Restoring the Lost Sheep
Today’s inspiration is drawn from “Restoring the Lost Sheep” by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the First Quorum of the Seventy during April 1984.
In this powerful sermon, Elder Wirthlin shares profound insights on how we can reach out and reclaim those who have drifted away from faith. His teachings are a testament to the importance of desire, genuine concern, and spiritual conversion in bringing the inactive members of our communities back into the fold.
Desire: The First Step to Success
Elder Wirthlin begins with a story about a young man seeking wisdom on achieving great heights. The wise man’s lesson was simple yet profound: desire, burning desire, is fundamental to achieving anything beyond the ordinary. This principle applies directly to our efforts in helping inactive members become active. Without a deep, personal desire to succeed, our efforts will fall short.
Understanding and Doing What is Right
Elder Dean L. Larsen beautifully summarized the importance of understanding right and wrong. When we know what is right, we can make better choices and be accountable for them. This understanding is crucial when working to bring inactive members back to the Church. Jesus emphasized the importance of doing the will of the Father, as stated in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Mental Preparation: A Key to Success
Elder Wirthlin highlights the success of athletes from East Germany in the Winter Olympics, attributing their success not just to physical training but to mental preparation. This lesson is vital for our spiritual endeavors. We must prepare our minds and hearts to reach out with genuine concern and love to those who have strayed.
Four Groups of Inactive Members
In his talk, Elder Wirthlin identifies four groups of inactive members:
Lifetime members who have never been active.
New converts who fall away within their first few years.
Active members who slip into transgression or have other problems.
Youth influenced by worldly philosophies and behavior.
Each group requires a tailored approach, combining spiritual conversion and social integration.
Stories of Successful Reclamation
Elder Wirthlin shares inspiring stories of inactive members who were brought back to the Church through persistent effort, genuine concern, and the power of testimony. One such story involves a bishop who reached out to an inactive brother, inviting him to join a temple preparation class. The bishop’s sincere invitation sparked a desire in the brother to strengthen his family through the blessings of the temple.
The Role of Home Teachers and Bishops
The role of home teachers and bishops is crucial in this process. Elder Wirthlin recounts the success of home teachers who, with genuine friendship and neighborly concern, helped an inactive family re-engage with the Church. These efforts culminated in the family’s sealing in the temple, bringing immense joy and spiritual strength.
The Power of Love and Diligence
The work of reclaiming lost sheep must be done with kindness, patience, long-suffering, love, faith, and diligence. Inactive members must feel our genuine concern and untiring love. This approach helps them experience spiritual conversion and social integration, essential for their full reactivation.
A Promise of Great Rewards
The Lord has promised great rewards for those who labor to strengthen their brothers and sisters. In Doctrine and Covenants 18:15, we read, “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!”
In conclusion, Elder Wirthlin’s talk is a powerful reminder of our responsibility to reach out to those who have strayed from the path of faith. We must act with genuine concern, love, and diligence to help them return to the fold. As we do so, we can experience the joy of seeing lives transformed and souls brought back to the kingdom of God.
Let us all strive to make the world a better place by helping those who have wandered. Together, we can fulfill our divine mandate and bring joy to our Heavenly Father. Link to original: Restoring the Lost Sheep
God Is Available. He Loves You…Do You Want Help?…see Prayers Answered”
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