Every day there are people who request a copy of the Book of Mormon and a short message from missionaries. They can choose to have an in-home visit or talk with missionaries online and download an electronic copy of the Book of Mormon. People can choose a specific topic to talk about that may be relevant to their lives or is something they are curious about.
What They’re Expecting
When you receive a Book of Mormon request, the person you will be meeting with may have watched this video. This will give you an idea of what they might be expecting when you stop by. The same principles apply if you meet with them via a voice or video call.
The interested person probably saw an ad on Facebook or Google and filled out a form to request a Book of Mormon. They may have even explored ComeUntoChrist.org a little bit. The image below shows the process from someone seeing an ad, visiting ComeUntoChrist.org, filling out a form to request a product or visit, and missionaries receiving the media referral in the Area Book Planner.
How to Prepare
A Book of Mormon request is an introductory lesson, designed to help you become acquainted with the people you are teaching, invite the Spirit, and share a message based on their needs. Because they have requested a Book of Mormon, be sure to bring a copy with you and share an introduction about it. The Book of Mormon is “your most powerful resource in conversion” (Preach My Gospel, chapter 5). Help others feel the Spirit as you teach from the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
When someone requests a visit, they can choose to discuss a variety of topics based on what they select when filling out a form. These notes can be found in Area Book Planner when you receive the media referral and can help you know how to prepare for your lesson. For specific questions or more resources about the Book of Mormon, you can find them here.
If you get some difficult questions, refer to this page of Common Questions.
Watch how these missionaries respond and prepare once they receive a media referral.
Things to Remember
Contact the person as soon as possible
Follow through with each request for a Bible study by contacting the person. Text is usually best! Be prepared to discuss the topic they requested.
Give them the item they requested
Avoid any approach in the visit that might leave the person feeling tricked, such as not providing a message about the requested topic or not introducing the Book of Mormon. You may, however, discuss additional topics and scriptures as needed to clarify your message or answer other questions.
Keep the Area Book Planner updated
Make sure that the information is as up to date as possible. The more information you have can help you and missionaries in the future be more prepared to meet and teach each individual.
Build a meaningful relationship with each person. Open up and share a little more about yourself beyond the fact that you are a missionary. Share brief personal experiences from your life and discuss how what you learned from your experience can make a difference in his or her life.