10 Steps to Become a Great Missionary:
Following the Examples of Alma, Amulek, and the sons of Mosiah
by Kenneth S. Schank, July 10, 2011
I am very grateful to have this opportunity to speak to you this morning. I have prayed and studied hard for weeks to know what I should say to you, and I have asked the Lord to send His Spirit to accompany me, that I might be an instrument in His hands to teach at least one person in this congregation something that will touch their heart and change their life for good. I feel very blessed to be in front of so many people whom I love dearly, and I am excited and grateful that I have been assigned to speak to you about something that is very important to me. My message today is for each and every one of you, the young and not-so-young, and I invite all of you to listen closely—not to my words alone, but particularly to the whisperings of the Spirit as He instructs and teaches you through the remainder of this meeting. The topic on which I will be speaking is missionary work.
When we hear the term “full-time missionary”, we think about a pair of young, well-dressed elders or sisters, wearing a shiny black name tag, riding bicycles or knocking door-to-door. These wonderful people leave behind opportunities, friends, and family members. They sacrifice their time, resources, and even their safety to teach our brothers and sisters the fullness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They are set apart and receive special calls directly from the prophet of God. Last October, President Thomas S. Monson, the President of the Church and Prophet of God, made the following statement:
…May I mention a matter close to my heart and which deserves our serious attention. I speak of missionary work.
First, to young men of the Aaronic Priesthood and to you young men who are becoming elders: I repeat what prophets have long taught—that every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much….
A word to you young sisters: while you do not have the same priesthood responsibility as do the young men to serve as full-time missionaries, you also make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome your service.
And now to you mature brothers and sisters: we need many, many more senior couples.[1]
We know that it is a commandment for young men to serve a full-time mission, and we see that full-time missionary work should not be limited only to young elders. However, we often forget that being a missionary is a commandment for all. Following Christ’s resurrection, He visited and ate with His apostles. He asked Peter, who would later become the leader of Christ’s church on earth, “Lovest thou me…?” to which Peter replied, “Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” Christ’s response: “Feed my sheep.”[2] The Lord gave this same commandment to the Latter-day Saints through the prophet Joseph Smith, saying, “of Him unto whom much is given much is required.”[3] This scripture reminds me of some verses from a favorite hymn:
Because I have been given much, I too must give;
Because of my great bounty, Lord, each day I live
I shall divide my gifts from thee With ev’ry brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.
Because I have been blessed by the great love, dear Lord,
I’ll share thy love again, according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need; I’ll show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.[4]
The Prophet Joseph Smith plainly stated, “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.”[5]
Brothers and sisters, it is clear that the Lord desires all of us to be missionaries. I believe that He wants us all to be “full-time” missionaries, of sorts, for the rest of our lives. In other words, we should be missionaries all the time. I would imagine that for most of us, this is quite a challenging commandment to keep. You might be asking yourselves, ‘What if I’m too shy to share the gospel? What if I try and get rejected? What if I don’t know a lot about the gospel myself? How can I become a great missionary, anyway?’ In preparation for the full-time mission only 10 days ahead of me, I have been studying how we can become missionaries by reading and learning from the examples of Book of Mormon missionaries such as Alma, Amulek, and the sons of Mosiah. As I studied their examples and reflected on my own experiences, I found ten general steps that, if followed closely, can turn anyone into a powerful and successful missionary.
The first thing every missionary needs is a desire to serve. “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.”[6] Alma taught, “If ye will awake and arouse your faculties… and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe….”[7] The principle that a mere desire to have faith will begin to cultivate it is also very applicable to the desire to do missionary work. As you desire to teach, you will learn more about missionary work, your desire will increase, and your opportunities to spread the gospel will become more obvious.
As we read about the sons of Mosiah, there is no doubt that they had a firm desire to teach. Their desire was so powerful that they begged their father, the king, to allow them to travel into the territory of the blood-thirsty Lamanites, “that perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; …that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God…. Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish….”[8] These young men recognized that because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, they were forgiven of their own sins; and they saw it as their duty and privilege to help their wicked brethren experience and accept the joy that always comes with the gospel.
Alma’s missionary work was slightly different from that of his friends. Rather than leaving to teach a different people, he remained with the Nephites because of His calling as the high priest, the prophet and leader of Christ’s church. Even after taking part in the conversion of thousands of his Nephite brethren, he desired to help even more people find the Truth. He famously cried, “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.”[9] With this willing attitude of extreme desire to teach the gospel, Alma was blessed to take part in the conversation of thousands of people.
