A couple of years ago, my wife and I entered a diner near Bear Lake to have some lunch. Because I had been pondering on how I could be a more effective minister to all people in a all places at all times, my wife and I struck up a purposeful conversation with our server. We quickly learned that she was not a member of the church but that she had grown up with friends who were members of the church. I seized the opportunity by asking, “What was it like growing up around so many church members? Was it ever difficult and did you ever feel left out?“ To this question, she shared that it had been hard at times because she felt she didn’t always fit in. She was aware of activities the girls were engaged in, to which she was not always invited. As she shared, we could sense her emotions and a little of the reflective hurt she felt. I apologized for any pain she had felt. It was an amazing moment and the spirt was present. I believe a slight amount of healing occurred. We had accomplished, in part, what we had set out to do – to be ministers.

When my wife and I returned to our vehicle, we spoke briefly about the simple conversation. I felt amazed at how, with a little purposeful effort, Heavenly Father gave us that simple, yet sacred opportunity to provide a little healing. But then, my wife asked a thought-provoking question. She said, “But what does she do now?” What my wife was really asking was what had we done to help her move closer to the gospel? After a moment of silence and no answer, we realized that while our interaction with this young woman was good, we had not given her any way to act. Our conversation had indeed conveyed information and our empathy with her situation, I believe, softened her heart. But, we had not extended any invitation. I reflect with a heavy heart that we may have done exaclty what the friends of her youth did – shared information with her and showed her that we cared, but not enough to invite her to come along with us. We probably planted a good seed. But we might have done more to harvest.

Lately, I’ve monitored myself and my gospel conversations with others who are not members of the church. I have found that I have the greatest tendency to plant the seed but not harvest – to share truth but not invite. Currently, like all of us, I’m learning slowly how to extend invitations. I have come to believe that it is only through invitations that Israel is gathered.