Last Sunday in my lesson I told this account from Ed J. Pinegar-
Overcoming Fear-
I'll never forget when I served as a mission president in the MTC. The last meeting before the missionaries would go out, I would speak about being bold, obedient, full of love, and courageous in opening their mouths. "Do not be afraid. The worth of souls is great. You have a mighty role in the kingdom." Well, some of them were still afraid. I would challenge them to have a defining experience of opening their mouths on their way to their mission.
This sweet young sister wrote me a letter after she'd been out two weeks, and this is how it went: "Dear President, after your talk Sunday night, I was so nervous, I didn't know what to do. I knew I'd be leaving Wednesday and I was going to have to open my mouth. And I thought, I can't do it, I can't do it. So, I fasted and I prayed and I left Wednesday on the plane, and to my joy I had a window seat and my companion sat next to me. So I said, "Oh dear I won't be able to talk to anybody on the plane." and so I was relieved. But then, I got into the airport and I sat down, and here was a man sitting across from me. He was old and different looking, and I didn't know what to do. All I could remember was your voice telling us, "Open your mouths; it will be filled, I promise you." Well, I girded up my loins and I opened my mouth and said, "Hi, where you headed?" From that little beginning began an hour conversation. Petty soon, we became friends. And after a bit I said, "If you knew there was another book written about Jesus Christ, would you be interested in reading that? The Book of Mormon?"
"He said, Oh, I have a Book of Mormon. I committed him right there to read the book, and then he told me, "My daughter is taking the discussions too."
"And then I said, Is it OK if I have the missionaries come by and see you?" He said, "That will be just fine." Oh, President, it's so easy to open your mouth. The Lord will fill it. There's nothing to it."
I read that letter every time to departing missionaries because it helped them realize that we can all do it. All of us, member missionaries and full-time proselyting missionaries, can open our mouths and they will be filled. The Lord will help us all. We simply need to do it---- Open our Mouths.
After reading Brother Pinegar's story, I drew everyone's attend to the treats on the table, and asked if they had notice the treat there? "Were you wondering if I was planning to share? Everyone said they did.....I then asked one Sister to come up and eat the treat without opening her mouth. Of course she couldn't . I then preceded to explain how these treats can
help us remember to open our mouths to share the Gospel. If we didn't open our mouths it would be very hard to eat, just as if we didn't open our mouths it would be hard to share the Gospel.. We may be setting a good example and doing all the right things... which is a good thing, but the gospel really can't be shared unless we open our mouths. Just as these treats were sitting here looking very desirable....which is a good thing, but we can't get the full benefit until we open our mouths and eat them.
I then asked how would you feel right now if I told you I plan on giving each and everyone of you one of these treats {everyone was happy} how would you feel if I decided not to give you any? {Many thought that was cruel to show them the treat and not give it to them} I then explained; than don't you think there are people watching you and wondering about your religion, maybe just waiting for you to share it with them. And maybe wondering why you haven't said anything about your church? I then said how sad it would be for us to have to explain to our friends, neighbors, co-workers, family, {when we meet them again in the spirit world} Why we decided not to Open Our Mouths and share the gospel. I then ended with , We are duty bound to open our mouths and witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We, as Saints of the Lord Jesus Christ, are to live our lives in such a way that we will draw people to the Lord. The gospel is a gift that we are blessed with, it is our duty to open our mouths.
{I then handout out the treats}
Post Note- Today I received an email from a sister that attended the class, she said the visual of the treat and telling them to open their mouths, stayed with her the next day through work...and was so moved by the story...that she shared it with her co-workers...and invited a couple of them to come to a RS event, which they accepted.