Elder and Sister Ezra Taft Benson with all the missionaries in Thailand 1968First, it becomes an elder when he is traveling through the world, warning the inhabitants of the earth to gather together, that they may be built up an holy city unto the Lord, instead of commencing with children....they should commence their labors with parents, or guardians; and their teachings should be such as are calculated to turn the hearts of the fathers to children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers; and no influence should be used with children, contrary to the consent of their parents or guardians....And if children embrace the gospel, and their parents or guardians are unbelievers, teach them to stay at home and be obedient to their parents or guardians, if they require it; but if they consent to let them gather with the people of God, let them do so, and there shall be no wrong; and let all things be done carefully and righteously and God will extend all such his guardian care.
And secondly, it is the duty of elders, when they enter into any house, to let their labors and warning voice be unto the master of that house; and if he receive the gospel, then he may extend his influence to his wife also, with consent, that peradventure she may receive the gospel; but if a man receive not the gospel, but gives his consent that his wife may receive it, and she believes, then let her receive it. But if a man forbid his wife, or his children, before they are of age, to receive the gospel, then it should be the duty of the elder to go his way, and use no influence against him, and let the responsibility be upon his head; shake off the dust of thy feet as a testimony against him, and thy skirts shall then be clear of their souls....Thirdly, it should be the duty of an elder, when he enters into a house, to salute the master of that house, and if he gain his consent, then he may preach to all that are in that house; but if he gain not his consent, let him not go unto his slaves or servants, but let the responsibility be upon the head of the master of that house, and the consequences thereof. (Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1978, 2:262-263).
Souls are as precious in the sight of God as they ever were; and the Elders were never called to drive any down to hell, but to persuade and invite all men everywhere to repent, that they may become the heirs of salvation. It is the acceptable year of the Lord: liberate the captives that they may sing hosannas. (Joseph Smith, Jr., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1938, p. 77).
Missionaries are to go “in the power of the ordination wherewith [they have] been ordained, proclaiming glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting gospel” (D&C 79:1). You have authority to preach the gospel. If you hold the priesthood, you have the authority to administer the ordinances thereof. As you prayerfully and worthily exercise that authority, you will receive spiritual power, which is evident of the reality of your call. Do not be afraid or shy about fulfilling this commission. Just as the sons of Mosiah, you are to teach with the power and authority of God (see Alma 1:2-3). (Preach my Gospel: A guide to missionary service. Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2004, p. 4).
If you go on a mission to preach the gospel with lightness and frivolity in your hearts, looking for this and that, and to learn what is in the world, and not having your minds riveted—-ye, I may say riveted—-on the cross of Christ, you will go and return in vain. Go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, full of the power of God, and full of faith to heal the sick even by the touch of your hand, rebuking and casting out foul spirits, and causing the poor among men to rejoice, and you will return bringing your sheaves with you. Let your minds be centered on your missions and labor earnestly to bring souls to Christ. (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941, p. 325).
You are called to teach the restored gospel to as many people as will receive you. Teaching is central to everything you do. You develop Christ-like attributes, study the missionary lessons, improve your ability to speak in your mission language, and rely on the Spirit in order to teach with convincing power. The Lord stated this very simply as a commandment with a promise:
“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” (D&C 11:21).
“Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man” (D&C 84:85).
The First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles have stated: “Our purpose is to teach the message of the restored gospel in such a way as to allow the Spirit to direct both the missionaries and those being taught. It is essential to learn the [missionary lessons] but these should not be taught by rote presentation. The missionary should feel free to use his own words as prompted by the Spirit. He should not give a memorized recitation, but speak from the heart in his own terms. He may depart from the order of the lessons, giving that which he is inspired to do, according to the interest and needs of the investigator. Speaking out of his own conviction and in his own words he should bear testimony of the truth of his teachings” (“Statement on Missionary Work,” First Presidency Letter, 11 Dec. 2002).
