October is for Sharing

General Conference is a great time to share the Gospel. Whether it's inviting a neighbor to your house to watch a session, helping the missionaries shuttle investigators to the chapel, or sharing links to the online broadcast on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, we can all do something.

Sharing the gospel now is easier than it has ever been before.

To facilitate this message-sharing in a non-confrontational manner, the LDS church has put out a website to teach members of all easy how to do it.

Check out it here for some tips, tricks and helpful preparations in this excellent time of year.

Courtesy of LDS.org

Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice

In the week leading up to General Conference, I like to publish something about the LDS church's semiannual meetings each day.

To start us off, here's a promotional video made by the church's public affairs staff. If you want to know where you can see and hear Prophets, Seers and Revelators in your area, check out gc.lds.org, or visit a local meetinghouse.

LDS General Conference is a special time of year, and for many Mormons around the world, it represents a true transition into the Fall season (or Spring, as in the April conference). I urge you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity; you will be blessed for it.

Fostering a Dialogue

More old news, but I was browsing the Mormon Newsroom, and found this gem from LDS Public Affairs.

I'd love to see more interfaith dialogue between the LDS church and other religions, especially the Catholic church. Despite several theological differences, there are several similarities between Mormons and other Christian faiths. Even beyond that, there is too much good that needs to be done in this world — by people of all beliefs and creeds, even Christians and non-Christians.

Good on you, Bishop Wester. Well done.

First Temple in Indiana Breaks Ground

I've got some friends from Indiana. This one's for you, @NephiJay.

LDS Church breaks ground on a temple in Indianapolis. It's a great day for Saints in the Midwest.

Mormon Blogger in Hot Water

I'm not sure what to think of this next story, but it may be credible enough.

Apparently, a Mormon blogger in Florida is claiming he's been summoned to an LDS church disciplinary council because of posting "his right to free speech" online.

David Twede is the managing editor of MormonThink.com, had a date to appear before his Stake President and High Council (the local lay leaders of the church who generally president during disciplinary hearings). The blogger has been in hot water with some Mormons because of his website, which advocates "historical accuracy in our church and how it is being taught to its members and perceived by the media."

Twede has been in hot water before, according to the article, presumably for discussion of non-doctrinal topics and potential flirtations with apostate notions. The fifth-generation Mormon recently returned to full church activity, but he has said his position as editor of the MormonThink.com depends on his activity as an active Mormon.

Twede later posted on his website that his disciplinary hearing was cancelled at the final minute, but is expected to be rescheduled soon.

He has also apparently been in trouble before for posting information related to LDS temple ordinances on his site. Official statements from LDS church public affairs are adamant that Twede is not being investigated in council for his political beliefs, which include several anti-Romney sentiments.

Just in time for October Conference: New Pass-Along Cards

It's almost General Conference time, so I think that means it's time for another post.
In conjunction with this October's "fall Mormon classic," the LDS Church is introducing a special section in its October 2012 issue of the Ensign and English Liahona magazines — FREE QR-CODE CARDS.
The supplemental section will include a series of recently redesigned "I'm a Mormon" pass-along cards, with a special QR Code to take smartphone users to specialized Web sites at mormon.org, including sections on Jesus Christ and families.
It's a great way to share the gospel, and extremely unobtrusive. Use them however the Spirit may inspire you to do so.
"We encourage you to be as creative as you wish in using these new cards," said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the church's Quorum of 12 Apostles.
You can also buy these new pass-along cards in bulk at store.lds.org, or here.

Drinking from the Fire Hose of Spiritual Knowledge

It's finally General Conference weekend.

I've been needing this week for a long time. It's a week when members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spend 10 hours over the course of two days to drink from the firehose that is continuing revelation on Earth.

Imagine you live in ancient biblical times. Now imagine that Moses was coming into town. Moses, like all prophets of the Lord anciently, spoke with God face to face to receive guidance, instruction and authority to relay to the rest of God's children of the era.

Now image that you have the chance to meet Moses. It may be direct interaction. Or it may just be a handshake. Perhaps a wave. He might even nod at your, or tip his staff to you. But there will assuredly be some small morsel of special direction just to you, a sign that you are not forgotten by a loving Heavenly Father. Would you not drop all your appointments so you could go meet him?

That's what General Conference is.

What was good for God's children in ancient Israel is still good for his children now. We have prophets, seers and revelators on the Earth today. Should we not rush out and proclaim the words these prophets speak to us? General Conference gives us the incentive to do just that.

What better time do we have to share what makes Mormons so special than now? We are fast approaching an election year, with two GOP hopefuls from within our own faith. There's a Broadway musical based (sort of ... OK, not really) on a holy volume of scripture from which our nickname is derived. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are everywhere — in politics, television, movies, media, pop culture, sports and anywhere in between.

But most important, they are all around you. They might live next door. They certainly live on the same block. They definitely live in your hometown. So get to know them. I promise, we're not as weird as you think.

Elder L. Tom Perry said, "The growing visibility and reputation of the church presents a remarkable opportunity to as its members ... More importantly, we can share who we are."

Elder Perry, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, also shared several tips to help Mormons in their gospel and belief sharing habits. If you're a Mormon, review this list and make sure you know it, for it is inspired by God. If you're not a member, know these tips so that you can remind us if we stray from it.

1. We must be bold in our declaration of Jesus Christ. We believe in Christ as our Lord, our Redeemer, our Savior. There is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved.

2. Be righteous examples to others. Mormons are taught higher standards than many professed by the world. It's not because we are better; it's because we are striving to be like God.

3. Speak up about the church. Others invite us to share more than we know. Accept those invitations.

If you're not a member but want to know more about what we believe, just ask. It's not hard. And we'll appreciate it, I promise. If you are a member, don't run in shame and fear if somebody asks you about your beliefs (even if the questions range from obscure to uncomfortable). We cannot hide our light forever. Testify of what you know; it can always make a difference.

I'll be back with more tomorrow from the final two sessions of Conference. In the mean time, follow me on the Twitter widget in the column of this blog. Or check in with me on any other social networking site you used to navigate here (Who uses search engines anymore, right?)

NEW MEDIA

Here's an example of something one of the Apostles taught us at this most recent session. Elder David A. Bednar spoke on a subject that is incredibly special to me, because it was once a university major of mine: Family History and Genealogy. I hope you learn from it as much as I did.