Get all six of these lessons in this series here.
For an additional resource, use this Family Home Evening Outline for Developing Christlike Attributesfrom Elder Lynn G. Robbins.
Challenge: As a family or individually, think of less active members in your ward that you can serve and befriend. As you humbly pray for inspiration on how to serve them, follow the promptings you receive.
Songs: “Teach Me to Walk in the Light” (Hymns, no. 304), “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” (CS, no. 78)
Lesson: Watch “The Prodigal Son” on lds.org or read the story in Luke 15: 11-32. Think about the father’s love for his son. The prodigal son exercised humility by coming home and the faithful son’s pride turned into humility. What was the result of the disobedience and the eventual obedience and humility of the prodigal son? What role does love play in this story? How is the father a good “member missionary”?
How can you apply this story to your member missionary work?
Ideas:
- Charity is all about service, so when you serve others, you learn to love them. As you grow to have concern for others, you will be patient, helpful, and understanding.
- Not all member missionary work means finding non-members. Sometimes it includes finding the lost sheep, the “prodigal sons and daughters” of the gospel. Repentance is often a long, difficult process, but as a member missionary, you can show an extra measure of love and encouragement to returning or inactive members.
- A true member missionary will act on the promptings they are given to know who to help and how to serve. Humility requires you to not be judgmental of others and to trust in the Lord’s counsel, acknowledging your role as an instrument in God’s hand. When you are humble, you are willing to be obedient, to work and to serve. Recognizing that God loves all of His children equally will help you love and serve the way that the Savior did.
Fill out the sections for Charity and Love, Humility, and Obedience in the “Attribute Activity” on page 126 of Preach My Gospel. Have family members pick one number they can work on and give them the challenge listed at the beginning of the lesson.
Activity: Start off your challenge by making a treat together as a family and deliver it to the less-active members you want to reach out to.
Additional Resources:
Preach My Gospel Chapter 6: How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?
October 1997 Conference, Henry B. Eyring “Feed My Lambs”
