Sharing the Gospel... Member Style!

Hello all! This post may be a wee bit different than my usual rants, but I wanted to share about how I have continued to share my beliefs with others now that I don't have that nice little name tag to hide behind.

It can still be totally scary sharing something so personal to you with others. I think that goes for anything you hold dear to your heart. But like almost all missionaries, I made a promise that I would do better at fulfilling my calling as a member missionary. I had big plans, big plans people. I was going to convert the world and be the best member missionary that's ever been. Ask me if that has happened, and I will tell you, sadly, not even close. But this is what I have been doing to try and make a difference.

I got lucky. I have an incredible friend who is getting back on the path that rocks of righteousness. She is a member of the church and she is super stellar. I adore the girl, she has been a great friend and recently has decided she wants to do things right and prepare to get married in the temple. She actually just got engaged to a guy who is a great support. Cool huh, the reason I am sharing this is because when I got home she asked me if I could go over the missionary lessons with her. I was so touched.... and teared up a little. We haven't done them a ton and that is totally my bad, but when we do it feels a lot like the good old days. She knows the gospel is true and we've talked to missionaries but we all agreed her and I could just talk about it. Whenever there is truth, you will find the spirit and man that is a good feeling. This was one way that was kind of handed to me but I have enjoyed every minute of it because it has strengthened my testimony. Especially regarding the fact that you can still feel the spirit as you share your testimony with others around you.

Another thing I do is making sure I am fulfilling my calling. I am in the Relief Society Presidency and so when I am there I try and sit by someone new and awkwardly ask them to be my friend :) Worked in elementary school and it works now! I have met some way cool people like this. But even if you do not have a calling that puts you in a situation to meet new people. Do what you did on the mission and go through the ward list, pick out people you do not know and make cookies. I mean everyone loves cookies... especially me, you can swing by my house anytime :)

I have a couple of friends who are not members of the church, but let's be real we are in Utah here and believe it or not they have heard about the church before ;) They usually have preconceived notions about it and have made up their mind that this is not what they want in their life. That is okay, it does not mean we love them any differently, nor should we feel guilty they don't want it. That doesn't have anything to do with you. Just be yourself. When the gospel is the center of your life it will ooze out of you and you will have many opportunities to share your beliefs in a very non weirdo kind of way.

It is definitely harder to share the gospel in a natural kind of way, but when it comes up take any opportunity. I am still pretty awkward I feel like anyway. And when you've been gone for a year and a half there is not much you can talk to people about regarding world entertainment or what not. So naturally a lot of things relate back to experiences I had while serving. I don't think there is anything bad about that, and I am 100% it annoys some people but who cares. That was my life and I want to share it with anyone it just becomes a part of who you are.