“Suffer Them That They May Come Unto You and Forbid Them Not”

"The Savior's commandment to the Nephites to 'not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together' has special application to us in the Church today. While we may not verbally 'forbid' others-members and nonmembers alike-from our fellowship in the Church, they may feel 'forbidden' by reason of our attitudes and our actions. Elder M. Russell Ballard observed: 'I believe we members do not have the option to extend the hand of fellowship only to relatives, close friends, certain Church members and those selected nonmembers who express an interest its the Church. Limiting or withholding our fellowship seems to me to be contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ.... We might ask ourselves how the newcomers in our wards would be treated if we were the only ones they ever met. Every member of the Church should foster the attributes of warmth, sincerity, and love for the newcomers....

"'Brothers and sisters, we members must help with the conversion process by making our wards and branches friendly places, with no exclusivity, where all people feel welcome and comfortable. . . . My message is urgent because we need to retain in full fellowship many more of the new converts and return to activity many more of the less active. I urge you to increase the spirit of friendship and pure Christian fellowship in your neighborhoods. A new convert or recently activated member should feel the warmth of being wanted and being welcomed into full fellowship of the Church. Members and leaders of the Church should nurture and love them as Jesus would.' ("The Hand of Fellowship," Ensign, November 1988, pp. 28-29.)" (McConkie, Millet, and Top, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, p. 127)