Murray Meszaros is originally from Saskatchewan, Canada, and joined the Church at age 21 after years of searching for peace and answers. A year later he was serving a mission in Austria. Murray worked in education for 42 years, including in elementary schools, as director/CEO of a YM/YWCA, a college administrator, a consultant, and lastly with the Utah State Board of Education. He has served in the church in most Young Men advisor positions, as Sunday School president and instructor, early morning seminary teacher, elders quorum president, bishop and bishopric member, stake clerk, and high councilor.
Murray enjoys inventing board games and is married to Melanie Meszaros. They have four children and nine grandchildren and live in Ogden, Utah, where Murray currently serves both as membership clerk and (for at least the fifth time) ward mission leader.
Highlights
01:40 Introduction to the podcast
02:50 Murray’s background and callings
05:00 Murray shares his conversion story and how he created new approaches for sharing the gospel
07:40 The first characteristic of sharing the gospel is to have a Christ-like attitude in all of our connections
09:30 The second characteristic is to be creative. We have to create our own opportunities to share the gospel.
11:00 The third characteristic is to be curious about individuals. What makes them tick? What’s their situation? How can you connect with them through these things?
11:15 The fourth characteristic is to be complementary towards others
11:40 The fifth characteristic to continuously follow up
12:15 You have to go find the sheep. They aren’t going to find you. Very rarely are opportunities just going to fall into your lap.
14:15 Murray shares stories of ways that he has shared the gospel in an easy and natural way
15:20 The first question. Ask permission to share anything with anybody. Would you be willing…? Would you mind if I ask you some off the wall questions.?
16:40 The second question. If you could ask God a question right now what would you ask Him?
17:20 The third question. If you could know the answer to your question would you want to know?
17:40 The fourth question. Would you be willing to pay the price to know the answer to your question?
18:15 The fifth question. Could some friends and I come by and answer some of your questions?
19:30 What to do if people say no
20:00 If people don’t have any questions, Murray gives some ideas of questions you can ask them
27:30 We make sharing the gospel too hard! Start talking to people at the gym or grocery store.
29:15 Murray shares what the 5 star is and how it can help you share the gospel
38:00 5 star can help you not only update your records but it’s an opportunity to meet new people and start meaningful conversations with them
41:00 Murray uses his same questions over the phone and over social media too. He shares a story of how he set up zoom calls with a man that was living in another state.
42:00 When to bring the missionaries in
42:30 Going back to the question of do you want to know the answer to your question? Murray will first teach them how to talk to God and get that answer before he gets into answering their question.
43:40 Creating a team in your ward and involving the ward counsel in nurturing and ministering to this new individual that has been found.
50:00 Murray’s questions help us use the love, share, invite model
52:00 Murray shares some quotes from The Power of Everyday Missionaries by Clayton Christensen.
56:00 Being a good follower makes us a good leader
Links
PDF download: 5-Star Improving Member Missionary Efforts and Engagement
Powerpoint download: 5-Star Improving Member Missionary Efforts and Engagement
The Power of Everyday Missionaries
Following Up, by Elder M. Russell Ballard
Sharing the Restored Gospel, by Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Fourth Floor, Last Door, by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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The Leading Saints Podcast has ranked in the top 20 Christianity podcasts in iTunes, gets over 500,000 listens each month, and has over 10 million total downloads as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help latter-day saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.
Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, J. Devn Cornish, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, DeAnna Murphy, Michael Goodman, Richard Ostler, Ganel-Lyn Condie, and many more in over 500 episodes.
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