A Mission Leaders' Perspective: How Social Media Became a Tool for Missionary Work

COVID 19 was a full global pandemic in July 2020. Most senior missionaries had been sent home while young missionaries were removed from countries whose borders were closed and reassigned to US missions. Many states in the US had banned public meetings, therefore church assembly was contrary to public policy. Traditional missionary contacting and finding tools, such as knocking doors, were banned.

As mission leaders leading nearly double our compliment of missionaries (due to hundreds of missionary re-assignments), we had to develop new methods to contact and to teach. President Russel M. Nelson had just taught the youth and young adults that “gathering scattered Israel was the most important work on earth,” and that the Lord was indeed “hastening His work!”

Further, we were clearly taught by President Ballard in a private meeting held in his office on June 19, 2020, for the purpose of our being set apart as Mission Leaders, that previous to the COVID pandemic the Missionary Department was a “well oiled machine.” He then turned to his scriptures and opened the Book of Mormon to 1 Nephi chapter 17. He quoted the following:

“Thou are commanded to build a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee……and I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find the ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship…” President Ballard helped us understand that we were indeed commanded to build a metaphoric ship (missionary work), but that it was through revelation from above that we were to find the ore to build the tools from which we would build the ship.

President M Russell Ballard then quoted Doctrine and Covenants 31:7, “Yea, I will open the hearts of the people, and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand” He strongly emphasized the word “I,” and taught us that this, indeed, this is the Lord’s work. He prophetically instructed us that even though the Church did not know exactly how to train us for such an unprecedented climate, the Lord knew. And he promised us that as we asked and knocked the Lord would guide us.

We tried almost every conceivable contacting method. An example included organizing neighborhood homework help gatherings for the youth (schools were closed and all learning was online only). Missionaries were organized by academic skill to tutor children and youth –including activities such as soccer, basketball and running. Where Stake Presidents would allow, church buildings were utilized as classrooms and activity centers.

Service of every conceivable type was emphasized and where possible coordinated with local wards and branches. One early morning after pleading with the Lord for help I read a missionary letter which included a miracle story. Missionary miracle stories are not uncommon. God is a God of miracles – and miracles have not ceased! However, this miracle was revelatory and proved to eventually change the course of our missionary focus.

Elder Brenes had a dream of a woman he and his companion had taught a simple lesson to nearly a year earlier and had since forgotten. He dreamed that it was her birthday, and that he messaged her through Facebook to wish her a happy birthday. His birthday wish included a message about Jesus Christ and His doctrine.

Elder Brenes related to me that he awoke with a start and immediately searched Facebook for this woman’s profile. Indeed, he discovered that it was her birthday. He proceeded to message her that exact words he saw that he had written in his dream. Miraculously, her response was exactly “word for word” the same response he had seen written on the screen of his phone during his dream. A teaching appointment was set, and miracle #2: relationship connections among both the young women and a relief society sister in the ward were established.

This sister, her high school aged son and daughter were all soon baptized. These events miraculous as they were – and they were – became revelatory to me. We were to establish social media as a primary tool to gather scattered Israel! This was the “ore” for which we had been searching!

To this point in our mission, and throughout the world, use of social media among missionaries was raw, misused or abused, and largely counterproductive. Mostly missionaries were posting content more akin to what they had posted as young high school or college students rather than as disciples of Jesus Christ with a purpose of inviting all to come unto Christ! Modifying and sanctifying our use of social media became our goal.

In athletics, fundamentals are paramount and must be mastered before complex schemes or strategies are established. It was very obvious that we needed to teach the fundamentals – not necessarily of social media, but of how to represent Christ and His Church on social media.

We were guided to Laura Brown who accepted a request to be our social media sherpa, doing the heavy lifting of guiding Sister Haymond and I, each individual missionary and our mission as a whole how to use social media as a powerful tool, or in some cases, the powerful tool of the gathering. She helped to establish and teach the fundamentals!

Laura proposed that we initiate social media standards for missionary profiles and posts. Everything about our profile photo, and content would guide others to Christ. Period. She was paramount in establishing a mission social media culture centered on our missionary purpose to “invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.” Ultimately understanding that the gospel of Christ is both the “what” and the “why” of their missionary calling.

As we moved forward through Sister Brown’s inspired instruction, we gained understanding and received additional inspiration. Line upon line and precept upon precept we were blessed to create thousands of missionary referrals whereby our new friends requested opportunities to learn more about Christ, to attend church meetings, to receive scriptures, and to be taught by missionaries. The number of lessons taught multiplied until we were taxed by the volume.

This led to missionary efforts specific to responding quickly (within 10 minutes) to online inquiry and requests. We labeled these rotating assignments as “First Responders.”

Laura Brown was an answer to our prayers. She is an exceptional and gifted teacher and trainer.

She is who the Lord called to establish the powerful tool of social media for the gathering of scattered Israel in the Oregon Portland vineyard. She clearly understands the power of good that social media can have on the work of salvation.

Beloved and trusted by the missionaries, she became our Christ centered, grace filled, social media coach. Her inspired leadership, knowledge, faith, and inspiration were critical to building our ship.

We recommend Laura Brown’s Social Media MTC for everyone – without exception.

-Steve and Angie Haymond. Mission Leaders: Oregon Portland Mission, 2020-2023.