Handbook Highlights: Love, Share Invite

23.1.1 Love

We are all children of Heavenly Father, who loves His children perfectly. He offers everyone the opportunity to be filled with His love through Jesus Christ and His gospel (see John 3:16; 2 Nephi 26:24–28; Alma 26:37; Articles of Faith 1:3).

One way we show our love for God is by loving and serving His children (see Matthew 22:36–39; 25:40). We strive to love and serve as Jesus Christ did. This love inspires us to reach out to people of all religions, races, and cultures (see Acts 10:34; 2 Nephi 26:33).

23.1.2 Share

Because we love God and His children, we naturally want to share the blessings He has given us (see John 13:34–35) and help gather Israel. We seek to help people feel the joy that we feel (see Alma 36:24). As disciples of Jesus Christ, we hold up His light (see 3 Nephi 18:24–25). We speak openly of the Savior and His influence in our lives (see Doctrine and Covenants 60:2).

We share love, gospel truths, time, experiences, and Church programs to bless God’s children and help them draw closer to the Savior. We share these things in normal and natural ways as part of personal, online, and other interactions.

23.1.3 Invite

The Savior invites all to receive His gospel and prepare for eternal life (see Alma 5:33–34). As His disciples, we follow His example, inviting all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).

We pray for inspiration and guidance on how to invite others to:

Come and see the blessings available through Jesus Christ, His gospel, and His Church (see John 1:37–39, 45–46).
Come and serve people in need.
Come and belong to the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

When our invitations are based on a person’s needs and interests, he or she is more likely to accept those invitations. Often, inviting simply means including our family, friends, and neighbors in what we are already doing. For example, we can invite them to:

Join us in our homes for activities.
Join us for worship and gospel learning.
Attend special events, such as a baby blessing or baptism.
Participate in ward and community activities or service, including projects organized through JustServe.org (where available).
Participate in Church programs and activities. These could include Primary activities, youth activities, family history, self-reliance courses, BYU–Pathway Worldwide, and literacy and English courses.
Meet the full-time missionaries and hear their message.

For more ideas and resources, see:

share.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
“Sharing the Gospel” in the Gospel Library.
The “Unite with Members” section in chapter 9 of Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wards and stakes can create natural opportunities for members to invite others. Ways to do this include hosting events and activities and sharing Church resources with the local community.

Ward and stake leaders counsel together to identify (1) needs in the community and (2) Church resources to share. For more information, see “Sharing Church Resources” in the Gospel Library.

The principles of loving, sharing, and inviting apply also to strengthening new and returning members.

From General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gospel Library.