Better Prepared Missionaries
Better Prepared Missionaries
“What we need now is the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the Church. We need worthy, qualified, spiritually energized missionaries who, like Helaman’s 2,000 stripling warriors, are ‘exceedingly valiant for courage and also for strength and activity’ and who are ‘true at all times in whatsoever thing they [are] entrusted’ (Alma 53:20).
“As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I call upon you to begin right now – tonight – to be fully and completely worthy. Resolve and commit to yourselves and to God that from this moment forward you will strive diligently to keep your hearts, hands, and minds pure and unsullied from any kind of moral transgression. Resolve to avoid pornography as you would avoid the most insidious disease, for that is precisely what it is. Resolve to completely abstain from tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Resolve to be honest. Resolve to be good citizens and to abide by the laws of the land in which you live. Resolve that from this night forward you will never defile your body or use language that is vulgar and unbecoming to a bearer of the priesthood.
“And that is not all we expect of you, my young brethren. We expect you to have an understanding and a solid testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We expect you to work hard. We expect you to be covenant makers and covenant keepers. We expect you to be missionaries to match our glorious message.
“Now these are high standards. We understand that, but we do not apologize for them. They reflect the Lord’s standards for you to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, to enter the temple, to serve as missionaries, and to be righteous husbands and fathers. There’s nothing new in them, nothing you haven’t heard before. But tonight we call upon you, our young brethren of the Aaronic priesthood, to rise up, to measure up, and to be fully prepared to serve the Lord.” (M. Russell Ballard, “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, p.46)
Prepare to be a Successful Missionary
President Ezra Taft Benson has emphasized four things to help you prepare to be a successful missionary as well.
“I testify to you of the truthfulness of these four great points of emphasis on missionary work . . . First, the sacredness of saving souls and the importance of greatly increasing the number of convert baptisms. Second, the necessity of increasing our own personal faith in order that convert baptisms will increase in a significant and dramatic way. Third, the importance of missionaries prayerfully . . . setting personal convert baptismal goals. Fourth, the urgency of being actively and productively engaged in member‑missionary work in order that the Lord’s harvest may be accomplished” (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, July 1985, 11).
Prepare to Serve
Elder Ballard has suggested some things prospective missionaries should be doing:
“(1) Developing a meaningful prayer relationship with your Heavenly Father; (2) Keeping the Sabbath day holy; (3) Working and putting part of your earnings in a savings account; (4) Paying a full and honest tithing; (5) Limiting the amount of time spent playing computer games. How many kills you can make in a minute with a computer game will have zero effect on your capacity to be a good missionary; (6) Giving the Lord more of your time by studying the scriptures and gaining an understanding of the marvelous message of the Restoration that we have for the world; (7) Serving others and sharing your testimony with them.” (Ensign, Nov. 2002, 46).
Prophets have upheld this standard from the beginning of the missionary program. Brigham Young states the following:
If the Elders cannot go with clean hands and pure hearts, they had better stay here. Do not go thinking, when you arrive at the Missouri River, at the Mississippi, at the Ohio, or at the Atlantic, that then you will purify yourselves; but start from here with clean hands and pure hearts, and be pure from the crown of the head to the soles of your feet; then live so every hour. Go in that manner, and in that manner labor, and return again as clean as a piece of pure white paper. This is the way to go; and if you do not do that, your hearts will ache. (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1954], 323) .
President Woodruff also noted:
“All the messengers in the vineyard should be righteous and holy men and call upon the Lord in mighty prayer, in order to prevail. It is the privilege of every Elder in Israel, who is laboring in the vineyard, if he will live up to his privileges, to have dreams, visions and revelations, and the Holy Ghost as a constant companion, that he may be able thoroughly to gather out the blood of Israel and the meek of the earth, and bring them into the fold of Christ.” (Wilford Woodruff, The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, ed. G. Homer Durham, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969], 101).
Physical and Emotional Preparation is Important
“Worthiness must be our main focus in preparation, but it is not the only factor to consider. Physical well-being can also play a prominent role in preparing for a mission. The Brethren have recently explained: “Those individuals not able to meet the physical, mental, and emotional demands of full-time missionary work are honorably excused . . . They may be called to serve in other rewarding capacities” (“Statement on Missionary Work from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” 11 Dec. 2002).
Prepare Earlier
President Spencer W. Kimball has said:
“I am asking that we start earlier and train our missionaries better in every branch and every ward in the world. . . . I am asking for missionaries who have been carefully indoctrinated and trained through the family and the organizations of the Church, and who come to the mission with a great desire. I am asking . . . that we train prospective missionaries much better, much earlier, much longer, so that each anticipates his mission with great joy.” (Ensign, Oct. 1974, 7)
“We love all of our missionaries who are serving the Lord full-time in the mission field. But there is a difference in missionaries. Some are better prepared to serve the Lord the first month in the mission field than some who are returning home after twenty-four months. We want young men entering the mission field who can enter the mission field “on the run,” who have the faith, born of personal righteousness and clean living, that they can have a great and productive mission.” (CR April 1986, Ensign 16 [May 1986]: 45.)
(Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 192.)
Raising the Bar
Bar has been Raised in Order to Serve
“Please understand this: the bar that is the standard for missionary service is being raised. The day of the “repent and go” missionary is over. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you, my young brothers? Some young men have the mistaken idea that they can be involved in sinful behavior and then repent when they’re 18½ so they can go on their mission at 19. While it is true that you can repent of sins, you may or you may not qualify to serve. It is far better to keep yourselves clean and pure and valiant” (M. Russell Ballard, “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, p.46).
Elder Ballard reminded us of the following:
“We are ‘raising the bar’ for your sons to serve as missionaries, that means we are also ‘raising the bar’ for you. If we expect more of them, that means we expect more of you and your wife as well. Remember, Helaman’s 2,000 stripling warriors were faithful because “they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:21) – and that instruction came in their homes.
“Some fathers don’t think they have the right to ask worthiness questions of their children. They think that is the purview of the bishop alone. Fathers, not only do you have the right to know the worthiness of your children, you have the responsibility. It is your duty to know how your children are doing with regards to their spiritual well-being and progression. You need to monitor carefully the issues and concerns they share with you. Ask specific questions of your children regarding their worthiness, and refuse to settle for anything less than specific answers.
“Too often our bishops have to instruct youth to talk to their parents about problems they are having. That procedure should actually flow the other direction. Parents should be so intimately aware of what is going on in their children’s lives that they know about the problems before the bishop does. They should be counseling with their children and going with them to their bishops if that becomes necessary for complete repentance. As divinely appointed judges in Israel, the bishop and the stake president determine worthiness and resolve concerns on behalf of the Church; but, fathers, you have an eternal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of your children. Please assume your rightful place as counselor, adviser, and priesthood leader, in preparing your sons to bear the Melchizedek Priesthood and to serve as missionaries” (M. Russell Ballard, “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, p.46).
As a Man Thinketh So is He
Thoughts become Action (From Raising the Bar)
There is an enduring principle for gaining the vision, cultivating the desire, and achieving the action that leads to results. That principle, put in simplest terms, is this: As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he (see Prov. 23:7). How can thoughts have such a powerful effect upon our behavior? Does the mind really control matter, even our attitude and behavior? The answer to this is a resounding yes! The process of thinking and mental exertion is the beginning of gaining the vision, desire, and action.
This is how the process works:
- A Thought (perceived or received) is an idea, a consideration, a reflection, a deliberation, a concept, an aspiration, a meditation, a pondering, about something. When this thought is . . .
- Dwelled upon, that is, brought to reside in your mind and to be continually present, such that you are engrossed in it and linger on it, this, in turn, . . .
- Creates a Desire, a want, a need, a penchant for, a wish, a willingness, a longing, an appetite, a passion or craving for something. When this is . . .
- Encouraged, which is to urge, help, inspire, promote, support, motivate, stimulate, strengthen, and to reassure, then it . . .
- Results in Action, which is to perform, execute, give effort, and to exert oneself. You actually do something. Your attitude has changed and you now behave in a new way. You are a result of your thoughts.
The catalyst for the transition from thoughts to desire is to dwell upon the thought. The catalyst for the transition from desire to action is to be continually encouraged i.e., to have the courage to act. The question now is one of initiative and self-mastery. Now that we understand the principle behind the thought process, the challenge rises: Where will your thoughts take you today?
Setting and Achieving Goals
As you plan and prepare, it is important to set your goals. They need to be smart goals.
The whole point of setting goals, of course, is to achieve them. The best goals are smart goals. Actually, SMART goals is more like it. SMART stands for the five characteristics of well-designed goals.
- Specific: Goals must be clear. Vague ambitions and platitudes have no place in goal setting. When goals are specific, they tell people precisely what is expected, when, and how much. Only with specific goals are you able to measure progress.
- Measurable: What good is a goal if you can’t measure progress? When goals are not measurable you never know if or when or even how you’re making progress toward their completion. Not only that, but it’s very difficult for people to stay motivated to complete the goals in the absence of milestones to indicate progress.
- Attainable: Goals must be realistic and attainable. As we indicated earlier, goals should give people something to stretch for, but they should not be out of reach. Neither, of course, should goals be too easy. Goals that are set too high or too low become meaningless and people tend to ignore them.
- Relevant: Goals must be an important element in the overall plan of achieving your mission and reaching your vision. It’s estimated that 80 % of people’s productivity often comes from 20 % of their activities. You can guess where the remaining 80 % of effort ends up. Relevant goals address the 20 % of the effort that has the greatest impact on performance.
