manuel-cover

Relief Society Lesson 21: Proclaiming the Gospel to the World

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manuel coverWhat does it mean to “proclaim the gospel to the world?” Since I am only one person, I don’t know how to proclaim something to the whole world. But sharing the gospel with people I know sounds like something I can do. I would start this lesson with that simple adjustment in focus, bringing the scope down to the personal.

Here are four main points you may wish to discuss (condensed from five in the manual).

1. Gratitude for truths we’ve learned in the gospel, and opportunities to share what’s most meaningful to us

Lessons about sharing the gospel sometimes focus so much on ways to get people excited about talking about the Church, that they bypass the “why.” Invite the class to first think about the good things, the joy, that spiritual truths have brought to their lives.

• Ask the class: What gospel principles mean a lot to you right now, as in today, or in the past week?
• Invite them to silently answer this question: Is there anyone you might like to share that with, as a way of connecting with someone? Perhaps a sister, a friend, a parent, or your journal?
• Ask the class: What gospel principles have meant the most to you in the past year? Have you had conversations about that with people you know?

2. Sharing the gospel as guided by the Spirit

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,” (2 Timothy 1:7). Sometimes discussions on sharing the gospel focus on overcoming our fears about doing so. I think when we’re fearful, it could be that we’re aiming to plow through a prescribed way of doing “missionary work” instead of letting the spirit guide us. The term “missionary tool” feels forced and unnatural, but a conversation with a loved one about our dearly held beliefs doesn’t.

• Ask the class: In thinking about your friends, neighbors, or family members, are you aware of their needs and challenges? Is there a conversation or an act of kindness that could take place in the coming week?
• What do the women you visit teach need right now?
• Are you caring for yourself so that you can have room in your mind and heart, and the energy reserves to act and speak when the Spirit prompts you to?

3. Full time missionaries

“How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15)

• If you served a mission, what kinds of support did you most need as a missionary?
• How can we support members of the ward who are currently serving missions? And how can we support full-time missionaries in our ward?

4. The gospel has power to bring peace

“Peace will come through righteousness, through justice, through the mercy of God, through the power which he will grant unto us by which our hearts will be touched and we will have love for one another.” -Joseph Fielding Smith

Isaiah called Jesus the Prince of Peace. At Christmas we say to one another, “let there be peace on earth.” I think it’s worth reflecting on what peace means. Is it lack of conflict between individuals, or groups, or nations? Is it spiritual connectedness with God? Or assurance that we’re beloved of God? To me the core of the gospel, the reason it’s worth sharing, is that hopeful doctrine that through Jesus wrongs are righted, wounds are healed, failings are granted mercy, and suffering is replaced with peace. It’s redemption. And love.

• Have you felt the peace of Jesus recently?
• How can we love our neighbor on a daily basis?

 


Leçon de la Société de Secours 21: Proclamer l’Evangile au monde

Qu’est-ce que cela veut dire « proclamer l’Evangile au monde ? » Puisque je ne suis qu’une personne, je ne sais pas comment proclamer quelque chose au monde entier. Mais partager l’Evangile avec ceux que je connais me parait plus faisable. Je commencerai cette leçon avec cet ajustement simple, en réduisant le cadre jusqu’à l’échelle personnel.

Voici quatre points que vous voudriez peut-être discuter (réduit des cinq points du manuel) :

1. La reconnaissance pour les vérités que nous avons apprises grâce à l’Evangile et les opportunités à partager ce qui a le plus de valeur pour nous

Les leçons sur comment partager l’Evangile focalisent souvent sur des moyens de créer de l’enthousiasme pour parler de l’Eglise et négligent les “pourquoi”. Inviter les sœurs à penser d’abord aux bonnes choses et à la joie que les vérités spirituelles ont apporté à leur vie.

• Demander aux sœurs : Quels principes de l’Evangile sont significatifs pour vous en ce moment?
• Inviter les sœurs à réfléchir à quelqu’un avec qui elles voudraient partager ce principe, peut-être une sœur, une amie, un parent ou leur journal intime?
• Demander aux sœurs : Quels principes de l’Evangile ont été importants pour vous dans la dernière année? Est-ce que vous en avez parlé avec quelqu’un que vous connaissez?

