How To Teach The Gospel To Non-Member Friends, A Letter

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Hi Brother, 

Thanks for having us over for dinner yesterday. The food was great. I think it is awesome that you are speaking about preaching the gospel by living it. That is one of the most important principles of member missionary work there is. There are a few suggestions that I have in regards to this subject. I apologize for the length of them, but this has been something I have been thinking about a lot recently.


  1. Preach the gospel by being yourself

Every member referral I have received on mission has come from members who are wiling to be themselves around people. They are not reserved or aloof, but are willing to bond with others. A great deal of self confidence is detected in a person who is willing to talk candidly about their passions or interests as well as their religious sentiments. In fact for a really deep relationship to occur, religion and beliefs are an essential element to the recipe because those kind of topics are really only reserved for people you care deeply about. 


  1. Teach them principles and truths that will prepare them for the gospel 

This is the next biggest component of teaching the gospel by example. Members and no members alike are woefully ignorant about what makes the gospel actually tick. For example, how can one understand the need for a restoration if people don't understand that there is only one true church? Furthermore, how can they grasp that there is only one true church if they think that truth is subjective to whatever works best for them? There are a lot of things that need to be cleared up in people's minds before they are prepared to hear the gospel. If members could have these kind of conversations with friends, the gospel would be spread as fast as people are prepared to receive it. 

  1. Don't use "living the gospel" as an excuse for not actually doing missionary work

One of my biggest fears when this item is discussed is that the members would use this topic to actually shrug their missionary responsibilities. They would say to themselves "oh, I am living the gospel, and that is enough. All I have to do is attend church and fulfill my calling." That is not the case. That is not even living the Gospel. The gospel is reaching out to people in love: it is being a witness of Christ in all things, in all times, and in all places... and, I would include to ALL PEOPLE! Nobody ever converted to anything because of a check box. People will only convert after they feel your goodness, and that comes from living the principles of the gospel. 

Lastly I want to share a story that happened to me because somebody implemented these principles. 

One day as my companion and I were waiting at the bus stop, a young man riding a bicycle approached us. As we talked we began to piece together his' story. He had gotten a job in lower manhattan and one of his' supervisors was a member attending one of the wards there. The member took him under his wing and become a mentor to him. As time went on he became more than a supervisor, or even a mentor, but he also became a close family friend as they did things outside of work together. They would have long discussions about life and how the world worked which would eventually build his interest in the gospel. 

The young man was also introduced to other members and was eventually invited to ward activities. He saw the missionaries there, but didn't talk to them then. It was not  in his mind to repent and be baptized then; However, after some events in his life transpired, he found a need for the gospel and that is why he stopped us on the street. He wanted to know what his member friend had. He wanted to feel what he feels. He wanted to get religion and follow Christ and was then willing to "emancipate himself from his' ideological shackles," as he put it, and truly investigate the church. This was all due to members following these principles. 

I hope that this helps. I think your talk is going to be awesome! We are greatly looking forward to it. Feel free to email us more if you have additional questions or want to get our perspective on things. 

God speed,

Elder Knudsen 

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