SOCIAL MEDIA MISSION

RM PACKET

Welcome

Welcome to the Social Media Mission! We are excited for you to join us and to continue spreading gospel messages of service and love to the world. Our purpose is for every ward member to personally engage in shar-ing uplifting messages with others through social media. We want to flood the earth with positivity by “connect-ing” and “reconnecting” through social media platforms with friends and acquaintances from before, during, and after your mission. We need your help!

How This StartedIn 2014, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered a landmark address on the use of social media as a missionary tool. He ended that address with an apostolic invitation to “sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth,” and promised members that they could help create a “flood” of Christ-centered messages (“To Sweep The Earth as with a Flood” - Elder David A. Bednar, BYU Education Week, 2014). Since then, church leaders have continued to exhort us to raise our voices on social media and spread the gospel.

The Social Media Mission was developed in response to those exhortations. We realized that before this flood of gospel messages could happen, most members needed to learn how to share the gospel on social media. The Social Media Mission is an experiment, approved by Area leaders, aimed at finding the best ways to share the gospel on social media authentically. By har-nessing the power of social media through Reconnecting and Facebook lists, the Light of Christ we will help us open the floodgates and spread God’s word to all nations, kindreds, tongues and people” (Revelations 14:6).

Why You?You are in a remarkably unique position in all of this. What sets you apart is that you are (1) a recently returned missionary and (2) a millennial. Both lead you to a unique personal responsibility.

Recently Returned Missionary

First, the Lord is hastening His work, and for the last 18 to 24 months, you stood on the front lines of missionary work as set apart, consecrated missionaries. As the First Presidency stated, Preach My Gospel helped you become “a better-prepared, more spiritually mature missionary and a more persuasive teacher.” Most importantly, you developed a “love of God and of all men” (2 Nephi 31:20).

“Your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ [grew], [and] your desire to share the gospel increase[d]. You [felt], as Lehi did, the ‘great…importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth (2 Nephi 6:8)” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (2004), 2).

Millennial

Second, you are a millennial, and in a recent worldwide devotional for young adults, President Nelson said the following about what it means to be a Millennial and the work that we have ahead of us. He stated,

“The term Millennial is perfect for you if that term reminds you of who you really are and what your purpose in life really is. A True Millennial is a man or woman whom God trusted enough to send to earth during the most compelling dispensation in the history of this world. A True Millennial is a man or woman who lives now to help prepare the people of this world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His millennial reign.”

For you now, your full-time missionary service is over, but that does not mean thayou stop being a missionary. As President Brigham Young said, “There is neither man or woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widstoe [1954], 322).

Your Responsibility

You have the skills, dedication, and passion to help the work of the Lord hasten. Now as a member missionary, we can more e�ectively accomplish this purpose through the use of social media. The missionary handbook counsels the following: “When you go home, do not forget those you have taught. At all times live worthy of their trust. Write them occasionally and encourage them to be faithful” (Missionary Handbook, Communicating with Converts, p. 37). We’re asking you to fulfill this responsibility by staying connected in authentic ways with your mission acquaintances. We’re asking you to take what you learned from Preach My Gospel on your mission and apply those lessons on social media with people you’ve developed genuine friendships with.

Why You, Continued

Welcome to the Social Media Mission! We are excited for you to join us and to continue spreading gospel messages of service and love to the world. Our purpose is for every ward member to personally engage in shar-ing uplifting messages with others through social media. We want to flood the earth with positivity by “connect-ing” and “reconnecting” through social media platforms with friends and acquaintances from before, during, and after your mission. We need your help!

Steering Committee

Operating Committee

Area Stake Supervisors

Stake Social MediaMissionary Co-Chairs

Ward Social Media Missionary Co-Chairs

Ward Missionaries

THE social media MISSION

CALLING STRUCTURE

Elder Runiaof the Seventy

All Ward Members

“RECONNECT”: Reaching out through social media platforms to people from high school, your hometown, your mission, etc. Our purpose is to build relationships found-ed on love and service to bring others unto Christ

FACEBOOK LISTS: The creation and organizationof “lists” from your social media contacts to help you connect with various circles of friends

WARD RECONNECT ACTIVITY: A once a weekactivity where ward members meet to “reconnect” with friends from Facebook Lists

Callings in the Social Media Mission Structure:

STEERING COMMITTEE: Brother Bob Walz and Brother Ken Krogue

OPERATING COMMITTEE: General committee that facilitates the social media missionary program (IT, Video Production, Training, Reconnect, Social Media, etc.)

AREA STAKE SUPERVISORS: Individuals in chargeof training and assisting Stake Co-Chairs

STAKE SOCIAL MEDIA CO-CHAIRS: Individuals in charge of training and assisting Ward Co-Chairs

RECONNECT ACTIVITY HOST: Couples that arein charge of hosting the Ward Reconnect Activity

Terms to Know Further Readings What do the scriptures say that relates to social media missionary work?

Network Tree Who to contact if you need help

Although social media hasn’t always existed, God has provided us instructions to help us further the work in these latter days. Read the following scriptures and talks. Ponder on how they can help guide you in your efforts to bring the light of Christ into others’ lives.

1 Peter 3: 8-16 Isaiah 52: 7 Romans 10: 15 “To Sweep the Earth as with a Flood,” Elder David A. Bednar “Becoming True Millenials,” President Russell M. Nelson

Further Readings What do the scriptures say that relates to social media missionary work?

Network Tree Who to contact if you need help

Your Area Stake Supervisor

Your Stake Co-Chairs

General AssistanceRachel Gaines: (925) 667-5972