If You Are Going to Share the Gospel Online, You Need to Study in Real Life

[MaidservantX]

I am starting this discussion for me! I realized that if I am going to be sharing the gospel online on a regular basis, I need to have the background and the preparation to be able to communicate the gospel effectively. Now obviously one should be studying the gospel to be obedient, to receive the Holy Ghost, and for a variety of personal and spiritual benefits. However, in this discussion I will be viewing study and study materials through the lens of being prepared for online missionary work. I am going to share with you my list of 'musts' for study for the online forum and blog participator. Add your ideas and 'musts' (and why).

THE BOOK OF MORMON -- President Benson taught us to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon. It is important to refer to the teachings and passages in the Book of Mormon as often as possible (my opinion) when posting in forums and blogging and similar online communication. We need to be able to have a grasp of where stories and particular principles are in the Book of Mormon that can only come with consistent personal study.

THE NEW TESTAMENT -- Again, and of course, there are personal, spiritual reasons to study the life of the Savior and the teachings in the New Testament. It is also becoming critical to have a base of knowledge of what is to be found in the New Testament as this is the scripture that almost all other Christians are basing their faith on. We need to be able to be as conversant as they are and meet them where they are at and show them that we believe what is taught in the New Testament.

THE PREACH MY GOSPEL MANUAL -- This is THE foundation for missionary work at this time in the Church. This manual can be found online, or ordered from online (www.lds.org). I think it's not too much to ask that we are familiar with the theory of teaching that is in this manual; as well as understanding the basic principles of the gospel that the Lord wants taught to persons who are receptive to being taught the gospel. If we are studied up on these things, they will naturally enter our communication.

THE MOST CURRENT GENERAL CONFERENCE -- If you don't have a subscription to the Ensign, you can find the text and audio option on www.lds.org. Also the church YouTube channels and also LDS.NET have some current conference video. I think it is very, very important to know and have studied and re-studied what we are being currently instructed upon as a church and a people. This way when we are answering other's questions, we can have in our mind, "Oh, Elder so-and-so said something about that just last Conference." Then we can share that message with the person who has a question. But if we aren't aware of it, we can't share it. I also think knowledge about what is being taught currently is a great antidote (if needed) to all the JofD mini-quotes that get whipped out sometimes by those who wish to be adversarial to the church and the gospel.

www.mormon.org -- Never miss an opportunity to mention this option to those who have questions. That offer is even more powerful if you have been there yourself and have listened to the content (a lot of great video content); then you can direct your new friend to a specific spot and mention briefly what it meant to you. They have really done some great things with the 'new' www.mormon.org site, and I personally love visiting there and coming away fed by the Spirit. I also think it is great that at the Tab of www.mormon.org tells everyone who even visits long enough to read the Tab -- God is your loving Heavenly Father. I think it would be great in our online conversations to keep giving that message over and over to all in whatever else we are talking about.

www.jesuschrist.lds.org -- Also a place that I find as much opportunity to refer others to. Also a place to explore yourself. You can also subscribe on this site to get emails whenever they add something new to the site. Obviously we are teaching and testifying of Jesus Christ. That's the purpose and reason for all that we do.

Well, that's a start. I have other ideas for basic study materials that I will share in future post. But I'd love to hear what you all consider a 'must' for study in preparation for sharing the gospel online!

[MaidservantX]

RICHARD BUSHMAN'S ROUGH STONE ROLLING -- although far be it from me to say that one 'must' read this, it is certainly a work to consider reading. I haven't read it yet -- on my 'to do' list. I can't provide an opinion on the importance of the contents, but its importance is in the current conversation that is going on about the book and about Joseph Smith in many of the connections we make and circles we are in online. It is a rare book that both believing members and those antagonistic find themselves agreeing on how great Bushman's insights are (whether one ultimately agrees with them or not). So -- again, not fully a 'must'; on the other hand, you may want to be versed in it in order to join the 'conversation'.

[MaidservantX]

other possibilities to study or be completely familiar with in terms of sharing the gospel online:

www.josephsmith.net
THE OLD TESTAMENT
THE DOCTRINE & COVENANTS
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH
JESUS THE CHRIST by Talmage
JOURNAL OF DISCOURSES
any and all material available at The Neal A. Maxwell Institute online www.farms.byu.edu

[the JoshMeister]

MaidservantX said: "I also think knowledge about what is being taught currently is a great antidote (if needed) to all the JofD mini-quotes that get whipped out sometimes by those who wish to be adversarial to the church and the gospel."

