President Gordon B. Hinckley was invited to be interviewed in 1996 by reporter Mike Wallace from CBS's 60 Minutes, a national news program.

"I recognized that if I were to appear, critics and detractors of the Church would also be invited to participate," President Hinckley said during the 1996 April general conference. "I knew we could not expect that the program would be entirely positive for us.

"On the other hand, I felt that it offered the opportunity to present some affirmative aspects of our culture and message to many millions of people. I concluded that it was better to lean into the stiff wind of opportunity than to simply hunker down and do nothing."

On that day before the national program aired, President Hinckley was feeling the same trepidation many of us feel before speaking up and talking about the Church. Although he was addressing millions, speaking to even one friend or neighbor about our faith can be just as challenging.

But — following President Hinckley's example — we must let our voices be heard.

"We really don't know how much good we can do until we put forth the effort," said President Thomas S. Monson during the Young Women general meeting March 29, 1997. "Our testimonies can penetrate the hearts of others and can bring to them the blessings which will prevail in this troubled world and which will guide them to exaltation."

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve said during Women's Conference at BYU on May 1 that Church members can also be certain they will have the strength of the Lord "to carry our banner to the world."

Unfortunately, he continued, because "of our lack of presenting our true image," the world had developed a "less than positive image" of the Church and its members.

Elder Perry said the Church has been looking at its image to better understand its approach to missionary work. To accomplish this, he said, the Church employed some professional firms "to help us define and project our true image to the world."

The firms found that 51 percent of the U.S. population have little or no awareness of Latter-day Saint practices and beliefs. Further, 47 percent do not have a favorable view of Latter-day Saints and 31 percent believe that Mormons are not Christian.

And although 84 percent of Americans have seen Church ads, been given Church literature, and/or had LDS missionaries approach them, fewer than 30 percent can identify the Church's main claim — that we follow Jesus Christ and are the re-established original Christian church.

"These statistics clearly show the imperfect way we have communicated who we are and what we believe," said Elder Perry.

To change the image, Elder Perry suggested that members, in essence, follow President Hinckley's example and speak up — even when it is hard.

"A person's view of the Church is the sum of personal experiences they have had which relate in any way to the Church organization," said Elder Perry.

He asked members to do a few things: listen, know the doctrine, live the standards, be exemplary citizens, be good neighbors, open their mouths, extend invitations and use technology.

In several instances, the efforts of members are paying off.

For example, videos on the Church's new Mormon Messages YouTube channel have been viewed more than 2 million times. Members are sharing these short, inspirational videos with their friends and family on blogs, Web sites, and Facebook.

And a video based on an Easter message by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve this April became the No. 1 most-popular video being shared and discussed on the Internet, with more than 350,000 views.

In 2008, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve told Church members that they have the "great opportunity to be a powerful force for good in the Church and in the world" ("Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet," Ensign, July 2008, 58–63).

The challenge is, he said, that there are too many people participating in conversations about the Church for our Church personnel to converse with and respond to individually.

"Sometimes, people just want to know what the Church is. And some who seek answers want them to come directly from a member of the Church. They appreciate one-on-one conversation."

Elder Ballard asked Church members to join the conversation to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration.

"This, of course, requires that you understand the basic principles of the gospel. It is essential that you are able to offer a clear and correct witness of gospel truths. It is also important that you and the people to whom you testify understand that you do not speak for the Church as a whole. You speak as one member — but you testify of the truths you have come to know."

Elder Ballard cautioned, "There is no need to argue or contend with others regarding our beliefs. There is no need to become defensive or belligerent. Our position is solid; the Church is true. We simply need to have a conversation, as friends in the same room would have, always guided by the prompting of the Spirit and constantly remembering the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, which reminds us of how precious are the children of our Father in Heaven."

In 1996, when President Hinckley joined in a conversation with Mike Wallace, things turned out better than even he could have imagined. Some months later he commented: "All I can say is, we were blessed. I don't know how many have seen it. I've heard figures up to 40 million. … It's done unlimited good. We've had a number of letters; baptisms have come of it, and it has been a helpful thing for the Church."

President Monson said it a different way: "You have a testimony; share it. You know the truth; live it." (BYU Commencement address, Aug. 15, 1996.)

In essence, when it comes to speaking out about what we believe, it is better for Church members "to lean into the stiff wind of opportunity than to simply hunker down and do nothing."