Learn to rely on the Spirit to give you what you should say and do. By studying, developing, and using the teaching skills. . . you will become a more capable instrument in the hands of the Lord. The Spirit will draw upon the knowledge and skills you have developed to help you teach more powerfully. The quality and power of your teaching will help others understand and feel the importance the restored gospel has for them. Their understanding will also be influenced by how well you focus your attention on them, by how well you explain the gospel, use the scriptures, share your testimony, ask questions, and invite them to make and keep commitments. (Preach my Gospel: A guide to missionary service. Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2004, pp. 175-176).
A successful missionary has the faculty of making friends. He takes an interest in all that interests his fellowmen, and brings to the society in which he moves the sweet influence of the gospel, even when he does not say a word on the subject of religion. Hermits are useless as missionaries. (Hyrum M. Smith and Janne Sjodahl, The Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, pp. 728-729).
Missionary work is concerned with searching and winnowing and gleaning and teaching with love and kindness. Every missionary ought to come to realize that the world is full of beautiful, wonderful people.
Of course there are rascals. There are a lot of them around and they are meddlesome and nasty. But there are more of the good than the bad. Our mission is to find the good and make them better and teach the bad when we find them and make them good. (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Mission Presidents’ Seminar: Apostles Counsel Embarking Leaders," Church News, [2 July 1994]: 5).
None of us should be like the fisherman who thinks he has been fishing all day when in reality he has spent most of his time getting to and from the water, eating lunch, and fussing with his equipment. Fishing success is related to how long you have your line in the water, not to how long you are away from the apartment. Some fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for ten hours. Other fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for only two hours. This last type may wonder why they do not have the same success as others.
The same principle applies to missionaries, whom the Master called “fishers of men.” A missionary’s line should drop into the fishing water the moment he or she leaves the apartment” (Dallin H. Oaks, New Mission Presidents Seminar, 20 June 2000).
Our aim is to make friends. Our missionaries are told that whenever they make an enemy that they have made a mistake. Ours is a gospel of gentleness and love and peace. These workers are instructed not to argue, but with a humble and prayerful heart to discuss, with those only who are interested, the fundamentals of righteous living. By their efforts to teach others, these faithful workers strengthen and fortify themselves in their own high ideals and standards. The constant and earnest teaching of Christian virtues impresses upon them the importance and the value of living in conformity with the ideals and standards of the Church. The high degree of spirituality enjoyed in real missionary work brings into the hearts of the missionaries a reassuring knowledge, testimony, and certainty concerning the restored gospel message which only the light and inspiration of heaven can bestow. (Richard R. Lyman, Conference Report, October 1943, p. 23).
I tell our missionaries, "You never need to argue with anybody. You just learn how to tell our story, and prove it by the scriptures. You can tell them things they have never heard before." (LeGrand Richards, Munich Germany Area Conference, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1973, p. 37).
We learn that in some of the missions, brethren are prone to arguments and discussions among themselves and worse even than this, that they sometimes carry on their wordy warfare in the presence of inquirers and recently converted members of the Church. No good, but surely evil, will come from such a course. The principles of the gospel are fit subject for investigation and research; differences of opinion on doctrinal matters may very properly be talked over and studied by the elders; but all should be done in the spirit of the seeker after truth, and with prayerful earnestness that the truth may be made plain. (Joseph F. Smith, "To Elders Going on Missions," The Elders Manual, Independence, Missouri: Zion's Printing and Publishing Co., 1918, p. 9).
People ask me what my favorite scripture is. “I say, ‘Well, I have several of them.’ One of them is this: ‘Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers’ (D&C 112:10). There is no room for arrogance in our lives. There is no room for conceit in our lives. There is no room for egotism in our lives. We must be humble before the Lord. He has so declared, and if we will do it He will hear our prayers and answer them with a blessing upon our heads. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “President Hinckley Visits Canada and Texas,” Ensign, [November 1998]: 105–109).
