These member missionary lessons are designed to be taught by ward missionaries or full time missionaries to active Church members in their homes. Each lesson should be 10-15 minutes long. The following topics are covered in the lessons:

1. The Purpose of Missionary Work
2. Love, Share
3. Invite
4. The Attributes of a Missionary
5. The Conversion Process
6. Come and Belong

Each lesson plan contains one or more commitment invitations that relate to the subject of the lesson. The instructor can customize these as needed. Each commitment made should be remembered and discussed in later visits to keep track of progress and to relate challenges or successes. It is also helpful to briefly review previous discussions at the beginning of a new lesson.

These lessons are not official publications of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are based on teachings in the scriptures and from Church leaders, and are offered in the hope that they will be useful. Feel free to extend, modify, and adapt these outlines for your own use. Here is a link to a Google Docs version of the lessons. Missionaries are encouraged to follow these examples to make their own lesson plans using the scriptures, General Conference messages, Preach My Gospel, and Church media resources. Additional resources are listed at the end of each lesson to help with this.

Lesson 1: The Purpose of Missionary Work

The mission of the Church is to bring souls unto Christ. Every follower of Christ should help share the gospel with others.

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ defines both your message and your purpose; that is, it provides both the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ of missionary work” (Preach My Gospel).

• What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?
• How does knowing the gospel of Jesus Christ motivate us to share it with others?

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-16

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.

12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.

13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!

14 Wherefore you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

15 And if it so be that ye 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!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

• What do these verses teach us about how the atonement of Jesus Christ is connected to our calling to share the gospel?
• What blessings does the Lord promise to those who share the gospel with others?

Commitment invitation:

• Study the gospel of Jesus Christ in your personal study, including passages from chapter 1 of Preach My Gospel.
• Pray for the Lord’s help and inspiration in your efforts to share the gospel message.

Additional resources: 1 Nephi 8:10-12, 2 Nephi 2:6-9, Mosiah 28:1-4, Alma 34:14-17, Alma 36:24-26, Doctrine and Covenants 20:17-29, Doctrine and Covenants 88:81, Chapter 3: Lesson 3 in Preach My Gospel

Lesson 2: Love, Share

While sharing the gospel with others we focus on three simple principles: love, share, and invite. We will focus on the first two in this lesson, and the next lesson will focus on inviting.

Scripture: John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

• What does it mean to love one another as Jesus loved us?
• How can we develop that kind of love?
• How does our love for others help them to recognize us as disciples of Jesus Christ?

Elder Uchtdorf: “Share what is in your heart. I am not asking that you stand on a street corner with a megaphone and shout out Book of Mormon verses. What I am asking is that you always look for opportunities to bring up your faith in natural and normal ways with people—both in person as well as online. I am asking that you ‘stand as witnesses’ of the power of the gospel at all times—and when necessary, use words” (”Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart” by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2019 General Conference).

• What does it mean to share in “natural and normal ways”?
• How can we share the gospel without even saying any words?
• What are some ways you can share what is in your heart?

Commitment invitation:

• Share your love, your time, or an uplifting message with a friend, neighbor, or family member.
• Pray for the Lord’s help in your efforts to love and share.

Additional resources: 

• “Love, Share Invite” videos in the General Handbook
• “Sharing the Gospel” resources in the Gospel Library
• ”Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart” by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2019 General Conference
• “Love, Share, Invite” by Gary E. Stevenson, April 2022 General Conference

Lesson 3: Invite

In our last lesson we introduced the principles of love, share, invite, and talked about ways we can love and share with others. In this lesson we will focus on inviting others.

Elder Uchtdorf: “In whatever ways seem natural and normal to you, share with people why Jesus Christ and His Church are important to you. Invite them to ‘come and see.’ Then encourage them to come and help. There are numerous opportunities for people to help in our Church. Pray not only for the missionaries to find the elect. Pray daily with all your heart that you will find those who will come and see, come and help, and come and stay” (”Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart” by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2019 General Conference).

• What can we invite people to do?
• Why should we invite people to come and serve with us?

Elder Stevenson: “I invite you to consider ways you can love, share, and invite. As you do so, you will feel a measure of joy knowing that you are heeding the words of our beloved Savior. What I am urging you to do is not a new program. You have heard these principles before. This is not the “next big thing” the Church is asking you to do. These three things are merely an extension of who we already are as disciples of Jesus Christ” (“Love, Share, Invite” by Gary E. Stevenson, April 2022 General Conference).

• What experiences have you already had with loving, sharing, and inviting?

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 6:29-31

29 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if they reject my words, and this part of my gospel and ministry, blessed are ye, for they can do no more unto you than unto me.

30 And even if they do unto you even as they have done unto me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory.

31 But if they reject not my words, which shall be established by the testimony which shall be given, blessed are they, and then shall ye have joy in the fruit of your labors.

• How do we define success in loving, sharing, and inviting?
• If someone does not respond to our love, does not appreciate what we share, or does not accept our invitation, does that mean we have failed in our duty?

Commitment Invitation:

• Make a family mission plan to love, share, and invite someone you know.
• Pray specifically for the Lord to bless the individuals you are planning to invite.

Additional resources: see Lesson 2

Lesson 4: The Attributes of a Missionary

Those who participate in missionary work are acting as servants of Jesus Christ, so we should cultivate Christlike attributes.

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 4

1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.

• Who is called to the work? (see vs. 3)
• What are the qualifications to serve as a missionary? (see vs. 5)
• What additional attributes are listed, and how can they help us in sharing the gospel? (see vs. 6)

Gordon B. Hinckley: “The most effective tract we will carry will be the goodness of our own lives and example” (“Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep,” Ensign, May 1999, 106).

Commitment Invitation:

• Make a prayerful effort to improve in one or more of the attributes discussed.

Additional resources: Alma 17:1-12, Doctrine and Covenants 35:13, Doctrine and Covenants 42:14, Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel

Lesson 5: The Conversion Process

Conversion is the process of becoming a disciple of Christ. This process continues throughout our lives as we repent daily and seek to have the Spirit with us.

Scripture: Mosiah 5:1-6

1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them.

2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.

4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.

5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.

6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.

• How did King Benjamin help his people to feel the Spirit of the Lord?
• How did the people act upon the promptings they received?
• How can we help our friends to feel and recognize the Spirit?
• How can we encourage our friends to act on what they experience?

Commitment Invitation:

• Share an uplifting message with a friend.
• When a friend describes a positive experience they are having with the gospel or with Church members, invite them to learn more.

Additional Resources: Acts 2:37-38, Alma 32:28-43, Helaman 5:40-41, Doctrine and Covenants 50:13-22, Chapter 11 of Preach My Gospel

Lesson 6: Come and Belong

We continue to love, share, and invite as our friends make progress along the covenant path.

Scripture: Moroni 6:4-6

4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

5 And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.

6 And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.

• How did they help the new members of the Church make progress on the covenant path?
• Why is it important for disciples of Christ to meet together often?
• How can we fellowship our friends as they join the Church?

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

• What does it mean to be a “fellowcitizen with the saints”?
• What does it mean to be part of the “household of God”?
• How can we invite people to come and belong?

Commitment Invitation:

• Introduce yourself to someone who is visiting or learning about the Church.
• Offer friendship to a new member of the Church.
• Reach out to the individuals or families in your ministering assignment.

Additional Resources: Mosiah 18:8-10, Alma 21:23, Doctrine and Covenants 84:106

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Alan B. Sanderson, MD is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is a practicing neurologist.