2. Partager l’Evangile en suivant l’Esprit

« Car ce n’est pas un esprit de timidité que Dieu nous a donné, mais un esprit de force, d’amour et de sagesse. » (2 Timothée 1:7). Parfois les discussions sur partager l’Evangile focalisent sur comment surmonter nos peurs de parler. Je pense que quand nous avons peur, c’est peut-être parce que nous essayons un suivre un modèle précis de « travail missionnaire » sans forcément permettre à l’Esprit de nous guider. Le terme « outil missionnaire » ne me semble pas naturel, mais une conversation avec un être cher sur nos croyances les plus précieuses l’est.

• Demander aux sœurs : En pensant à vos amis, à vos voisins ou aux membres de vos familles, êtes-vous conscientes de leurs besoins et de leurs difficultés ? Pouvez-vous faire une conversation ou un acte de gentillesse pour eux cette semaine ?
• De quoi les sœurs à qui vous rendez visite ont-elles besoin actuellement?
• Prenez-vous soin de vous-même afin d’avoir de la place dans votre cœur et dans votre esprit, ainsi que l’énergie d’agir et de parler quand l’Esprit vous incite à le faire?

3. Missionnaires de plein temps

« Qu’ils sont beaux Les pieds de ceux qui annoncent la paix, De ceux qui annoncent de bonnes nouvelles! » (Romains 10:15)

• Si vous avez servi une mission, quel genre de soutien aviez-vous besoin en tant que missionnaire?
• Comment pouvons-nous soutenir les membres de notre paroisse qui servent actuellement une mission? Comment pouvons-nous soutenir les missionnaires de plein temps qui servent dans notre paroisse ?

4. L’Evangile a le pouvoir d’apporter la paix

« La paix viendra, bien sûr, grâce à la droiture, à la justice, à la miséricorde de Dieu, grâce au pouvoir qu’il nous accordera pour que notre cœur soit adouci et que nous nous aimions les uns les autres. » -Joseph Fielding Smith

Esaïe a appelé Jésus le Prince de la Paix. Je pense qu’il vaut la peine de réfléchir sur la signification de la paix. Est-ce qu’une pénurie de conflits ? Est-ce qu’une connexion spirituelle avec Dieu ? Ou bien l’assurance que nous sommes aimés de Dieu? Pour moi le cœur de l’Evangile, la raison pour laquelle il faut la partager, est la doctrine plein d’espoir que par l’intermédiaire du Christ vient la justice, la guérison, la miséricorde et la paix. C’est la rédemption et l’amour.

• Est-ce que vous avez ressenti la paix de Jésus récemment?
• Comment pouvons-nous aimer notre prochain?


Lección 21 de la Sociedad del Socorro: Proclamar el Evangelio al mundo.
Traducción por Denisse Gómez

¿Qué significa proclamar el Evangelio al mundo? Siendo sólo una persona, no tengo idea de cómo proclamar algo al mundo entero, en cambio, compartir el Evangelio con las personas que conozco suena como algo que sí puedo hacer. Me gustaría empezar la lección con ese ajuste, enfocándonos en el ámbito personal.

Hay cuatro puntos principales que sería necesario tratar (resumidos de los cinco que ofrece la lección).

1. Agradecimiento por las verdades que hemos aprendido del Evangelio y por las oportunidades que tenemos de compartir lo que nos es más significativo de éste.

Las lecciones sobre compartir el Evangelio a veces se centran demasiado en formas de incentivar a la clase para hablar sobre la Iglesia con los demás que se olvidan de hablar del “por qué”. Invite a las personas a primero pensar en la alegría y bendiciones que el Evangelio ha traído a su vida.

Pregunte a la clase: ¿Qué principio o principios del Evangelio tienen gran influencia en tu vida este momento, es decir, este día o esta última semana?
Invítelos a contestar para sí mismos lo siguiente: ¿Hay alguien con quien te gustaría compartir estos principios? ¿Tal vez una hermana, un amigo, un pariente o tu diario?
Pregunte a la clase: ¿Qué principios del Evangelio han tenido mayor significado en tu vida este año? ¿Has hablado sobre esto con las personas que conoces?

2. Compartir el Evangelio por la guía del Espíritu.

“Porque no nos ha dado Dios espíritu de cobardía, sino de poder, de amor, y de dominio propio.” (2 Timoteo 1:7) A veces las discusiones sobre compartir el Evangelio se centran en nuestro miedos para hacerlo. Yo pienso que cuando tenemos miedo, puede ser porque lo vemos como una obligación de hacer “trabajo misional” en lugar de permitir que el espíritu nos guíe. La expresión “herramienta misional” se siente forzada e innatural, en cambio, una conversación con alguien que amamos acerca de nuestras fieles creencias no se siente así.

