How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. - Matt. 18: 12-14.

At some future date, an astute historian who chronicles the progress of the Church in the latter 1980s and early 1990s might note a marked effort to reclaim the "sheep" who have wandered from the fold.

The tone for this effort was set in late 1985, when the First Presidency, newly reorganized under President Ezra Taft Benson, issued an invitation.

"We are confident that many have longed to return, but have felt awkward about doing so," the First Presidency wrote. "We assure you that you will find open arms to receive you and willing hands to assist you."

Since that statement was issued, the objective to save souls, particularly those who have drifted, has been a key topic in conferences, seminars and leadership meetings.

Hoyt W. Brewster Jr., director of the Melchizedek Priesthood Department, traced the development of this emphasis as follows:

1987: Leaders emphasized accomplishing the mission of the Church: inviting people to come unto God through Christ. No new programs were necessary, they said, just new attitudes in implementating the programs.

1988: The emphasis was on continuing to minister as defined in 3 Ne. 18:30-32; Matt. 20:20-28; Acts 26:16.

1989: "Real" growth in Church membership was emphasized through conversion and retention of converts and serving individuals with special needs. Also there was emphasis on strengthening the Melchizedek Priesthood by dignifying the calling of quorum and group leaders and appointing quorum committees to foster activity, involvement and service of quorum and ward members.

1990: A new Melchizedek Priesthood Leadership Handbook was published, accompanied by a training videocassette: "Putting the Melchizedek Priesthood to Work." Much of the material in the handbook and videocassette focuses on bringing back members who have left Church activity.

1991: At the April 5 Regional Represenatives Seminar, cooperation was urged between stake and full-time missionaries in conversion, retention and activation.

In the spirit of those principles, here are two incidents in which individuals were brought into full Church activity by leaders who reached out to them.