I learned about the desire to teach for myself through the example of a dear friend. She recognizes how much the gospel blesses her life and realizes that she can be the means the Lord uses to bring that gospel into the lives of those around her. Every day, she looks for teaching opportunities, and often she will make large sacrifices in her busy life to be a missionary. Despite all of this hard work, she is still incredibly happy. If you watch her, you will quickly realize that her happiness is a result of the missionary work she does, which is in turn fueled by her desire to teach.
I promise you that if you will begin to cultivate a desire to spread the word of God that you will begin to be filled with the spirit of missionary work to bring the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ to those around you.
The second step to becoming a great missionary is probably the most important of them all. It is to convert yourself first. The central point of the entire gospel is that mankind can be made clean through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. You cannot expect to convince others of this foundational truth if you do not accept it yourself. This convincing power is borne by the Holy Ghost and thus cannot be felt without His presence.
In a recent General Conference address, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the vitality of the Spirit’s companionship. “Everything the Savior’s gospel teaches us to do and become is intended to bless us with the companionship of the Holy Ghost…. Fundamentally, all gospel teachings and activities are centered on coming unto Christ by receiving the Holy Ghost in our lives.”[10] The Spirit is so important for us to receive that everything the Church teaches and does is centered around our reception of this divine force. Even partaking of the sacrament, the main reason we are here today, is a symbol of the baptismal covenant, which allows us to receive the constant companionship of the Spirit. The prayer on the sacramental bread reads, “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”[11]
The Holy Ghost is especially important in missionary work, because the teacher should always be the Spirit. The missionary’s purpose is only to convey the teachings of the Holy Ghost. In the front room of my home, we have a beautiful grand piano that I love to play. While the piano is the object that creates the sound, it cannot play the beautiful music I want it to make unless I begin to press its keys. This principle similarly applies to missionary work. Though we, the missionaries, are the ones with the mouths to speak, we can convince no one of the Truth unless we recognize, receive, and reciprocate the teachings of the Holy Ghost. The Lord told the sons of Mosiah, “Go forth among…thy brethren, and establish my word…and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.”[12]
To qualify for the Spirit’s companionship requires repentance. When we sin, we become unworthy to receive the Holy Ghost. It is your blessing and duty as a disciple of Christ and as one of His missionaries to do whatever it takes to be worthy of the presence of this member of the Godhead. If your sins are very serious, you may need to confess them to your bishop. I have worked with Bishop Smith as his home teaching companion and part-time employee. I can tell you that he is a good and loving man who will do all he can to help you repent without ever judging you, and I can say the same about all of the bishops I have had in the past. Confession can be the turning point towards repentance as you try to qualify for the Spirit.
Repentance is almost always difficult to some degree, and can demand a great amount of work, but I testify to you that it is always worth it, regardless of the effort it takes. Alma and the sons of Mosiah found this to be true as they worked for repentance. Before their missions, these men sought to tear down the Church. In response to the prayers of their families, the Lord sent a powerful angel to awaken them to the knowledge of their sins. They realized that they were “the very vilest of sinners”[13] and began to do that which was needed to repent. Their personal conversions were completed as “they traveled throughout all the land…, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen…. And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of… their Redeemer.”[14] When we become truly converted through repentance, we feel that “the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, has wrought a mighty change in…our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” This conversion qualifies us to take part in the conversion of others as we receive the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “Now is the time to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, become His disciples, and walk in His way.”[15] Brothers and sisters, now is the time to become truly converted—to repent of your sins.[16] “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”[17] through the great and eternal atoning sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. I testify that the Lord is always willing to accept you into His arms, “as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,”[18] and forgive you of all your mistakes if you will turn to Him and repent.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”[19] As such, the third thing you must do to become a successful missionary is to make the work a priority. For young men, a full-time mission should become their ultimate priority; the importance of serving a mission should outweigh any other opportunity. The Lord asks us to leave behind our schooling, our jobs, our hobbies and sports interests, significant others, and even our families for two years. While all of these things are certainly good—some even necessary—it is far more important to obey the commandment of God and serve a full-time mission. You can consider those two years a tithing on your life. Young women and senior couples should also deeply consider through prayer and fasting if a full-time mission should be their greatest priority when the time is appropriate.
