In our church, we commonly speak of members in the church as being active or less active. In theory, there are those who actively participate in the programs of the church, others who particpate in some of them and others who do not particpate at all. In reality, we are all less active to one extent or another. As we study and develop our faith, line upon line, precept upon precept, we gain testimony in certain doctrines and principles and become "more active." This process becomes life's journey.
At one point, the term inactive, was commonly used. But this term has gradually fallen out of favor, because it connotates despair rather than hope. In fact, the term denies the tenets of our faith. It supposes that no spark of testimony remains in the individual that can be nutured and brought back to life.
What each of these groups of individuals (the active and the less active) have in common is that at one time both declared that they had gone through a process of rebirth, meaning that they had discovered, as a result of fasting, prayer and study, that they would joyfully submit their will to their Heavenly Father's will, in the hope of partaking in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This is the pattern demonstrated by Jesus Christ while in the Garden of Gethsemane, prior to going to the cross, when He said (Luke 22:42), "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
Those who become "less active" are sought out by the "active." In this way the "active" attempt to follow the admonition of our Savior and we leave the 99 and go after the lost sheep. This is often referred to as ministering. It is an ongoing process. We all have our moments when we need to be encouraged and nutured by these "ministering angels." Even the brightest fire needs to be fed, otherwise it is sure to go out.
When compared to other churches, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is often distinguished by the activity level of its members. Even still, our really active members constitute only about 60 percent of the membership. What I would consider the "highly active" is probably closer to 40 percent. However, when compared to other religions, these numbers are quite impressive. Nevertheless, that gives us a great work to do "gathering" in the less active.
So what happened? How do both groups start down on the same path, but end up on a different road? Well, to begin with, I believe the premise is false. People join the church for many reasons. Some build their house upon sand and others upon a rock. One of the great motivators of new memberships is social. We have great appeal to nearly every demographic. Unfortunately, people who join for social reasons, join for what they think the church can do for them. JFK reminded us in his great innagural address, it is not about what your [church] can do for you, but what you can do for your [church]. And I would add, "with all your heart, mind and strength."
Some, who are born into the church, rely too heavily on the testimonies of their parents and the traditions of their families. They fail to develop their own testimonies sufficient to sustain themselves against the fiery darts of the adversary. The temptations of the world become too beguiling and they succumb.
We learn that testimonies are sustained through service. If service does not become a part of the life of a member, the fire will go out. It does not happen in a day, a week or a month. People don't just wake up one morning and say, I'm through with the Church. It is because they have developed a pattern of not responding to a call to serve. They learn how to say no. And it gets easier over time.
Everybody in the Church is called to serve. It is a lay ministery. With no paid clergy, the members run the programs of the Church. We have no salaried youth ministers. If you want your kids to go to scout camp, you had better bring your mosquito repellent, because you may be the scoutmaster!! King Benjamin, in the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 2:17) said, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
In Matthew 25, Christ teaches:
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the dkingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
So in the Church, much of our efforts are spent seeking after the one. To rekindle a testimony, we call people to serve. In their service they come to know Christ. They learn how to give of themselves. They put off the natural man and become new creatures, no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
Recently, Chris and I have been assigned to seek out two less active returned missionaries. It is part of an effort to identify and fellowship this great source of strength for the church here in Russia (returned missionaries). This assignment has gone to all of the nearly one hundred senior couples that are serving here in Russia.
Peter the Great looking over the girls' shoulders. 
The conference focused on building and strengthening families. I find it a bit of challenge listening to the translator, when I am also trying to listen to the Russian in an attempt to increase my vocabularly. But it all seems to work. Well, Chris is up, so I guess I better get into the kitchen and make some breakfast.
