September First Presidency Message for home teaching:
“Sharing the Gospel Heart to Heart,” by President Henry B. Eyring
God will put prepared people in the way of His prepared servants who want to share the gospel. You have had that happen in your own life. How often it happens depends on the preparation of your mind and your heart.
I have a friend who prays every day to meet someone who is prepared to receive the gospel. He carries with him a copy of the Book of Mormon. The night before a short trip, he decided not to take a copy with him but instead to carry a pass-along card. But as he got ready to leave, a spiritual impression came to him: “Take a Book of Mormon with you.” He put one in his bag.
When a woman he knew sat next to him on the trip, he wondered, “Is this the one?” She rode with him again on the return trip. He thought, “How should I bring up the gospel?”
Instead, she said to him, “You pay tithing to your church, don’t you?” He said he did. She said she was supposed to pay tithing to her church but didn’t. Then she asked, “What can you tell me about the Book of Mormon?”
He explained that the book is scripture, another witness of Jesus Christ, translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith. She seemed interested, so he reached into his bag and said, “I was impressed to bring this book with me. I think it is for you.”
Supplemental ideas:
Read the following quotes from church leaders and discuss what they have to do with sharing the gospel and ways to incorporate them into daily life:
"Ours is the task to be fitting examples. . . . Each must ask: Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? Am I a worthy servant of the Lord?" -Thomas S. Monson, "Examples of Righteousness"
"Our parents served faithfully in their most important calling—as parents. Our father led our home in righteousness, never with anger or fear. And the powerful example of our father was magnified by the tender counsel of our mother. The gospel is a powerful influence in the life of every one of us in the Packer family and to the next generation and the next generation and the next, as far as we have seen." -Boyd K. Packer, "And a Little Child Shall Lead Them"
"Every missionary who is proclaiming the name and gospel of Jesus Christ will be blessed by daily feasting from the Book of Mormon." -Henry B. Eyring, "A Witness"
"It needs to be taught and understood that we love and respect all of the people whom Lehi described.8 Remember, it is not up to us to judge. Judgment is the Lord’s.9 President Thomas S. Monson has specifically asked us to have the “courage to refrain from judging others.” He has also asked every faithful member to rescue those who have tasted of the gospel fruit and then have fallen away, as well as those who have not yet found the strait and narrow path." -Quentin L. Cook, "In Tune with the Music of Faith"
"As outlined in Preach My Gospel, missionary work is a four-fold endeavor: finding investigators, teaching and baptizing, fellowshipping new members, and fellowshipping and teaching less-active members. Every member of the Church—children, youth, and adults—can assist in any or all of these efforts. Begin by being a good neighbor and a good friend. Set an example of righteousness and kindness. Let your smile radiate love, peace, and happiness. Live a gospel-centered life." -Silvia H. Allred, "Go Ye Therefore"
For children: Use the Church's visual activity at the bottom of the home teaching message, in which children look at children learning the gospel and find differences between pictures.