The sons of King Mosiah were excellent examples of putting their missions before anything else. All four of them forsook their rights as heirs to the throne of the Nephite nation so that they could focus all of their time on spreading the gospel to the Lamanites. Following the death of Mosiah, the government was reformed and the nation replaced the king with a body of judges. Alma was appointed the chief judge, the most prestigious and elite of political offices; however, he too gave up his leadership position. “And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people,… that he might preach the word of God unto them…and [confine] himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.”[20] After Alma called Amulek to the ministry, he, too, sacrificed his worldly possessions and popularity for what he knew to be of much greater value.[21]
To do missionary work, especially to serve a full-time mission, you may be required to make large sacrifices. While this of course can be difficult, the Lord consoles us with the promise, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”[22] I bare testimony with a surety that the Lord blesses those who sacrifice for Him.
The fourth step that each missionary must do is to continually and constantly prepare.
We can begin our preparation by humbling ourselves. We have learned that, as missionaries, we are merely instruments in the hands of the Lord, and, as such, our purpose is to fulfill the wishes of the Master. Ammon, one of the sons of Mosiah, recognized the truth of this statement. While doing missionary work among the Lamanites, he was given the task to protect the flocks of King Lamoni. As the king’s enemies came to scatter the flocks, the Lord gave him strength to defeat them and retain the flocks. Though the Lamanites honored him and marveled at his might, Ammon never lost sight of the source of his power, saying, “I am a man…created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach…this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true; and a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God.”[23] Because of his humility, the Lord granted Ammon success as a missionary, but he never forgot to give the Lord the credit for his accomplishments. He declared, “I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.”[24]
I know that as we humble ourselves and submit our own wills to the will of the Father, He will freely give us of His power.
It is also important for us as Christ’s people and as missionaries to study the scriptures. It stands to reason that you can’t teach what you don’t know. I ran into this problem in junior high. At that time, my family was living in Mesa, Arizona. I did not have many friends who were members of the Church. I wanted to be a good missionary and teach them what I believed to be true. I soon became frustrated, however, and my wise parents helped me to realize that if I wanted to do missionary work, I needed to become more familiar with the doctrine. The problem was not that I wasn’t familiar with gospel principles. I was blessed to be raised in a wonderful family that has done a remarkably good job at holding Family Home Evenings, family scripture studies, and family prayers for as long as I can remember. However, I needed to be more than familiar with the doctrines of the gospel—I needed to consume them. I struggled for many years to develop a consistent habit of daily scripture study, and it wasn’t until my freshman year of college—less than one year ago—that I finally succeeded in studying my scriptures every day. And while my desire to do missionary work has been strong for many years, I was not able to successfully spread the gospel until I had developed this habit. I found that the Lord’s admonition held true: “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.”[25]
Studying the scriptures has enriched my life. As I study the truths and doctrines found within them, I feel peace, assurance, happiness, and the love of the Savior. I have come to understand Alma’s description of his own experience with the scriptures: “it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea it beginneth to be delicious to me.”[26]
Study of the Book of Mormon is particularly important and promising. The Preach My Gospel manual states, “Reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon are critical for an enduring conversion.”[27] If you have not yet developed a habit of studying this sacred book, I ask that you will rise to the challenge and try to read it every day without ever giving up. I promise you that it will bless your life beyond that which you can possibly hope to experience without the influence of this miraculous book of scripture. It has made me so incredibly happy, even to the shedding of tears, and I only wish for you to share in the joy.
President Gordon B. Hinckley promised, “Brothers and sisters, without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.”[28]
If you do not have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, please study it prayerfully until you receive one, as I know that you can’t ponder its truthfulness without gaining a testimony of it. The ancient prophet Moroni promised, “When ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”[29] Once you gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, you become ready to testify to those who need to hear the message of this amazing book.
I bear testimony of the Book of Mormon. I love that book. I know that it is true. It has changed my life completely, and I know that it will change yours as you continually accept it and study its teachings.