In general, I wouldn't focus on spending too much time trying to counter anti-Mormons who have closed hearts and minds and only want to fight against and disprove the Church. I say "in general" because there are exceptions; I had a missionary companion who once was anti-Mormon, and he and his girlfriend tried to convert each other until she won, and much like Paul in the New Testament he became a great missionary after his conversion. Nevertheless, I would venture to guess that most converts to the Church do not begin from a harshly anti-Mormon perspective, memorizing out-of-context quotes from the Journal of Discourses just to vex Mormon missionaries and neighbors. =)

[the JoshMeister]

I really enjoyed reading the short but very insightful book Latter-day Christianity: 10 Basic Issues by Robert L. Millet, et al. You can buy a copy here or read the text online for free here if you have a Maxwell Institute (FARMS) account.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wishes to share the gospel with other Christians, and in certain cases the book might even be a helpful resource to give to Christian friends (make sure you read it to make sure it's appropriate for a particular individual before giving it to him or her). The ten "issues" (one per chapter) are:

Are Latter-day Saints Christian?
What do Latter-day Saints believe about God?
Do Latter-day Saints believe in the Bible and biblical Christianity?
Does God speak to his children in ways other than through the Bible?
Do Latter-day Saints believe that men and women can become gods?
What do Latter-day Saints mean when they say that God was once a man?
What do Latter-day Saints believe a person must do to be saved?
Do the doctrines and practices of the LDS Church change?
How do Latter-day Saints believe they should live their lives?
Why do Latter-day Saints try to convert others?

[MaidservantX]

Thanks for the insights and additions, JoshMeister. I've added that title to my list of study materials.

You know -- you are so right. I have learned already not to spend words on those who are not receptive. I instead try to listen to the spirit and try to build a relationship in another manner, if possible, so that their hearts may be softened. (It may not be me who eventually gets to teach them the "words" if they ever become ready.) Nevertheless, it is still important to have the ideas of what is currently being taught in our heads if we can -- we may need to be able to counter what is being said, for example, in a Comment after an online article.

[Keith Lionel Brown]

Thank you for starting this forum. I just wanted to make a general comment that I also believe that preparation is extremely important whether we are sharing the Gospel online or talking with people face to face, we should have a good foundational understanding of the Gospel ourselves before trying to teach others. I taught a lesson just this past Sunday to the High Priest Group on the value of the Scriptures and how important it is that we make Scripture study a part of our daily lives. If we know, are sure, and have a firm testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel, then our witness to others will be more solid and convincing.

One of the analogies that I used was that I may have a keen interest in a subject such as astrophysics. However, if I have never studied the subject and the principles and theories of astrophysics, I cannot effectively stand before a group and give a lecture on the subject. In the same way, in order to be an effective teacher of the Gospel, we have to be familiar with what we are teaching.

One of my personal goals is to read the entire canon of Scripture at least once a year - that is the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Thus far I have read the Bible 7 times in its entirety, the Book of Mormon 7 times in its entirety, Doctrine and Covenants 8 times in its entirety, and the Pearl of Great Price 8 times in its entirety. In addition I read and re-read Genearal Conference talks and other messages from the General authorities of the Church.

[Seanette Blaylock]

I've found the Journal of Discourses online if you want to be able to verify that quotes have not been creatively abridged or taken out of context for distortion.

The Ensign can also be downloaded from www.lds.org as a PDF file to be put on portable reading devices.

[Rennie Devison]

These are all wonderful commentd. I am currently serving as Sunday school president. I have served a full time mission and several stake missions. Whilst having a grasp of the gospel. This thing that really works is following the spirit and let the spirit touch the investigators spirit/heart. If only the members would embrace the concept of finding people for the missionaries to teach. I think using the internet is a great move forward as well. Let us all have a goal to get ourselves, family and friends to the temple. Don't get to caught up with over reading, our new friends are not going to want to know about the discourses etc, but they will want to know how you feel about the gospel and how it has helped you! You have started a good thread, well done :O)