PRESIDENT NELSON’S YOUTH BATTALION IN ACTION:
In just one ward, our youth have helped 100+ people get baptized or come back to church in the last few years by using this blueprint. What will your ward accomplish?
HOW IT WORKS:
STEP 1: FAITH TO SET GOALS
-Discuss how Faith precedes the miracle. Share personal experiences.
-Set an exact, quantifiable Goal With God. How many people will you help to come unto Christ (back to church or baptism)?
-With God, anything is possible. “God acts by power, but His power usually comes in response to faith.” (Preach My Gospel: Chapter 6 & Chapter 8)
STEP 2: PREPARE FOR BATTLE
-Consult the ward directory for a list of members who need baptism/priesthood ordinations
-Youth identify a consistent time that is convenient. Examples include:
-Leave a little early before youth activity. Visit someone and invite them to come.
-Saturday morning is a great time.
-Plan to make visits quick. 5-15 minutes tops.
STEP 3: FAITH MEANS ACTION
-Just do it. Be consistent. You get better and faster over time.
-Be natural. Use your own words. Here’s an approach that has helped many people:
– “I’m ________, and this is ________. This will only take 5 minutes, but it means the
world to us. May we come in and say a quick prayer with you?
-Prayer is Given.
– “You are unique in all the world. Nobody has the talents you have. And the Lord has
need of you, and your talents at this time. Will you heed the call of the Lord?
(Then you wait. It feels like forever.)
-If they say, “YES.” Invite them to a church activity or to partake of the sacrament.
-If they say, “NO.” Simply ask, “Why not?” Then listen, and ask, “What else?”
-Once you know everything, you can set a time to come back.
STEP 4: RETURN AND REPORT
-Youth text the advisor after each visit, youth give a brief synopsis.
-Advisor creates and maintains a document with names of youth. And names of those visited.
-Keep track of how many people are visited, and youth share names with advisor (Every soul matters!)
STEP 5: MAINTAIN SPIRITUAL MOMENTUM
-Advisors report to youth leaders. 50 people visited! 60 visited! Lives changed.
-This should be fun and exciting! Joke around while you drive. Chill w/ new friends at church.
-Youth coordinate with missionaries to visit people together.
10 KEY LEARNINGS FOR ONGOING SUCCESS
- Visits Before/After Young Men’s (2 people a week is 100+ people a year)
- Include Youth in Weekly Ward Mission Huddle (In these meetings you can coordinate youth involvement in missionary lessons)
- Empower Missionaries To Mark Baptism (Refer to “Faith To Be Fearless” document)
- Missionary Goal Setting (Ask missionaries to set goals when they arrive in your area, “What part of our larger goal will you help us to accomplish?” Faith precedes miracles.)
- Youth Invite Friends To Church and Activities (“I’m going to church, wanna come?”)
- Missionaries Connect With People Naturally At Church (Refer to This Training)
- Eyes Open At Church (Momentum is a magnet. People will walk into church wanting to know more, be sure you contact them and connect them with the missionaries)
- UNITY: Ward alignment around the goal will accelerate achievement through miracles
- Missionary friends taught at church are 600% more likely to attend on Sunday. Friends taught at church with a member present are 800% more likely to attend church.
- “Keep your expectations high, regardless of the challenges you face.” -PMG Chapter 1
QUOTES FROM THOSE WE VISIT:
“We need people like you, because we need values for this new generation…and they cannot
find a better place to be, than in the church!”
-Less Active Member
“I thought people at church were judging me, and so I stopped coming. But talking with you
guys, I have changed my mind…”
-LGBT+ Church Member
“I see you guys, and I just know…you are good people. I want to be like you!”
-40 Year-Old “Friend”
CONCLUSION:
Focus on the WHAT and the HOW will appear–just set the goal. Then GO and DO.
With God anything is possible.
