, or to come off as official representatives or missionaries of the Church. Our role in missionary work is to prepare and encourage people to be taught by the full-time missionaries of the Church. They are the ones called and set apart to teach the gospel, and the keys of teaching and baptizing converts belong to the juristiction of the mission president of a given geographical area." (Called to serve - as a CYBER Missionary?)

Regards,
Vanhin

I understand your point and I'm not trying to put you down at all. Your comments are primarily about missionary work in the physical world, mine are about missionary work in the virtual world. So far at least, as far as I know, there are no official callings to do virtual missionary work other than the responsibility each member has with or without the badge, and Elder Ballard's encouragement.

Personally, I think our role as unofficial LDS Cyber Missionaries is to prepare and encourage people to be taught by the Spirit on the official LDS websites such as Mormon.org. Once we have moved people to those websites, I think we have done our 'job' pretty well.

One good way to do that is to start an "Ask a Mormon" thread on appropriate non-LDS discussion boards. One such thread that I started about six weeks ago drew 3500 posts and about 40,000 views! That, in my opinion is effective missionary work...

I see that AlexanderX is gone. Should anyone else have questions about how the Internet will affect the Church- have no fear. Enemies of the Church have claimed every new piece of evidence and every new system of technology would be the downfall of the Church.

When the transcontinental railroad was built, critics of the Church predicted Brigham Young would lose his followers because they were being held against their will, and once safe means of escape were presented the members would leave in droves.

Needless to say, that never happened. I'm sure some had sufficiently hardened hearts that they did leave, but that was undoubtedly a blessing in the long run. In the final days, there will be great trials, some beginning from within the Church. One of those trials is easy access to false information, poisonous to a growing testimony. One way to weed a true Saint from a pretender is to see what information they look up, how often they peruse it, how they react to it, and how it affects their testimony.

By the way- justamere10's forum is very, very good (IMO)! I would suggest looking at it.

[Vanhin]

Originally Posted by justamere10

I understand your point and I'm not trying to put you down at all. Your comments are primarily about missionary work in the physical world, mine are about missionary work in the virtual world. So far at least, as far as I know, there are no official callings to do virtual missionary work other than the responsibility each member has with or without the badge, and Elder Ballard's encouragement.

Personally, I think our role as unofficial LDS Cyber Missionaries is to prepare and encourage people to be taught by the Spirit on the official LDS websites such as Mormon.org. Once we have moved people to those websites, I think we have done our 'job' pretty well.

One good way to do that is to start an "Ask a Mormon" thread on appropriate non-LDS discussion boards. One such thread that I started about six weeks ago drew 3500 posts and about 40,000 views! That, in my opinion is effective missionary work...

I hear you. I don't think there is a difference in missionary work whether it's done personally, by mail, by phone, by Internet, or by any other way. Dispite the fact that there is a great deal of anonymity our here, it's not really virtual. We are talking about actual people, who's spirits are actually the sons and daughters of God. So no special instruction are needed. The instructions we have received from the Lord through the leaders of the Church concerning member missionary work apply in all aspects of real life, including our correspondence by way of the Internet. I have never thought otherwise.

Our role in member missionary work is ultimately to help prepare and encourage people to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ by his duly authorized missionaries. That's the purpose of member missionary work. I draw no distinction in the various methods and medias used in this work by sincere members. Elder Ballard's call to more member participation is not just about the Internet. It's the same thing the Church and the scriptures have been teaching us for years, "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." (D&C 88:81).

All I'm saying is what Elder Ballard said, "Remember that while you as an individual Latter-day Saint in some ways represent the Church, be careful not to represent yourself as speaking officially for the Church." (LDS Newsroom - Apostle Urges Students to Use New Media) Edit: Sorry, here's the right link -> Making Your Influence Felt

Anyway, I'm not telling you what to do. Feel free to call yourself an "LDS CYBER Missionary" if you want. I just think that we should be cautious not to present ourselves as official representives of the Church, when we are not really that. For us to be that we must be "...called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority..." and in that case, we would have the title of Elder (not just the office), or Sister.

Otherwise, we are standing ministers, and our primary responsibility is to preach the gospel and strengthen the members of the Church, find people for the missionaries to teach and fellowship converts and new members, and seek out our kindred dead and do their work in the temple. As standing ministers, our ministry is Home Teaching; where we go two and two and are organized just like the full-time missionaries, except we don't go abroad, and we teach and strengthen the Church members where we live. That is vital to the missionary program of the Church, and if we really want to be blessed with more convert baptisms, we should double our home teaching efforts, and encourage as many people as possible to hear the gospel as taught by the missionaries.

Those are just my thoughts on the matter. Take em or leave em.

Sincerely,
Vanhin