I've been studying considerably on the topic, trying to figure out how I can be better at this. If we love the restored gospel, and we do, then what's keeping legions (or at least several) of friends and family from joining our ranks a year?

One day, while reviewing the New Testament, I came across this verse: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). Christ had just finished warning disciples about false prophets, and (presumably) to help distinguish the false from the true, he carries on by emphasizing the importance of men's "fruits." What fruits do you think He means? And do we have them? And if we do, how do others find out about them?

Is this the right approach? What other thoughts have you had on the subject?

Continuing on my train of thought from the intro, can and should we be more proactive about letting others know of these "fruits?" Can (and if yes, how do) we do so and maintain the Christlike attribute of humility?

Another relevant scriptural account that I want to highlight is Christ explaining the parable of the sower followed by a crystal-clear directive (Mark 4:14-22; see lds.org). When Christ expounds upon the different types of seeds (i.e. types of receptions to the word), he talks about one type that "bring[s] forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." Then, seemingly interrelated, Christ then speaks of a candles' proper place as being on a candlestick, not hidden under a bushel or a bed.

The above scripture is similar to Matthew 5:13-16/3 Nephi 12:13-16 (see lds.org). Clearly, we are supposed to stand out. But the question still remains, how do we best go about standing out?

I've traditionally used in-person conversations to bring up how much the gospel is part of my life and how it's made such a difference. Usually, it doesn't take too many topics before something naturally points back to my Church participation or belief system. I usually hope that when one of those topics is breached, they knock on the door with questions and I graciously open it and let them in. Perhaps I'm not as great as I used to be at this, but I've had very little success with this strategy. People don't usually knock.

I've wondered why, and I think it has something to do with the fact that religious conversation is often a taboo, awkward subject, that may lead to uncomfortable or offensive assumptions, mixed with an anxiety of accidentally defiling the sacred. I've had my fair share of awkward gospel-sharing experiences, and I know I'm not alone. I'm sure I can get better at this, but is this even the best way to do it?

I'm wondering if the Internet is exactly the place that in-person missionary work (at least in the initial stages) can never be. We've been told by our Apostles that we need to participate in the online conversation. Stephanie Nielsen (the woman in the plane crash) has given out 800 copies of the BoM, resulting already in 8 baptisms.

On the Internet, people can come and go as they please, with anonymity (there's just some sense of security to that). No one ever has to feel nervous about overstaying his welcome (whether sharer or recipient), and invitations can be widely disseminated. All action (continuing to read more, organic googling of the Church website) is self-driven, without anxiety of offenses exchanged. And where else is it finally appropriate to speak of your everyday life, the ups and downs, triumphs and tribulations, when people can truly sense the authenticity and influence of the gospel in your daily living?

Is the Internet, then, the best way to approach missionary work?

Just bought my copy of Clayton Christensen's new book, Everyday Missionaries, and it's the best book I've ever read on the subject! I'm only on Chapter 3, and it's tackled questions and situations I've had all my adult life. Wholeheartedly recommend it.