Another very important part of mission preparation is prayer and fasting. Preach My Gospel states, “No one can know of spiritual truths without prayer.”[30] The sons of Mosiah understood this principle. “They had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God…. And they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring… their brethren… to the knowledge of the truth….”[31] Alma also recognized the power that prayer and fasting can bring into missionary work. While preaching to the people in Zarahemla, he commanded them to “gather together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.”[32] With the help of the saints in Zarahemla, Alma then “labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in [another] city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.”[33]
Prayer is essential to missionaries to find those who need to be taught and to call upon the Lord for His help and power. If you are not familiar with the power that prayer can bring to your life or if you do not already pray often, I ask of you to begin today. In the most difficult times of my life, I have found peace and solace as I turn to the Lord in prayer. The feelings of love and comfort exhibited by the Savior’s Atonement can be quickly and easily accessed as we turn to our Heavenly Father in sincere and humble prayer. As I have cried out for help in my darkest times, I have felt the Savior enfold me in His loving arms.
I bear testimony that as you pray, the Lord will hear you and answer you. I pray that you will remember to call upon the lifeline of prayer when you need help in your own life or when you seek to bring those around you closer to Christ through missionary work. I know that if you do this, you will receive the help you need.
To prepare to do missionary work, we must also attend the temple regularly.
Temple attendance is closely linked to missionary work. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained, “Going to the temple for your own endowment . . . [is] an integral part of your mission preparation…. [You should] understand the significance of those temple covenants [and] the inextricable link between your endowment and your missionary success…. You cannot do this work alone. We have to have heaven’s help…. This work is so serious and the adversary’s opposition to it so great that we need every divine power to enhance our effort and move the Church steadily forward.”[34]
Elder Bruce R. McConkie also taught the importance of temple attendance for missionaries: “Missionaries… are not fully qualified to go forth, preach the gospel, and build up the kingdom, unless they have the gift of the Holy Ghost and also are endowed with power from on high, meaning [they] have received certain knowledge, powers, and special blessings, normally given only in the Lord’s Temple.”[35]
Receiving the sacred endowment is an important prerequisite for each person desiring to serve a full-time mission. The Lord explains why this is: “That they themselves may be prepared, and that [they] may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands. And this cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high. For behold, I have prepared a great endowment and blessing to be poured out upon them….”[36]
The Prophet Joseph Smith dedicated the temple as a perfect place for missionaries to go forth from, prepared to teach. In the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland temple, he prayed, “We ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thine angels have charge over them; And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they man know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days.”[37]
In preparation for my full-time mission, I had the opportunity to enter the temple and make more covenants as I took out my endowment. Since then, I have done temple work frequently and regularly, and I have felt the Lord’s power attend me every day.
If you are endowed, it is important that you attend the temple regularly. If you are married, attend with your spouse.
Many of you are too young to take out your own endowment in the temple. If this is your situation, you can prepare to one day enter in and make these sacred covenants by resolving now to live worthily to qualify for a temple recommend, by doing family history work, and by attending the temple to complete baptisms and confirmations for those who have gone before us. You can also feel of the wonderful blessings of the temple by doing these things.
I bear testimony that we can become better missionaries as we continue to serve and educate ourselves by regularly visiting the temple. I know that the Lord blesses the bodies, minds, and spirits of those who enter His holy House, and I testify that He gives freely of that blessing to those who make and keep the sacred covenants that are formed within those temple walls.
It is very important that the young men become familiar with the ways of the priesthood. The priesthood is “the power and authority given to man to act in God’s name for the salvation of His children.”[38] All full-time missionaries receive the priesthood, and all who receive the priesthood reciprocally have the duty and prerogative to share the gospel and use their priesthood authority to administer in ordinances for new converts. “It is [an elder’s] calling to baptize; …and to confirm those who are baptized into the church, by the laying on of hands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost,… and to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the church….”[39]
Once you obtain the Melchizedek priesthood, I suggest that you look for opportunities to practice using this marvelous power often. After you are endowed in the temple, participate in sacred saving ordinances for the dead as a baptizer or confirmer in the temple. If opportunities allow, participate in ordinations and settings apart of others as they advance in the priesthood or accept a new calling. Ready yourself to give blessings at any time, and carry a vial of consecrated oil with you wherever you go.
It is crucial that as you prepare for your mission, you remain worthy to perform your priesthood responsibilities. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, “Personal worthiness becomes the standard of eligibility to receive and exercise this sacred power.” At times it can be difficult to withstand the temptations of the devil, which seem to come more frequently and in greater numbers and strength to young men as they prepare to serve full-time missions. This is surely because Satan is very aware of how many people a single missionary can liberate from his binding “chains of hell”[40].