Pregunte a la clase: ¿Conoces las necesidades y desafíos de tus amigos, vecinos y familiares? ¿Hay una conversación o acto bondadoso que podría ocurrir en la siguiente semana?
¿Qué necesitan en este momento las mujeres a las que visitas?
¿Te interesas en tener un espacio en tu mente y tu corazón, además de la energía para hablar y actuar cuando el Espíritu te pida hacerlo?

3. Misioneros de tiempo completo.

“¡Cuán hermosos son los pies de los que anuncian el evangelio de paz, de los que anuncian el evangelio de las buenas nuevas!” (Romanos 10:15)

Si usted sirvió en una misión ¿Qué tipos de apoyo fueron los que necesitó como misionera?
¿Cómo podemos apoyar a los miembros de nuestro barrio que están sirviendo en una misión actualmente? ¿Cómo podemos ayudar a los misioneros que están sirviendo en nuestro barrio?

4. El Evangelio tiene poder para traernos paz.

“La paz vendrá, por supuesto, por medio de la rectitud, de la justicia, de la misericordia de Dios, del poder que nos concederá mediante el cual nuestro corazón será conmovido y tendremos amor los unos por los otros.” -Joseph Fielding Smith

Isaiah llamó a Jesús el Príncipe de Paz. En Navidad nos decimos los unos a los otros “Permite que haya paz en la Tierra”. Pienso que vale la pena reflexionar sobre qué significa la paz ¿Es la ausencia de conflictos entre individuos, grupos o naciones? ¿Es el estar cerca de Dios? ¿O es la seguridad de de que Dios nos ama? Para mí, el núcleo del Evangelio, la razón por la que vale la pena compartirlo, es la esperanzadora doctrina de que a través de Jesucristo los errores se convierten en rectitud, las heridas son curadas, las faltas son entendidas con misericordia y el sufrimiento es reemplazado con paz. Es redención y amor.

¿Has sentido la paz de Jesucristo últimamente?
¿Cómo podemos amar a nuestro prójimo cada día?

6 Responses

  1. This is lovely, Emily U. I love the things you have chosen to focus on, rather than the sales-pitch of missionary work. I especially love the focus on peace; I think we all need to be reminded of that– I need it as I feel generally unwelcome in my ward. that feeling is not of the gospel, and the people who are unkind to me are not practicing the gospel. Thank you for reminding me of this.

  2. I really like the first part, I hadn’t thought of it that way — thinking about a principle that means a lot to you, and sharing it as a means of connecting. Some of the most powerful missionary experiences I have had have been times when I was struggling in my heart and in a private, casual conversation a friend shared their own experiences or testimony of those principles, or really any principle. It has also really helped me after a church lesson or talk that was painful to talk with a friend who was not hurt, but cared about me. It helped to have someone not just pooh-pooh my feelings, but help to reframe the topic in a way that felt good. With so many members struggling or leaving, sometimes the most powerful missionary work we do might not be with non-members but with our friends who are wondering whether membership is still something that is doing good in their lives.

  3. Thank you, Spunky. It’s so sad and wrong that anyone should feel unwelcome at church. I’m reminded to do my part to be welcoming, especially at this time of year when my ward gets a big influx of grad student families.

    Em – I think that’s so true, especially now, that church members need to support each other by sharing what’s most meaningful with one another. This is a higher-level criticism I have, but in general I think the Church focuses too much on marketing to non-members, and not enough on the needs of its own members. Not enough listening to its own members.

  4. For this lesson I’m drawing on ideas from the book “The Power of Everyday Missionaries” by Clayton M. Christensen. Elder Christensen, as an Area Seventy, wrote an article in the Feb. 2005 Ensign about “Seven Lessons on Sharing the Gospel.” Also Elder Ballard in his October 2013 General Conference address on missionary work quoted from this book.

    My goal in teaching this lesson is to help the sisters and their families share the gospel without feeling guilty for what they’re not doing. I will focus my lesson around the following three Sharing the Gospel activities: PRAY – TALK – INVITE.

  5. I just wanted to thank you (and everyone else) who takes the time to put together these lessons. They have really helped me as I have prepared my RS lessons over the past 6 months. I was so mad about the calling and considered refusing-something I have done before (I had been the Primary Chorister for four years and was really happy singing loud and fast and dancing and teaching the children the female prophets….perhaps that was why I was eventually released). I did not want to be in RS. I did not want to teach RS. I am glad that there are tools out there that I can turn to rather than just being angry and feeling alone. Thank you again.

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