The First Presidency message this month is from President Gordon B. Hinckley and is titled: A Perfect Brightness of Hope — to New Members of the Church. It is a special message written especially toward new converts and members of the Church. It talks to them about their transition into membership and the culture of the Church.

Throughout the message, President Hinckley tells the new members how we (existing members of the Church) will help them. Here are some quotes that help illustrate how we are suppose to help new members:

• “We stand ready to assist you in any way we can”?
• “Unless there are strong hands to greet you, unless we reach out to you with love and concern”?…
• “We have the challenge of helping you to strengthen your testimony of the truth of this work”?
• “We rejoice with you in the gospel of Jesus Christ”?
• “We need you”?
• “We will put our arms around you and be friends with you. “
• “We will do our best to comfort you, to make you feel welcome and accepted”?
• “We love you, and we know the Lord loves you.”?
• “Come and work with us side by side as we grow and learn together”?

As a footnote: according to the Church’s Member and Statistical Records Division, first-generation members made up 64 percent of the total Church membership as of July 2006.