To help me maintain my worthiness and resist temptation, I try to remember that my priesthood service may be called for at any time and any place, and that others are depending on me to keep myself clean so that I can bless them with the priesthood power I hold. During my freshman year of college, I lived in an area containing few young men and many young women, all of whom lived far away from priesthood-holding family members. I knew that in my duty as a home teacher, priesthood leader, neighbor, and friend, many of these people depended on me to be a worthy administrator of priesthood blessings. By the end of the year, I was called upon over forty times to administer priesthood blessings to the sick and troubled, twenty of which occurred during the last week. I soon realized that many people expected me to be worthy to help them when they needed the blessings of the priesthood power in their lives. I have wondered how much shame, regret, and sorrow I would have felt if I was unable to administer to those who relied on my priesthood authority because of my unworthiness. There is a heart-breaking story found in the Book of Mormon that dramatizes this depressing potential situation. There was a certain man named Ammon, who lived many years before the time of the son of Mosiah who was given the same name. He led an expedition to find his lost Nephite brethren in the land of Lehi-Nephi. When he arrived, he began to do missionary work, teaching the people and helping many of them, including their king, Limhi, to be converted. “And it came to pass that king Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God. And Ammon declined doing this thing, considering himself an unworthy servant.”[41] How sad it is that Ammon, the only priesthood-holder in the entire city of Lehi-Nephi, was unable to bring many, perhaps thousands, of people into the waters of baptism because of his inability to exercise the priesthood worthily. I can imagine the terrible shame he must have felt when he realized that his actions had adversely affected the spiritual development of these new converts. I pray that this shame will be something that you men never have to experience because of your constant, steadfast worthiness to bless the lives of others with your priesthood.
“Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause?”[42] Our Father in Heaven trusts His sons with the sacred obligation to worthily wield this power for the purpose of blessing the lives of all of His children. We must not fail Him. I bear witness that the priesthood of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and I know that it is truly the power of God.
We cannot be successful missionaries unless we prepare well. I testify that as we do so, the Lord will bless us to complete His work, and we will feel His power with us each day we prepare.
The fifth step to becoming a successful and powerful missionary is to constantly testify.
Of course, you must gain a testimony before sharing it. Your testimony grows as you exert faith, “through obedience to the commandments of God and through regular prayer and scripture study.”[43] President Boyd K. Packer gives us insight to another way we can build our testimonies. “Oh, if I could teach you this one principle. A testimony is to be found in the bearing of it! Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that “leap of faith,” as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and stepped into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two.”[44] As you testify of a true principle, your testimony of that particular principle in turn is strengthened. Take the opportunity to bear simple testimony whenever you can—in fast and testimony meetings, at home, or to friends. This does not need to be a long oration of a grand list of everything you think and feel and have experienced in an intense, formal setting. Rather, it can—and usually should—be quick, simple, and relaxed, so long as it is sincere and reverent.
Some people feel they are to shy or nervous to share their testimonies. If you are one of these people, please know that this vital missionary tool becomes easier to bare each time you testify of eternal truths. It can be as a simple as a single sentence.
As far as I know, bearing testimony of sacred truths is the best way to invite the Spirit to teach. I learned this principle one day while walking home from a class last school year when I saw an excited man speaking to a large group of people. As I got closer, I found that he was trying to convince his listeners that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a false and blasphemous church, and that its members would all be sent to hell. Those listening began to contend with him, taking offense at his words. For nearly an hour, the gentlemen argued with this crowd of people. Their voices raised, and language became coarse. As a bystander, I observed that even as eternal truths were mentioned, the spirit was nowhere near. I felt prompted that if I bore my testimony, the spirit would be able to testify that my words were true. I was very scared, but I obeyed the prompting I felt. Though nervous, I politely confronted the gentleman and bore my simple testimony of the truthfulness of the Church, the divinity of the Book of Mormon, and the power of Christ’s Atonement. As I did so, I immediately felt empowered by the Holy Ghost, and a feeling of peace surrounded the area. The arguing stopped for a short time, and I left having learned of the simple power of testimony.
I testify that as you build your testimony and share it with those around you, you will be filled with the Spirit of God to convince them of eternal truths.
