Well, a mission plan is a document, usually one page, which sets out your goals for missionary work in the ward for that year. And it can be simple; we try not to make it too complicated. And it just sets out what we're going to do, how we're going to do it, and by when. The ward mission plan is a simple, brief document that outlines specific goals and activities to help members of ward priesthood and auxiliary organizations participate in member missionary work, retention, and activation.

The ward council develops a ward mission plan under the bishop's direction. Leaders in Sheffield, England, have had great success as they have counseled together to create and carry out a ward mission plan.

We learned something from last year--that the plan was kind of formulated between the bishopric and the ward mission leader and assistant ward mission leader and full-time missionaries, which was fine. But I think we learned from that--that to engage the ward and to be effective in mobilizing the ward, then we needed to involve the ward council in the plan. So that's how we did it this year. We had the ward council input their ideas to the plan. And they part up the plan, so they take ownership of the plan. As the ward council works together to first establish a ward mission plan and then to revise it as progress is made, they consider the needs and resources of the ward, set specific goals, and make plans to accomplish those goals. Above all, they work to involve every ward member in every organization in the sacred work of sharing the gospel.

Brother Nettleship, the ward mission leader in Sheffield, understands the importance of helping every Church member participate in missionary work. That is the goal--to mobilize the ward. And by that we mean every man, woman, and child in the ward. We can all do something with missionary work. If we take the sacrament each week--a covenant to stand as a witness to Christ--we're a missionary. And we can all do something. As ward leaders council together to prepare and implement an inspired ward mission plan, they enable Church members to fulfill the covenants they made when they were baptized--"to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places." When every ward member participates in missionary work, each receives the blessings promised by the Lord to those who labor in his vineyard. This is why leaders work together to establish a ward mission plan.

To review, ward council members work together to establish a ward mission plan. They set goals and plan activities to help ward members participate in missionary work, retention, and activation.

As they implement their plan, they strive to involve every ward member in sharing the gospel.

As you coordinate ward mission efforts, you may want to consider these questions: How can we better work together as a ward council to create and implement our ward mission plan? How can we use the plan to help more ward members participate in missionary work?