Stepping Up to the Challenge

On September 22, 2013, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited the Salt Lake City Utah University Campus Institute, located on the University of Utah campus. He reminded students that service helps us come to know and sense the reality that our Father in Heaven is there and hears our prayers (see Michael Ann McKinlay, “Serve to Feel Christ’s Love, Elder Ballard Tells Students,” Church News, Oct. 1, 2013).

After Elder Ballard talked about the importance of service, he extended a specific invitation to each person: “Each of you, reach out to one other student who is a member of the Church and invite them to come participate in this great institution” (in McKinlay, “Serve to Feel Christ’s Love, Elder Ballard Tells Students”).

As faithful young adults accepted this invitation and acted in faith, they found endless opportunities to invite not only less-active friends and classmates but also nonmember friends and classmates to experience the joy of the gospel through institute. Several students at the Salt Lake City Utah University Campus Institute shared their experiences:

“I took a Spanish class this semester and made a good friend. On the second day of class she asked where I went when class ended, and I felt impressed to mention my institute class. To my surprise, she accompanied me to institute for the entire semester.” (Kaia Douglas)

“I invited two friends. One came and loved it. He felt the Spirit. I’m still working with the other.” (D.M.)

“I met a friend who is a nonmember but has been investigating the Church for almost two years. We quickly became great friends. Once we were close, I decided to invite him to my institute class. At first he was a little hesitant, but he soon decided he wanted to come. As soon as he came once, he started coming to that class every time it was in session.” (Amy)

“I was riding TRAX [a public light rail transportation system] with a nonmember friend, and as we passed the institute, I felt impressed to ask him what he knew and if he had ever been to the institute. He said he knew almost nothing about our Church and that he never knew what the purpose of the institute building was. It was his first-ever encounter with someone who wanted to talk about it, since he had wanted to ask someone. I explained some of our basic doctrines and made sure he knew the institute building was open to everyone and that it was always full of happy people who would make him feel welcome. I invited him to attend class with me. He declined, but I made sure he understood that the invitation would always be there.” (Bob Gabbitas)

“I was visiting teaching and stumbled upon Teressa, who was [then] inactive. We invited her to family home evening. Imagine my delighted surprise when she showed up to sacrament meeting! She is coming to activities and is getting home teachers.” (Jaycee Christensen)

“I learned that one of [the missionaries who baptized me] wasn’t attending institute [after his mission] and prayed to know how to invite him in a loving way. And the opportunity came as we had lunch together. I shared my testimony on institute and that making it a priority is vital. He accepted my invitation.” (Tania Martinez)

Through Elder Ballard’s invitation, students were filled with the faith they needed to invite nonmembers, less-active members, and active members to attend institute. In fact, an institute teacher shared how one student was so inspired that he invited himself:

“Taylor came to my Tuesday-night New Testament institute class the Tuesday following Elder Ballard’s Sunday-evening fireside. As of the night of the fireside, he had not enrolled in institute. His brother had invited him to the fireside, and Elder Ballard’s invitation touched his heart. In his words, ‘After hearing Elder Ballard’s inspired invitation, I decided to invite myself to institute, so here I am.’”

As students accepted the invitation to serve others and invite them to institute, they came to know and feel the reality of their Heavenly Father as Elder Ballard had promised. Elder Ballard’s invitation to fellowship one less-active member of the Church each year is still applicable today to young adults throughout the world.

Elder Ballard closed his address with this promise: “The Lord Jesus Christ will help you. He will help you carry your burdens. He will help you make wise decisions. He will help you accomplish righteous goals if you will pray and call down the blessing of heaven in your own personal lives as well as the lives of others you can influence” (in McKinlay, “Serve to Feel Christ’s Love, Elder Ballard Tells Students”).