- Time-bound: Effective goals have starting points, fixed durations, and ending points. People are better able to focus their efforts on goal attainment when they are committed to deadlines. Goals without schedules or deadlines tend to get lost in the rush of day-to-day life. (Roger Dean Duncan, Leadership for Saints, Ed. J. Pinegar, [American Fork: Covenant Communications, 2002], 94–95).
Worthiness as a Requirement to Serve
Many of you are already on this track, and we commend you for your worthiness and determination. For those of you who are not, let tonight be the beginning of your preparation process. If you find yourself wanting in worthiness, resolve to make the appropriate changes – beginning right now. If you think you need to talk to your father and your bishop about any sins you may have committed, don’t wait; do it now. They will help you to repent and change so you can take your place as a member of the greatest generation of missionaries. (M. Russell Ballard, “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, p.46).
Standards Raised for Missionary Service
President Hinckley recently said, “The time has come when we must raise the standards of those who are called to serve as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world” (“Missionary Service,” First Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 2003, 17).
The Power of Desire
Our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, admonishes us:
“I wish I could awaken in the heart of every man, woman, boy, and girl here this morning the great consuming desire to share the gospel with others. If you do that you live better, you try to make your lives more exemplary because you know that those you teach will not believe unless you back up what you say by the goodness of your lives. Nobody can foretell the consequences of that which you do when you teach the gospel to another. Missionary work is a work of love and trust, and it has to be done on that basis. Be a part of this great process which constantly adds to the vitality of the Church. Every time a new member comes into the Church, something happens. There is an infusion of strength and faith and testimony that is wonderful. Think of what this Church would be without the missionary program. Think of it! I think this is the greatest age in the history of the world. I think this is the greatest time in the history of the Church. I believe that. I think there will be greater times in the future. We are growing ever and ever stronger . . . What a responsibility we have. The whole fate of the world depends on us, according to the revelations of the Almighty. We cannot waste time. We cannot be unrighteous in our living. We cannot let our thoughts dwell on immoral things. We have to be the very best that we can be, you and I, because the very relationship of God our Eternal Father to His children on the earth depends on their accepting what we have come to teach according to His magnificent word.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], 374).
Elder Dallin H. Oaks addressed the topic of creating a desire to serve. He asserted the following:
“If we are to become more effective instruments in the hands of the Lord in sharing His gospel, we must sincerely desire to do sore. I believe we acquire this desire in two steps.
“First, we must have a firm testimony of the truth and importance of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This includes the supreme value of God’s plan for His children, the essential position of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in it, and the role of The Church of Jesus Christ in carrying our that plan in mortality.
“Second, we must have a love for God and for all of His children. In modern revelation we are told that “love, with an eye single to the glory of God, [qualifies us] for the work” (D&C 4:5). The early Apostles of this dispensation were told that their love should “abound unto all men” (D&C 112:11).
From our testimony of the truth and importance of the restored gospel, we understand the value of what we have been given.
“From our love of God and our fellowmen, we acquire our desire to share that great gift with everyone. The intensity of our desire to share the gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion” (“Sharing the Gospel,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 7)
The Lord’s Work
Missionary Commission
You are a set-apart missionary. You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. Elder Bruce R. McConkie has said of your commission:
I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master and He has chosen me to represent Him. To stand in His place, to say and do what He himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts; my words are His words and my doctrine is His doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants done. To say what He wants said. To be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous latter-day work (How Great Is My Calling [address delivered while serving as president of the Australian Mission, 1961–64]).
The Greatest Work: Preach the Gospel
The Prophet Joseph has declared: “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel” (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, 2nd ed. [Salt Lake City: Desert Book, 1980], 2:478).
Mission Call an Important Call
President Joseph F. Smith has also reminded us:
“There can be no greater or more important calling for man than that in which the Elders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints are engaged when in the discharge of their duties as missionaries to the world. They stand as teachers, counselors and leaders to the people. They are commissioned with the word of life, and “the power of God unto salvation,” to minister unto this proud, conceited, self‑righteous, but benighted and degenerate world” (“The Sacredness of Our Calling,” Millennial Star, 28 June 1875, 408).
Nothing Can Stop the Lord’s Work
The Prophet Joseph Smith has prophesied of this:
“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (HC, 4:540).