Step 6: Find Good Missionary Companions
The sixth step to becoming a good missionary is to find yourself good companions. I have never felt as much joy in my life as when I have done missionary work with good friends. Many times I have felt the Spirit with remarkable power as my friends and I have spoken with each other about the gospel and testified to each other. I am so thankful for my wonderful friends who have had such an amazing impact on my life. I have learned so much about Christ through their righteous examples.
Amulek found Alma to be a great friend and companion. Not only did Alma help him become fully converted to the gospel of Christ, but, as Amulek endured many difficult trials, Alma “took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.”[45] Everyone could use a friend like that.
Ponder on the influence of your friends. I challenge you to obey the words of the prophet: “Choose friends who share your values so you can strengthen and encourage each other in living high standards.”[46] This may require you to limit the time you spend with your current friends if they are poor influences, or to make new friends altogether. This can be very hard. I know this for myself. One of the most difficult things I have ever done was to leave an entire group of friends after realizing how poorly they affected me. In due time, however, I made new friends who I will remember forever because of their wonderful examples of righteousness. That one act of faith changed my life significantly. If your friends do not help you to be the best you can be, I ask you to pray for help to find new friends who can build you up. I know that the Lord will answer you and help you to find such friends. He loves you and wants you to be happy.
Another reason we should do missionary work with good companions is because each added witness contributes much power to a testimony. This rule is exhibited in the work of Alma and his companion, Amulek. Even after Alma bore his powerful testimony to a group of wicked unbelievers, they still rejected his words. However, as Amulek began to teach the very same doctrine, “the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused.”[47] The added testimony of Amulek was the turning point for many of those people, and they repented and accepted the gospel.
I know that your friends can have eternal influences on you. I testify that as you begin to do missionary work with your friends by teaching each other and those around you, you will find incredible happiness, and blessings will begin to flow into your life.
The seventh step to successful missionary work is to start the work at home. Preach My Gospel teaches that “the home is the best place to teach, learn, and apply principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”[48] The best classroom is not at seminary or institute, church, or even the temple. It is in the home. In his recent General Conference address, Elder Richard J. Maynes taught, “Brothers and sisters, there is great power and protection for us and our youth in establishing celestial traditions in the home. Learning, teaching, and practicing the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our homes helps create a culture where the Spirit can dwell…. The responsibility for establishing a Christ-centered home lies with both parents and children.”[49]
Before teaching friends, acquaintances, and strangers about the gospel of Christ, we should first attend and minister to those in our own family. Nephi taught, “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ,… that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”[50] We should begin to do missionary work only after an effort to testify in our own homes has been made.
Alma and the sons of Mosiah recognized the importance of first ministering in their own homelands. Before leaving to do missionary work in the Lamanite nation, the sons of Mosiah remained in their home city Zarahemla and “did impart much consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of God.”[51] Alma likewise “began to deliver the word of God unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla, and from thence throughout all the land.”[52]
I testify that as we minister to our own families and begin to do missionary work in our own homes, our families will be blessed with strength and closeness, and our homes will be blessed with peace, protection, and love.
The eighth step to become a successful missionary is to look for opportunities to teach. Ammon is a great example of this. As the king’s enemies came to scatter the sheep tended by Ammon and some Lamanite servants, the servants began to be fearful that they would be punished for losing the king’s flocks. Ammon recognized this as the perfect teaching opportunity. “When Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words.”[53] He then depended on the Lord for strength and was able to ward off the aggressors, not forgetting to teach the servants—and the king—the source of such miraculous power.
As messengers of Christ’s gospel, we should constantly be looking for missionary opportunities. Pray daily for chances to teach and testify, and seize such opportunities as you come upon them. You may want to prepare missionary pass-along cards, a copy of the Book of Mormon, or your written testimony to take with you to school, on your way to work, or on vacations. Search for opportunities to give these things away to those whom you feel are ready to receive them. We pass by missionary opportunities on a regular basis just because we don’t consciously look for them. As you continue to prepare, I know that the Spirit will help you to find opportunities to share the gospel.
The next step to become a great missionary is to learn to love. “True Christianity is love in action,” President David O. McKay taught. “…This is the spirit of missionary work.”[54]
Missionary work is more rewarding than any other work. However, it can become frustrating when someone we teach is uninterested, or if an investigator begins to waver in their development toward conversion. We must help these people with love. We must be careful to make sure that they do not feel that you are interested in them only if they will listen to your message; they are people, not numbers or tallies.
