STIMULATOR message for the week of November 14, 1972
Message from President Merlin W. Sant, November 14, 1972
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” — Ephesians 2:19
Dear fellow missionaries,
This message is not intended just for those who are serving a two-year full-time mission because under the ‘Correlated Priesthood Missionary Program’ we are all missionaries. As explained last week, this great program is not limited to just teaching the Gospel. It consists of finding, pre-friendshipping, teaching, and fellowshipping, so that those who come into the Church through baptism are “…no more strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints.”
It is very evident that Paul the Apostle understood the importance of fellowshipping in the Church, that no one consider himself to be a stranger or foreigner but that all members of the Church be counted as citizens in the “household of God”. The Brethren have wisely provided us with an inspired guide to help us accomplish this vital phase o the missionary program. Its title is “The Priesthood Fellowshipping Handbook.” It will soon be available from the Auckland Distribution Center, and we suggest that every ward and branch order sufficient copies so that everyone responsible for the program can have one. Although this handbook was written primarily for the stakes and ward, it should be easily adapted to district and branches.
Until you receive a handbook, we offer the following excerpts for your guidance. “The very term fellowshipping implies social contact and activity. Participation in the programs of the Church does not always guarantee that fellowshipping needs have been met. Fellowshipping is friendshipping. It suggest the development of a genuine spirit of love and mutual concern among all the members of the Church, particularly in the local units of the Priesthood and Auxiliary organizations, where most of their activity is centered.” “Every member of the Church has fellowshipping needs. Some members may require that special steps be taken to ensure fellowshipping experiences for them. Among these would be: 1) Newly converted members of the Church 2) Members who are not identifying with the Church and who are no longer participating in it’s programs. 3) Single members of the Church who are away from home for purposes of schooling or employment.”
As missionaries we are primarily concerned with the newly converted members, and in the Handbook we find a sample of a checklist that will ensure that each new member participates in all the fellowshipping experiences. This checklist is kept by the home teacher and he also should see that the new member is enrolled in the Gospel Essentials class. This is a special course of twelve lessons that provides continuing instruction pertaining to the doctrines and operation of the Church.
“Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling, and let not the head say unto the feet it hat no need for the feet, for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand? Also, the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect.”
Faithfully yours,
President and Sister Sant.
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