We Have a Divine Heritage
“To be aware of one’s limitations and potentials on a continuing basis will help in improved self-esteem. We need to be constantly aware of the fact that we are children of God. He knows us. He hears us. He loves us. Proper self-image will help us keep our habits, lives, and souls directed in happy paths. How proud we should be in the knowledge we have godlike attributes. It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “It is difficult to make a man miserable when he feels he is worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.” (Address on colonization to a Negro deputation at Washington, Aug. 14, 1862.) (Marvin J. Ashton, “Proper Self-management,” Ensign, Nov. 1976, 84)
Missionary Work is a Great Work
Finally, Heber J. Grant taught us: “The missionary work of the Latter‑day Saints is the greatest of all the great works in all the world” (CR, Oct.1921, 5).
The Kingdom’s Growth Depends on Missionary Work
“If there were no converts, the Church would shrivel and die on the vine. But perhaps the greatest reason for missionary work is to give the world its chance to hear and accept the gospel. The scriptures are replete with commands and promises and calls and rewards for teaching the gospel. I use the word command deliberately for it seems to be an insistent directive from which we, singly and collectively, cannot escape.” (Spencer W. Kimball, “When the World Will Be Converted,” Ensign, Oct. 1974, 3)
Advice for Missionaries
Duty to Preach the Gospel
Remember that your business is to preach the Gospel in all humility and meekness, and warn sinners to repent and come to Christ. Avoid contentions and vain disputes with men of corrupt minds, who do not desire to know the truth. Remember that “it is a day of warning, and not a day of many words.” If they receive not your testimony in one place, flee to another, remembering to cast no reflections, nor throw out any bitter sayings. If you do your duty, it will be just as well with you, as though all men embraced the Gospel. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 1: 468.)
Lose Yourself in the Work
“It is so important that you lose yourselves in this work, that you don’t worry about “what is it going to do for me.” You are not out in the world with self-improvement as the major objective, but you can’t help getting a maximum amount of self-improvement if you lose yourself in the work of the Lord. I don’t know of any better preparation for life than two years of devoted, unselfish, dedicated service as a missionary. (God, Family, Country, pp. 59-60.) (Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 201.)
Challenges of Missionary Work
“The biggest challenge facing a missionary today is to forget himself and lose himself in the work. We are all prone to be a little selfish, a little lazy. We all like comfort; yet industry is at the heart of missionary work. This has not changed since the time of the Savior. He said, “… whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35.) That is particularly true with missionary work. The greatest challenge has always been to go before the Lord in prayer and ask for strength and capacity and direction, and then go out and go to work. The Lord has declared: “If therefore thine eye be single [to my glory], thy whole body shall be full of light.” (Matt. 6:22.) If a missionary works with an eye single to the glory of God, then the darkness goes out, the darkness of laziness, the darkness of sin, the darkness of procrastination, the darkness of fear, and these are all factors that influence missionary work.”
(Brian Kelly, “A Visit with Elder Gordon B. Hinckley about Missionary Work,” New Era, June 1973, 29)
Advice for Those in the Mission Field
“For all full-time missionaries, I have several suggestions:
First, open your mouth. The Lord tells us, “And thou must open thy mouth at all times, declaring my gospel with the sound of rejoicing.”
Speak to everyone: shopkeepers, passengers riding buses, people on streets, and everyone you meet.
Second, work hard. Missionary work results in many rejections. It is easy to be discouraged. “And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts.”
Third, be obedient, faithful, and true. Missionaries serve in companionships for protection. A missionary best protects his companion when he is loyal to the Lord and helps his companion. By keeping the missionary rules, you gain the freedom of having the Spirit assist you.
Fourth, teach and testify. “And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God.”
And fifth, when you complete your mission, maintain the spirit, appearance, and trust of a missionary. Brigham Young once said to the returned missionary: “Come home with your heads up. Keep yourselves clean, from the crowns of your heads to the soles of your feet; be pure in heart.” (Earl C. Tingey, “Missionary Service,” Ensign, May 1998, 39).
Pass-a-long Cards
“For those who find it difficult to initiate missionary conversations—and many do—the Church’s newly produced pass-along cards are a lovely, effortless way to let others know some of your basic beliefs and how they may learn more. For example, this is the easiest way I personally have yet found to offer people a copy of the Book of Mormon without my needing to carry a knapsack full of books as I travel.” ( Jeffrey R. Holland, “Witnesses unto Me,” Ensign, May 2001, 14).
You Determine Your Mission
“Your mission will be exactly what you decide to make it. Your excellent mission president, President Whipple, and good missionary companions will help you along the way, but keep in mind that you are the central and decisive factor in the success of your own mission. Your young but strong shoulders bear the responsibility of the call you willingly and happily accepted. You have seen missionaries in a variety of countries and circumstances. You have also observed that in rather similar situations one missionary is successful, another a little less so. The difference lay in the attitude and desire of the individual missionary. Make the inevitable challenges of missionary work steppingstones for your own spiritual growth. Determine now that nothing will keep you from magnifying with honor your missionary call.” (Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “To a Missionary Son,” Ensign, Nov. 1991, 42)