The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(1/6/01)
"I am acquainted with a family who lost a son on a camping trip. When
initial efforts failed to find him, the call for help went out, and hundreds
responded to the call until the boy was safely back in the arms of his mother
and father. I plead this morning that we will all have that same kind of genuine
care and love to do all we can to bring back those precious sons and daughters
who are lost to Church activity." — Ben
B. Banks, "Feed My Sheep," Ensign, Nov. 1999, p. 10
(1/7/01)
"The Savior taught us this principle in the parable of the lost sheep. As
the shepherd left the ninety and nine and searched until the lost sheep was
found, so also are we to go after him who is lost and continue the search until
he is found. (See Matt. 18:12–14.) And once found, our work is not done until
we bring him safely home, rejoicing. This is the objective of the gospel of
Jesus Christ and must be the objective of all the programs and activities of the
Church—to bring the children of our Father in Heaven home, and home to
stay." — Wm. Rolfe Kerr, "Behold
Your Little Ones," Ensign, Nov. 1996, p. 80
(1/8/01)
"My desire is to plead with our sisters to stop worrying about a phone call
or a quarterly or monthly visit, and whether that will do, and concentrate
instead on nurturing tender souls. Our responsibility is to see that the gospel
flame continues to burn brightly. Our charge is to find the lost sheep and help
them feel our Savior’s love. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell says, 'It is easier to
find and to help 'the one' when the 'ninety and nine' are securely
together.'" — Mary Ellen Smoot,
"Pioneer Shoes through the Ages," Ensign, Nov. 1997, p. 12
(1/9/01)
"It seems that for everyone there is a time—if only the Spirit of God
sensitizes our hearts to the action we should take!" — Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Worth of One: A
Home Teacher’s Guide for Working with Inactive Members," Ensign, Jan.
1983, p. 19
(1/10/01)
"Brothers and sisters, you will never be happy if you go through life
thinking only of yourself. Get lost in the best cause in the world-the cause of
the Lord. The work of the quorums, and of the auxiliary organizations, temple
work, welfare service work, missionary work. You will bless your own life as you
bless the lives of others." — Gordon
B. Hinckley, "Pillars of Truth," Ensign, Jan. 1994, p. 7
(7/9/04)
"In summary, then, finding, bringing back, and caring for lost sheep and
lambs are tasks of supernal significance assigned by the Good Shepherd to
faithful under-shepherds. In the accomplishment of these tasks is found some of
the richest joy of work in the Master's cause. How thrilling it is to assist in
brushing away the ashes of apathy, indifference, even antagonism, to reveal and
revive the still-flickering flame of faith. Those so involved can exult with
Ammon: 'Yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.' (Alma 26:11.)" -
Alexander B. Morrison, "Fire
Where Once Were Ashes," Ensign, August 1990, p. 11
4/4/06
"In numerous wards and branches, there are many good, upright, honest men and
women who just don't know how to come back to church. There are good mothers and
fathers among them. They have just left, and no one has come to check up on
them, leaving them with the idea that no one really cares. When men or women of
faith visit these individuals and become their friends, strengthen them, pray
with them, and teach them the gospel, they and their families will come back.
'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me.' (Matthew
25:40.) Who are 'the least of these my brethren'? Might the Lord be
referring to the newest coming into the fold or to those who have wandered into
the shadows of inactivity and would return if extended the hand of true
fellowship?" - Robert J. Whetten, "Strengthen
Thy Brethren," Ensign (CR), April 2005
9/18/09
“The
nicest thing we can do for a less-active member of the Church is to reach out to
them with love and tenderness and kindness and bring them back into activity in
the Church so that they can go to the temple, which they must do to prepare for
a glorious resurrection.” - Hartman Rector, Jr., “The
Resurrection,” Ensign (CR), November 1990, p. 76
2/7/10
“Let
us reach out to rescue those who need our help and lift them to the higher road
and the better way. Let us focus our thinking on the needs of priesthood holders
and their wives and children who have slipped from the path of activity. May we
listen to the unspoken message from their hearts. You will find it to be
familiar: ‘Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, / Help me find the way. / Teach me
all that I must do / To live with him someday.’” -
Thomas S. Monson, The Sacred Call of Service, Ensign (CR), April 2005
8/13/10
"Sometimes we feel that we are weak and lack the strength to
rescue others, but the Lord reminds us, 'Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40)." - Koichi Aoyagi, "Helping Hands, Saving Hands," Ensign (CR) May 2010