“My ward bishop assigned me as a ward teacher to a brother who boasted he was the oldest deacon in the Church. Home teaching was ward teaching in those days. His problem was that he loved to play golf on Sunday. It was discouraging to meet month after month with him and his wife and see no apparent progress. But finally, the right word was said to him and it struck a responsive chord. The word was covenant. We asked him, ‘What does the covenant of baptism mean to you?’ His expression changed, and for the first time we saw a serious side to him. Eventually he came to our classes, gave up golf, and took his wife to the temple.” 3

Throughout his life, President Hunter helped many Church members return to activity. Relating such an experience from early adulthood, he said:

In his first general conference address as President of the Church a few months later, President Hunter said he felt impressed to continue this emphasis. “Come back,” he repeated. “Take literally [the Savior’s] invitation to ‘come, follow me.’ … He is the only sure way; he is the light of the world.” 2

“To those who have transgressed or been offended, we say, come back. To those who are hurt and struggling and afraid, we say, let us stand with you and dry your tears. To those who are confused and assailed by error on every side, we say, come to the God of all truth and the Church of continuing revelation. Come back. Stand with us. Carry on. Be believing. All is well, and all will be well. Feast at the table laid before you in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and strive to follow the Good Shepherd who has provided it. Have hope, exert faith, receive﻿—and give﻿—charity, the pure love of Christ.” 1

The day after Howard W. Hunter became President of the Church, he extended this loving invitation to Church members who were not actively participating:

“Each of us should read and reread the parable of the lost sheep. … I hope the message of that parable will be impressed on the hearts of each of us.”

Teachings of Howard W. Hunter

1 The parable of the lost sheep teaches us to seek after those who are lost. The First Presidency [extended] to the membership of the Church a significant invitation … : “To those who have ceased activity and to those who have become critical, we say, ‘Come back. Come back and feast at the table of the Lord, and taste again the sweet and satisfying fruits of fellowship with the Saints.’ “We are confident that many have longed to return, but have felt awkward about doing so. We assure you that you will find open arms to receive you and willing hands to assist you.” (Ensign, March 1986, p. 88.) I think all of us were impressed by this magnanimous appeal akin to what the prophet Alma stated in the Book of Mormon regarding an invitation that was extended by the Lord. He said: “Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you. “Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; “Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness.” (Alma 5:33–35.) Each of us should read and reread the parable of the lost sheep found in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, commencing with the fourth verse: “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? “And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost” [Luke 15:4–6]. … The Prophet Joseph Smith significantly altered one verse in the Joseph Smith Translation. It reads: “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine and go into the wilderness after that which is lost, until he find it?” (JST, Luke 15:4; italics added.) That translation suggests that the shepherd leave his secure flock and go out into the wilderness﻿—that is, go out into the world after him who is lost. Lost from what? Lost from the flock where there is protection and security. I hope the message of that parable will be impressed on the hearts of each of us.4

2 The Lord expects us to be His undershepherds and recover those who are struggling or lost. What should we do to help those who have lost their way in the wilderness? Because of what the Master has said about leaving the ninety-nine and going into the wilderness to seek the one that is lost, and because of the invitation of the First Presidency to those who have ceased activity or have been critical to “come back,” we invite you to become involved in saving souls. Reach out to the less active and realize the joy that will come to you and those you help if you and they will take part in extending invitations to come back and feast at the table of the Lord. The Lord, our Good Shepherd, expects us to be his undershepherds and recover those who are struggling or are lost. We can’t tell you how to do it, but as you become involved and seek inspiration, success will result from efforts in your areas, … stakes, and wards. Some stakes have responded to previous pleadings and have had remarkable success. The words of a familiar hymn contain the Savior’s appeal to us: Hark! he is earnestly calling, Tenderly pleading today: “Will you not seek for my lost ones, Off from my shelter astray?” And that hymn, sung often, indicates what our response should be: “Make us thy true undershepherds; Give us a love that is deep. Send us out into the desert, Seeking thy wandering sheep.” (Hymns, 1985, no. 221.) If we do this, eternal blessings will come to us.5 Seeking after the lost, the wayward, and the straying is the Lord’s business. … The prayerful plea of Alma is a good reminder of the sacredness of our task: “O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing [souls] again unto thee in Christ. “Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious.” (Alma 31:34–35.)6

“O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing [souls] again unto thee in Christ. Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious” (Alma 31:34–35).