Sister Murdock’s lesson was around Bishop Richard Edgley’s conference talk; The Rescue for Real Growth. She reminded us we all have friends, neighbors, or family members who need to be rescued, we need to work to bring them back to Christ so they can receive the saving ordinances we enjoy.
One of the most meaningful and important ways to establish real growth in the Church is to reach out and rescue those who have been baptized yet are wandering in a less-active state, void of the blessings and saving ordinances. Regardless of our individual calling—home or visiting teacher, Sunday School teacher, bishop, father, mother, or General Authority—all can engage in the rescuing effort in a meaningful way.
One of the most meaningful and important ways to establish real growth in the Church is to reach out and rescue those who have been baptized yet are wandering in a less-active state, void of the blessings and saving ordinances. Regardless of our individual calling—home or visiting teacher, Sunday School teacher, bishop, father, mother, or General Authority—all can engage in the rescuing effort in a meaningful way.
When Bishop Edgley was serving as a member of a stake presidency they received a call from one of their bishops who was concerned about his congregation. He had a very active ward and couldn’t find callings for everyone; he was asking for the ward to be split. As they were waiting for approval from church headquarters they decided to call these ward member, who numbered around 100, to be ward missionaries. During their interviews to extend the call one young woman was surprised at the call, she said “don’t you know I’m not active in the church?” Bishop Edgley told her he had not known that, but encouraged her to be in church the following Sunday at 9:00am. She told him know how hard it was to come back after being inactive, there was so much uncertainty about how she would be accepted and treated. She told him she knew her parents had been praying for years that she would return to the church, and that for the last 3 months she had been praying to find the courage to return. She asked him if he thought this was an answer to their prayers; he replied “I believe the Lord has answered your prayers”. Ultimately she accepted the call and became a fine missionary.
Sister Murdock reminded us we need to be more than “sort of” committed to the church. If we’re only sort of committed, we’ll sort of receive the blessings of the gospel and sort of have the windows of heaven opened to us. If we’re not moving ahead in our commitment, we’re falling backwards; there’s no middle ground.
Bishop Edgley said he’s learned several things as he’s interviewed less active members
• I learned that many less-active members have loved ones on their knees daily
petitioning the Lord for help in rescuing their loved one.
• I learned that it is not all that easy or comfortable for a less-active member to just walk
back into the Church. They need help. They need support. They need fellowship.
• I learned we have less-active members who are trying and willing to find the path back
to activity.
• I learned that many less-active members will hold callings if asked.
• I learned that a less-active member deserves to be treated as an equal and be viewed
as a son or daughter of a loving God.
Sister Murdock asked Venna Kearl to share her story of returning to activity. She said during
the time she was inactive she had many friends who simply loved her and her family for
who they were. She didn’t feel judged, but loved by many. She closed with her testimony
that “Heavenly Father loves us and gives us that love through others.
Bishop Edgley said he’s learned several things as he’s interviewed less active members
• I learned that many less-active members have loved ones on their knees daily
petitioning the Lord for help in rescuing their loved one.
• I learned that it is not all that easy or comfortable for a less-active member to just walk
back into the Church. They need help. They need support. They need fellowship.
• I learned we have less-active members who are trying and willing to find the path back
to activity.
• I learned that many less-active members will hold callings if asked.
• I learned that a less-active member deserves to be treated as an equal and be viewed
as a son or daughter of a loving God.
Sister Murdock asked Venna Kearl to share her story of returning to activity. She said during
the time she was inactive she had many friends who simply loved her and her family for
who they were. She didn’t feel judged, but loved by many. She closed with her testimony
that “Heavenly Father loves us and gives us that love through others.
Sister Murdock reminded us we need to give opportunities to those who are less active. We
need to involve them. Many will accept callings and are willing to help serve in many capacities.
She shared a story with us from President Packer on the importance of reaching out and
including those we may not typically think of. He was visiting a stake conference and asked the
stake president if he would make sure to include those who were not the typical active members
as he asked people to speak. He was not convinced this was the right thing to do. He pointed
out that many less active members attended stake conference and he felt his strongest
members were the best ones to speak. When President Packer encouraged him again to look
around and include some of the less active members his comment was “Guess you are the
general authority so I’ll do what you want me to do”. The first he asked was a woman who
had served a mission when she was young. In the subsequent 52 years she had never been
asked to participate. The next was the mayor. This man had grown up in an active family, but
had not been active himself. As he walked past the stake president and President Packer he
said “I don’t know why you called me to speak”, but as he started talking he said he knew the
gospel was true, he’d always known it was true, that the church wasn’t “out of order”, it was him
that was “out of order”. He then said “I want to come back, you won’t let me. After the meeting
members flocked to him to let them know of their love and support.
Sister Murdock reminded us how important it was to rescue our less active friends and relative,
the loss of one can result in the loss of hundreds and even thousands over the course of several
generations. We wouldn’t hesitate to attempt to rescue someone in physical harm; we need
to make the same effort to rescue those who need us spiritually. We need to be mindful of
including everyone and not to overlook anyone. We need to continue to reach out and love
people into activity. The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.
- Sis. Mark
