Acknowledgements
It is with gratitude I express my appreciation for all the wonderful missionaries and friends that have made this work possible. To Russell Greiner and Matthew Beecher who are wonderful servants of the Lord and great missionaries in the Kingdom of God. They are examples to us all. To my special editors Sabine Berlin and Heidi Brockbank I express my gratitude. To my Covenant friends Kathy Gordon and Samantha Milburn my gratitude is constant for their feedback and continual support. And to my sweetheart Pat who always is so supportive of my time spent hunched over the computer, typing with my three fingers, I am forever grateful. All of these wonderful people make this book possible with all the thousands of missionaries I have had the pleasure of serving with in my Missionary Preparation Classes, the England London South Mission and the Provo Missionary Training Center.
Introduction
Never before have I written a book with such fervor and testimony. Although it was started shortly after our return from England over twenty-five years ago hastening the Work and the work of everyone’s salvation ignited the flame. Missionary work is our work and our glory too. It can be a fount of happiness. The words still echo from many of the missionaries weekly letters, “Oh President I have never been so happy.” This is the work of everyone’s salvation—bringing souls to Christ. My prayer is that this book will inspire and teach the grand principles of sharing the gospel and then with examples, stories, and real life happenings make the principles live. And not just live but make doable for all who seek to share the gospel.
As a Mission President in England and as President of the Provo MTC, I have witnessed many approaches members have used to be missionaries. In 1973, while serving on a missionary committee of the Church, I saw several ideas brought forth with the premise of President David O. McKay’s all encompassing statement, “Every Member a Missionary.” Everything that has been said, encouraged, admonished, and exhorted for us to do have been good ideas, but there is a problem. The members of the Church still struggle. Try as they might, doubt and fear often win out. We as members sink back into our old habits while missionaries go back to knocking doors, street contacting and anything they can think of in the hopes that someone will listen and they can have an opportunity to teach the gospel. They pray for referrals and some come but never enough to keep them busily engaged in teaching investigators. Things will change.
June 23, 2013 was a landmark day. “The Work of Salvation” meeting under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve has given the vision and responsibility of being a member missionary to every member of the Church. The Stake and Ward Councils are to lead out and set an example. The Prophets of God have commissioned all of us. We need to stand tall and embrace our responsibilities with faith and good works.
A new mindset needs to occur—we must have an even greater commitment to sharing the gospel. We need to recognize who we are as the seed of Abraham and our responsibility to bless the entire earth by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Members need missionary eyes, ears, hearts, and souls. Doubt and fear must flee from our very being and be replaced with faith in Jesus Christ and His empowering and enabling atonement. Love for our fellowmen must consume our very beings. Remember the desire and enthusiasm that the Sons of Mosiah expressed as they were hoping to teach the Lamanites? “Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble” (Mosiah 28:3 emphasis added). Our desire to bless our fellowmen and share the gospel need to increase. We can do it in the strength of the Lord (see Alma 26:11-16). This same feeling can be ours as we seek to be instruments in the hands of God. Each of us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints has the right, the responsibility, and the privilege to share the gospel, “And to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life” (Mosiah 18:9).
The Holy Spirit will guide us and help us as we plead for it. Missionaries, members, and those who are seeking the truth will be blessed with an abundance of the Holy Spirit. It shall be poured out upon all the people as we pray and plead for a portion of the Holy Spirit. (see Mosiah 25:24; Alma 8:10; 16:16; 19:14, 36; Hel. 6:36).
Remember the Lord is assisting us in the work, we are not alone, “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88). Does not this give us hope and courage to carry on? There is no need to fear. The Lord is bound if we but believe in faith and prove Him. The Lord is asking us through His prophets to be “member missionaries” and to find people for the full time missionaries to teach. He will help us just as he has helped others in the past, “Now Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, his brethren, who had been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all the people of God because of their iniquities and their traditions, he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth.” (Alma 19:14) We can do it. Let us fast and pray for all those who know not God like unto the Nephites, “Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.” (Alma 6:6) We can pray and ponder the work of salvation and then go forward in the strength of the Lord and we will have missionary experiences in bringing souls unto Christ. Pray for missionary opportunities. Set some goals and make some plans and we will find joy in the work of the Lord.
This treatise is about the vision of missionary work, the worth of souls, and some things we can do to share the gospel. In this we will find great joy. I would invite all of you to reread President Henry B. Eyring’s talk entitled “We Are One” in the May Ensign 2013 page 62. It is inspiring and encouraging for all of us to remember our duty as member missionaries. Also, go to the Church’s website and search Hastening the Work of Salvation. There is inspiration and instructions waiting for each of us. For those who are thinking about serving a mission go to lds.org select resources then select missionary. This is a glorious time as we seek to go forth to carry the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Now is the time. This is the place. And we are the ones. The Lord will bless us in this great and holy cause for He has said, “I will hasten my work in its time” (D&C 88:73). Now is that time.