The Savior invited His disciples in Jerusalem to become "fishers of men."
"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
"And they straightway left their nets, and followed him." (Matthew 4:18-20)
He invites all of us to come to Him and we can be fishers, too, and share the gospel's message and blessings with others. When thinking about missionary work we often think about being fishers and shepherds, but I hadn't thought much about the importance of being hunters. ;) This may sound too aggressive, but I think it's the example that President Monson has taught. Be deliberate, search after and find and rescue the one.
In studying and thinking about being a fisher and being a hunter a little bit more I came across a wonderful article in the June 2015 Ensign, "Fishers of Men" by Elder Scott D. Whiting (my bishop when I was a youth, definitely one of the fisherman in my life). We work together to extend our Heavenly Father's love and message to all of His children.
Here are a few other inspiring talks, videos, songs...
- "Follow Me, and I will Make You Fishers of Men"
- "Come, Follow Me"
- Fishers of Men
- Reaching Outsiders Within: One by One
- To the Rescue Young Single Adults
- Elder Bednar in England
- The Net Gathers of Every Kind by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, October 1980
- To the Rescue by President Thomas S. Monson, April 2001
- One by One: The Fifth Gospel's Model of Service by Richard Holzapfel, 2003
- Concern for the One by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 2008
- Being a More Christian Christian by Elder Robert D. Hales, October 2012
- Our Responsibility to Rescue by President Thomas S. Monson, October 2013
- Look for the one, June 2016
- One by One (a beautiful song!!) by Elder David A. Bednar, July 2016 (the story)
Have you fished? Have you hunted? When have you been fished for? hunted after? How did you feel? When helping others come to Christ we must do the work His way and by His Spirit...and I think often it is one person at a time.
I remember a day on a bus in Pusan, Korea in 2001 when I learned for myself how much our Heavenly Father loves each of His children, individually. We weren't the only Christian missionaries in Korea. Religion was actually discussed quite a bit and other churches proselyted...on the streets, on the buses, door-to-door. It wasn't unusual for someone to get on the bus and start shouting their message to the whole busload of people hoping they could convert a large group at once. ;) I would chuckle to myself sometimes when I was sitting on one of these buses, but I have to admit that sometimes I wondered whether that might not have been more effective - why not shout to all the bus, all the world the important message we had of the restoration? :) I remember distinctly an impression one of those days, "No, that's not how we do it. Each person will have their chance to learn and understand and come to know the gospel for himself/herself. This message, this plan, this gospel is for each individual and He sends one missionary to one individual to teach and bring them to Christ."
That's the same pattern we see in 3 Nephi 11:14-15 when the Savior invites every individual to come and feel the marks in his hands and feet for themselves. It's the same lesson He gives in the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:3-7. He loves us and will find us and bring us home....and He asks us to be fishers, and shepherds, and hunters to seek after His sheep. What a blessing for us and for them! Our Heavenly Father truly loves each of us!
I remember a day on a bus in Pusan, Korea in 2001 when I learned for myself how much our Heavenly Father loves each of His children, individually. We weren't the only Christian missionaries in Korea. Religion was actually discussed quite a bit and other churches proselyted...on the streets, on the buses, door-to-door. It wasn't unusual for someone to get on the bus and start shouting their message to the whole busload of people hoping they could convert a large group at once. ;) I would chuckle to myself sometimes when I was sitting on one of these buses, but I have to admit that sometimes I wondered whether that might not have been more effective - why not shout to all the bus, all the world the important message we had of the restoration? :) I remember distinctly an impression one of those days, "No, that's not how we do it. Each person will have their chance to learn and understand and come to know the gospel for himself/herself. This message, this plan, this gospel is for each individual and He sends one missionary to one individual to teach and bring them to Christ."
That's the same pattern we see in 3 Nephi 11:14-15 when the Savior invites every individual to come and feel the marks in his hands and feet for themselves. It's the same lesson He gives in the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:3-7. He loves us and will find us and bring us home....and He asks us to be fishers, and shepherds, and hunters to seek after His sheep. What a blessing for us and for them! Our Heavenly Father truly loves each of us!
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