Arnold - To the Rescue, We Can Do It - April 2016

Elder Arnold teaches us that we have a duty to go to the rescue of our less active and non-member friends and invite them back into the fold of God.  In this effort, we do not go alone.

• As we go to the rescue, God gives us power, encouragement, and blessings.
  

He provides us four principles that will help in our rescue efforts.

Principle 1: We Must Not Delay Going to the Rescue

• While we must be organized in our councils, quorums, auxiliaries, and even as individuals, we must not delay going to the rescue. Sometimes many weeks pass as we talk about how to help families or individuals who are in special need. We deliberate about who will visit them and the approach to take. Meanwhile, our lost brothers and sisters continue needing and sometimes even calling and pleading for help. We must not delay.
  

Principle 2: We Must Never Give Up

• Like many of you, I have shared the gospel with some who are soon baptized or activated, and others—such as my nonmember friend Tim and his less-active wife, Charlene—take much more time. For over 25 years I engaged Tim in gospel conversations and took Tim and Charlene to temple open houses. Others joined the rescue; however, Tim declined each invitation made to meet with the missionaries.​ One weekend I was assigned to preside at a stake conference. I had asked the stake president to fast and pray about whom we should visit. I was shocked when he handed me the name of my friend Tim. When Tim’s bishop, the stake president, and I knocked on the door, Tim opened it, looked at me, looked at the bishop, and then said, “Bishop, I thought you told me you were going to bring somebody special!” Then Tim laughed and said, “Come on in, Merv.” A miracle occurred that day. Tim has now been baptized, and he and Charlene have been sealed in the temple. We must never give up.
  

Principle 3: How Great Shall Be Your Joy If You Bring Save It Be One Soul unto Christ

• Many years ago in a general conference, I spoke of how José de Souza Marques understood the words of the Savior that “if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may … become strong also.” Brother Marques knew the name of every sheep in his priests quorum and realized that Fernando was missing. He hunted for Fernando at his house, then looked for him at a friend’s home, and even went to the beach. He finally found Fernando surfing in the ocean. He immediately entered the water to rescue his lost sheep, bringing him home rejoicing. He then ensured through continual ministering that Fernando never again would leave the fold.
  
• Allow me to update you on what has happened since Fernando was rescued and to share the joy that came from rescuing just one lost sheep. Fernando married his sweetheart, Maria, in the temple. They now have 5 children and 13 grandchildren, all of whom are active in the Church. Many other relatives and their families have also joined the Church. Together they have submitted thousands of their ancestors’ names to receive temple ordinances, and the blessings just keep coming. Fernando is now serving as bishop for the third time, and he continues to rescue, just like he was rescued. He recently shared, “In our ward, we have 32 active young men of the Aaronic Priesthood, 21 of whom were rescued in the last 18 months.” As individuals, families, quorums, auxiliaries, classes, and home and visiting teachers, we can do that!
  

Principle 4: No Matter Our Age, We Are All Called to Go to the Rescue

• Each day more and more of our children, our youth, our young single adults, and our adult members of all ages are heeding the Savior’s clarion call to go to the rescue. Thank you for your efforts! Allow me to share some examples:
  
  • Amy, age 7, invited her friend Arianna and her family to her annual Primary sacrament meeting program. A few months later, Arianna and her family were baptized.
    
  • Allan, a young single adult, felt inspired to share the Church videos, Mormon Messages, and verses of scripture with all his friends using social media.
    
  • Sister Reeves began sharing the gospel with each telemarketer who called.
    
  • James invited his nonmember friend Shane to his daughter’s baptism.
    
  • Spencer sent his less-active sister a link to President Russell M. Nelson’s conference address and reported, “She read the talk, and a window was opened.”
    

Elder Arnold concludes with these words of encouragement

• The Lord has provided all of the tools necessary for us to go to the rescue of our less-active and nonmember friends. We can all do it!
  

This talk reminds me of my important call to reach out and be a friend to everyone.  Recently, our Elder's Quorum has been working on visiting those that need an invitation back to the church.  As we have visited, I have noticed that one of the key things we hear is that these members just don't know any one.  It is evident to me, that some people just need a friend in their life and that would make all the difference in the world to them.  I hope we can all find a way to reach out to one person soon and be a friend.  That will be a major encouragement to return to the fold of God.