We're not great missionaries. but...

Public affairs and missionary work are two sides of the same coin. Elder Clayton M. Christensen

When Heston Chipman bore his testimony last week, he expressed gratitude for the neighbors and friends who had attended his oldest daughter Talbot’s baptism. Seven neighbor families in total came, not because they wanted to know about our church but because they love Talbot, their darling 8-year-old neighbor, her four younger sisters, and their parents.

When I asked Lee, Talbot’s mom, to tell me about their guests, she said, “They are all our neighbors, people we see at the bus stop twice a day, that our kids go to school and play with, and who we see numerous evenings each week as our families have skating lessons or other activities together. They are the ones who cared for our kids when I went to Canada to take care of my mom; they are our friends.”

Hearing Lee speak so lovingly of her neighbors made Heston’s comment the prior Sunday all the more ironic – which was “we’re not great missionaries, but we are great neighbors.”

To Heston, Lee, Talbot, Ashtyn, McKinlay, Quincy and Emery --

You have found common ground beyond religion: you all want to be good parents; you all want to make your community a better place.

Your friends came to the baptism because they love you, and because they know you love them – no religion strings attached.

If inviting your neighbors into your home and hearts isn’t missionary work, what is?