A curious missionary experience in north-western Switzerland
Continuing briefly on the topic of yesterday’s entry, “Recollections of a Beautiful But Difficult Mission Area.” Another vignette:
Once – I believe during my ministry in the Zurich mission office or just before – I was sent to the city of Biel (or Bienne, as it is called in French) in northwestern Switzerland, which takes about ninety minutes. Driving from Zurich, right on the line that separates the German-speaking part of the country from the French-speaking part. I can’t remember exactly what we did; I remember some kind of delivery. Maybe from a movie. Anyway, at some point before returning to mission headquarters, we stood outside the meetinghouse and talked to the missionaries, and they introduced us to one of their investigators who happened to be nearby.
I heard her name but soon forgot it. I would put her in her mid fifties. Here’s the important part, though: She was an investigator, yes. But of the sort that we missionaries sometimes referred to as a professional — means a “professional investigator” (professional investigator) She had first met with the missionaries about seven years ago and had long received many missionary lessons. She was about to join the Church but apparently had not yet been able to make the crucial decision. (While this was extreme, it wasn’t entirely unique. I knew many Swiss people who had taken a long time to get baptized and join the Church.) In fact, she had only recently been involved the great pan-European area conference of the Church, held in Munichpresided over by President Harold B. Lee.
Anyway, she and I talked for a few minutes. And she was baptized the following week. I never met her again, but was told shortly thereafter that she had described her conversation with me as a turning point for her. After all those seven years, it was that brief encounter that finally persuaded her to be baptized.
Now I would like to acknowledge your conversion. But I can not. I didn’t teach her a lesson. We have not pondered doctrine or analyzed the scriptures or studied the history of the Restoration. We spoke briefly about their experiences in Munich. Heck, I honestly think we noticed the memorably beautiful, clear weather that day. And that was about it. I didn’t say anything wise or insightful or profound to her. We just shot the breeze.
The elders and sisters in the Switzerland Zurich Mission did not teach many missionary lessons when I was in Switzerland. But I had nevertheless taught a considerable number of them. My German was reasonably fluent and I found our position compelling. Sometimes, after a good discussion, I would think to myself, “They are simple to have to see that this is true!” But very few of these people ever joined the Church. doesn’t matter how convincing as I thought.
And then I had this encounter out there in Biel.
I’ve thought about that little story over and over again in the decades since it happened. I would love to be able to bottle and pass on to others what made such an impression on this Swiss investigator. But I haven’t the faintest idea what “it” was. And, just as importantly, I have no reason to believe it would have the same impact on anyone else. I think it was very personal she.
I have told the story several times to missionaries I have sent out and to others about to serve missions. The point I take from memory is that, as we all should already know but sometimes forget, it is not the missionary who converts people. It’s the spirit. The missionary’s duty is to do the work and strive to bring the Spirit into the discussions. But even then the missionary cannot guarantee success, no matter how hard he or she tries – for of course it is up to the investigator, a free and independent agent, whether to listen to the Spirit and whether to act according to the divine guidance provided by the Spirit will mediate.
These three articles were published today on the Interpreter Foundation website:
“Nibley Lectures: Time justifies the prophets — Prophets and Preachers”
Between March 7, 2054 and October 17, 1954, Hugh Nibley gave a series of thirty weekly lectures on KSL Radio, which were also published as pamphlets. The series, titled Time Vindicates the Prophets, was given in response to those questioning the right of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to call themselves Christians.
This talk discusses the claim that a prophet is just another preacher and explains that this is false.
The interpreter radio roundtable for come follow me Old Testament Lesson 35, “Everything that breathes praise the Lord” to Psalms 102-103; 110; 116-119; 127-128; 135-139; 146-150, with Martin Tanner, Kris Frederickson, and Mike Parker. This roundtable has now been extracted from the July 17, 2022 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show. The full show can be heard below https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-july-17-2022/. The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard year-round on Sunday evenings 7-9pm MDT on K-TALK, AM 1640 or live on the web at ktalkmedia.com. Or you can put your ear very close to a railroad track and try to hear it that way.
Jonn Claybaugh kindly contributed another of his concise notes for students and teachers of the Come Follow Me curriculum.
Posted from Amsterdam, Netherlands