As we seek to learn to love, we can find value in Moroni’s advice for us: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ….”[55] It is important for us to pray for love—not only for those we teach, but for all of our brothers and sisters. We must remember that every person on earth is a child of God, and that our Heavenly Father loves them even as He loves us.
When you have shared the gospel with someone, do not forget to follow through. Teaching a person the gospel is not a one-time event. We must continually teach them until their testimony is strong enough to stand alone and they have found their way to the waters of baptism. By checking in on a person whom we have taught, we remind them of our message and show that we care for them and want them to be happy.
I testify that God loves all of His children, and, that we can begin to feel of His charity for them as we seek to love them.
The tenth and final step that can help you find success in your missionary work is to endure to the end. President Brigham Young taught, “There is neither man or woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life.”[56] To be a powerful and successful missionary, we must spread the gospel of Jesus Christ for the rest of our lives.
Like Alma and the sons of Mosiah, I have found that the Lord’s revelation to Joseph Smith is very true: “Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!”[57] As we continue to do missionary work throughout our lives, we find that we not only receive the blessings of keeping this important commandment, but we also qualify for the joy that always comes with bringing the gospel to our spiritually lost brothers and sisters.
We will face challenges as missionaries. They may be discouraging, but the Lord will help us, his servants, to continue in the work if we practice patience. Ammon recalled, “Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.”[58] Alma also learned that the Lord blesses the patient missionary through his own experiences. He traveled to preach in the wicked city of Ammonihah, where he was rejected, persecuted, and cast out. “And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah,… an angel of the Lord appeared unto him”[59], comforting him and commanding him to return. When Alma obeyed, he immediately met Amulek, who would be a powerful companion to him throughout his mission. “And they had power given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them….”[60]
Even when we practice patience and faith, we may still face difficulties. Oftentimes, these trials are given us to test our trust in the Lord. We will find that as we trust the Lord, He will strengthen us and help us to endure these difficulties. Amulek learned this as he endured a terrible and daunting trial with Alma. The two missionaries, still in Ammonihah, were imprisoned and forced to watch the believers in that city suffer death by fire. Amulek began to fear for their own lives, saying “Perhaps they will burn us also.” Alma’s response undoubtedly taught Amulek about trust. “And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.”[61]
I, too, have learned that the Lord blesses those who trust in Him when times become difficult. When I was about 12 years old, I developed chronic pain in my knees, its cause unknown. Over the last seven years, several doctors, surgeons, physical therapists, and chiropractors have tried to diagnose and treat the issue, yet nothing has helped. Last year I began to realize that the time for me to serve on a full-time mission was approaching, and I was very fearful that my knee problem would limit my ability to serve. I decided that I needed to do everything possible to help my knees to heal. I made the difficult decision to refrain from athletic activity in practically all of its forms in the hopes that resting my knees as much as possible would help them to heal. This was very hard for me to do, as playing sports is my favorite activity, but I had faith that if I did all I could to heal and if I trusted the Lord, He would help me to heal. I complete my missionary application. After about sixth months of athletic inactivity, I realized that this had no effect on my knee pain. It was then that I realized that though I trusted the Lord, I trusted Him in the wrong way. I trusted Him to do what I wanted (to remove my knee pain) when I should have trusted Him to help me endure His will for me. My prayers changed from begging for relief to crying for strength. Immediately I began to see the Lord’s will for me through His eyes. I don’t know if I will ever heal from my knee pain or what the Lord intends to teach me with it, but I do know that the Lord still loves me and that He has provided me with ways to endure with strength my afflictions. For example, he called me to the North Carolina, Raleigh mission, where I will rely primarily on a car and bicycle for transportation. Of course the constant knee pain I have experienced and continue to experience is far from desirable and difficult to endure. However, I have learned to change my attitude to accept the will of the Lord, whatever it may be, and I am grateful for the lessons He has taught me thus far.
It is important for us to remember that the Atonement of Jesus Christ does not apply only to the forgiveness of sins. The Book of Mormon teaches us that as He suffered in the garden of Gethsemane, the Savior also suffered “temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer”[62] … “that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”[63] As we continually apply the Atoning sacrifice of our Lord to our own lives, He will “give us strength according to our faith which is in [Him], even unto deliverance.”[64]
President Lorenzo Snow taught, “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children.”[65] Our Savior, Jesus Christ, wants us to succeed. We are doing His work. I testify that as we trust in Him, exhibit patience, and endure to the end, He will bless us with strength and power from On High.
