TEN KEYS TO REACTIVATION By Cordell Vail Handout for Federal Way WA Stake Conference 4 p.m. Leadership Meeting 15 May 1999 This is the biggest gap in accomplishing this work. Many members of the church simply have not decided to DO THE WORK. There are many that want to be a missionary or want to reactivate someone. But they say they will start next week. It is always next week. We have to set a time to start doing it. Start by deciding to do it and then decide to start doing it NOW. D&C 60:2 2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them. 3 And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have. If you have the goal to reactivate someone or baptize someone it is very likely you will accomplish it. If you set the goal to bring one person into the church this year you will accomplish it. If you have no goal, it is also very likely that you will accomplish that too. Once you have set the goal write it down. Unwritten goals are normally just wishes. If wishes were fishes we would all have a great fry. If you sincerely set a goal that you will find one person this year, I promise you that you will do it. If you say you will find 3 people this year, you will do that as well. If you say you will find one person to reactivate or baptize each year for the next 10 years, you will do it. If you just say you will reactivate someone it probably will continue to not happen. If there is not a time you do it, it will not get done on a consistent basis. If you don't have a time when you will do this work, when will you do it? Set at time. Every Sunday for two hours or every Tuesday night from 7 to 9. Set a time when you will do it. (BOY THIS IS GETTING SERIOUS NOW!!!) That someone may even be one of your own family members. Believe that you can do it. The Lord does not make promises that He can not keep. Alma 26:22 22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing--unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance. Genesis 18:14 14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? Don't pray that the missionaries will be lead to the honest in heart. Pray that YOUR family will be able to find people to refer to the missionaries. Many less active people are married to non-members. Reactivation normally leads to baptisms as well. Become their friend first. The teaching time will come later if you will make an honest effort to be their friend. Find a common interest with them. Spend time with them. You will find that giving service will do more to soften their hearts than any preaching that you will ever do. When you do get to the teaching part, teach them the DOCTRINE of the gospel not the mysteries. Believe that you can help them get a testimony. When they are ready you may even want to ask the missionaries to come help you. President Hinckley asked that every family in the church hear the 6 discussions again. They are wonderful for less active members. But don't be afraid to teach them. It may even for several months of your teaching them every week before they are ready to hear the missionary discussions. Let the spirit guide you in your teaching. Pray every day. Read the scriptures every day. Two of the greatest promises in the scriptures for reactivation work are in Matthew 10:19-20 and D&C 84:85 Matthew 10:19-20 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. If you study and study and study at home, then when you are with them the Holy Ghost will put the words in your mouth. If you study the scriptures and the conference talks every day of your life, and then the thoughts will just come to you from your study when you need them. You will just know what to teach them. You do not need to worry what you will say. D&C 84:85 85 Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man. You will be taught as you teach. TEACH THEM THE DOCTRINE. It will do more to convert you and your family than it will the less active you work with. As you find family after family to reconvert you will be reconverted yourself over and over and over. Involve your children. Bring the less active family to your home and teach them there with your children. That will do more to help your children want to go on a mission than anything else that you can do for them. James 5:20 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. Set the goal to become a MISSIONARY FAMILY. Be a Missionary who has RETURNED from his mission but never a RETURNED MISSIONARY. You can reactivate people in the church if you will just follow these 10 steps. But just remember that step #1 is the main one that stops most members of the church from doing the work. Deciding to do it and starting to do it NOW is the hardest step of all.