I conclude with my testimony. I know that missionary work is a sacred duty and privilege entrusted to us by our great Creator. If we desire to serve Him by teaching others, we will find success. As we repent of our sins and become truly converted, we become qualified to teach with the Spirit as an instrument in the hands of the Master. When we put God’s work before our own, He will pour the blessings of heaven upon our heads. As we prepare to teach by word and deed, our lives become enriched and enlightened and we gain the ability to provide nourishment for our brothers and sisters. Testifying of the gospel of Jesus Christ invites the presence of the Spirit and strengthens us in our work. Good friends and companions help us to learn, teach, and live the gospel. Our homes are strengthened and protected as we do missionary work in our own families. Missionary opportunities come to those who seek them out. As we love those we teach, we can feel of our Savior’s love for them and for us. If we endure to the end and trust in the Lord, He will not lead us astray. I know that I have been called by our Heavenly Father to serve His children.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal happiness. I bare witness of the power, divinity, and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I testify that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet in our day. And most importantly, I testify that Jesus is the Christ. He is our Savior. He loves us and knows us. He sacrificed Himself in the garden to perform an eternal Atonement, thus becoming the perfect One to turn to in any time of need, and allowing us the opportunity to repent of all our sins if we will only come unto Him. Of this I bear witness in the name of that Savior, even our Lord, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
[1] Thomas S. Monson, “As We Meet Together Again,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 5-6.
[2] John 21:15-17.
[3] Doctrine and Covenants 82:3.
[4] “Because I Have Been Given Much,” Hymns, #219.
[5] Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 113.
[6] Doctrine and Covenants 4:3.
[7] Alma 32:27.
[8] Mosiah 28:2-3.
[9] Alma 29:1-2.
[10] David A Bednar, “Receive the Holy Ghost,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 96-97; emphasis added.
[11] Moroni 4:3; emphasis added.
[12] Alma 17:11; emphasis added.
[13] Mosiah 28:4.
[14] Mosiah 27:35-36.
[15] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Way of the Disciple,” Ensign, May 2009.
[16] see Alma 13:21.
[17] Isaiah 1:18.
[18] Matthew 23:37.
[19] Dallin H. Oaks, “Good, Better, Best,” Ensign, Nov. 2007.
[20] Alma 4:19-20.
[21] see Alma 15:16.
[22] Matthew 16:25.
[23] Alma 18:34-35.
[24] Alma 26:12.
[25] Doctrine and Covenants 11:21; emphasis added.
[26] Alma 32:28.
[27] Preach My Gospel, 38.
[28] Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Power of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Jun. 1988.
[29] Moroni 10:4.
[30] Preach My Gospel, 39.
[31] Alma 17:3,9.
[32] Alma 6:6.
[33] Alma 8:10.
[34] Jeffrey R. Holland, “Making and Keeping Covenants,” Missionary Satellite Broadcast, Apr. 25, 1997.
[36] Doctrine and Covenants 105:10-12.
[37] Doctrine and Covenants 109:22-23.
[38] Preach My Gospel, 83.
[39] Doctrine and Covenants 20:38,41-42.
[40] Alma 12:11.
[41] Mosiah 21:33.
[42] Doctrine and Covenants 128:22.
[43] Thomas S. Monson, “Priesthood Power”, Ensign, May 2011, 66.
[44] Boyd K. Packer, “The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983.
[45] Alma 15:18.
[46] For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God, 12.
[47] Alma 10:12.
[48] Preach My Gospel, 32.
[49] Richard J. Maynes, “Establishing a Christ-Centered Home,” Ensign, May 2011, 38-39; emphasis added.
[50] 2 Nephi 25:26.
[51] Mosiah 27:33.
[52] Alma 5:1; emphasis added.
[53] Alma 17:29.
[54] David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, [1954], 129.
[55] Moroni 7:48.
[56] Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 322.
[57] Doctrine and Covenants 18:14-16.
[58] Alma 26:27.
[59] Alma 8:14.
[60] Alma 8:31.
[61] Alma 14:12-13.
[62] Mosiah 3:7.
[63] Alma 7:12.
[64] Alma 14:26.
[65] Lorenzo Snow, The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, comp. Clyde J. Williams [1984], 70.