It is to be earnestly recommended that the elders abroad on missions, and, indeed, Latter-day Saints in general, avoid contentious argument and debate regarding doctrinal subjects. The truth of the gospel does not depend for its demonstration on heated discussions; the message of truth is most effectively delivered when expressed in words of simplicity and sympathy. The history of our missionary work already written proves the futility of public debates and argument between our elders and their opponents; and this in spite of the fact that in the great majority of such undertakings the forensic victory has been won by our Representatives. A testimony of the truth is more than a mere assent of the mind; it is a conviction of the heart; a knowledge that fills the whole soul of the recipient. Victory in debate is no stronger evidence of right on the one side of the victor than is success in battle proof of the justice of the cause for which the conqueror fought. A debate is usually a wrestling match in words, and the result demonstrates simply which of the wrestlers was the stronger or more skillful, certainly not which of them stood for the right. Missionaries are sent forth to preach and teach the first principles of the gospel, Christ and him crucified, and practically nothing more in the way of theological doctrine.
They are not commissioned to expound their own views on intricate questions of theology, nor to mystify their hearers with a show of profound learning. Teachers they are and must be, if they meet in any degree the responsibilities of their high calling; but they should teach as nearly as they can after the manner of the Master—seeking to lead by love for their fellows, by simple explanation and persuasion; not trying to convince by force.
Brethren, leave these themes of profitless discussion alone; keep closely to the teachings of the revealed word, as made plain in the standard works of the Church and through the utterances of the living prophets; and let not a difference of views on abstruse matters of doctrine absorb your attention, lest thereby you become estranged from one another and separated from the Spirit of the Lord (Joseph F. Smith, "To Elders Going on Missions," The Elders Manual, Independence, Missouri: Zion's Printing and Publishing Co., 1918, p. 9).
I hope our missionaries are so prepared and so powerful that they 'astonish' the people they teach….But every missionary has a gift. Every missionary has a commission. We just need them to believe in those gifts and embrace that commission. There will be power in such an approach to missionary work. (Jeffrey R. Holland, More astonishing in preaching gospel: Missionary success comes with teaching by power and authority,” Church News [Saturday, January 26, 2008]: 4).
I had never intended to be a preacher, and it was nothing but a perfect knowledge that it was my duty to do so, that I was willing to go forth upon this business--a knowledge that my salvation depended upon my going forth and proclaiming these glad tidings to the world, and I went, and could testify to every man and woman in any nation or community wherever I traveled, that I was authorized to preach the gospel and administer in its ordinances, which pertain to a knowledge of eternal life, a knowledge of time and eternity, and thus establish the divine authenticity of my mission. (Lorenzo Snow, Millennial Star 49 [18 April 1887]: 242-243).
The first few moments with investigators are very important. Investigators must learn to trust you. Begin your first visit in a warm, respectful, genuine manner. Ask a few simple questions to help you understand their religious background and their expectations regarding your visits. For example, ask, “What role has religion played in your life?” Do not, however, ask personal questions that would make them uncomfortable.
Before you begin, ask all who are present to join with you in the lesson. Encourage them to turn off the television and remove other distractions so that the Spirit of the Lord will not be hindered.
Explain that you would like to begin and end each lesson with a prayer. Suggest that you will offer the opening prayer. Pray simply but fervently that the Lord will bless the people you are teaching in every aspect of their lives, and especially that they can feel the truth of what you will teach.
Demonstrate sincere interest and love for the investigators and faith in the converting power of the gospel (see Moroni 7:43-48). As guided by the Spirit, you may express thoughts such as the following to your investigators:
· Because God is our Heavenly Father, we are all brothers and sisters. We would like to refer to you as brothers and sisters.
· Each person we teach has personal challenges and concerns. No matter what your needs or concerns might be, the Savior and His teachings—the gospel—will help you.
· Our message will enable you to improve the quality of your lives. It will help you deal with the problems and challenges that we all face in life.
· Our message, which is centered in Jesus Christ, is of great value and importance.
· We all make mistakes in life, and these mistakes create feelings of guilt and shame. These feelings cannot be relieved without repentance and forgiveness. They can be fully healed through the Atonement of Christ.
· Our message cannot be learned all at once. Understanding will come over time through prayer, study, experience, and keeping God’s commandments.
· We have weaknesses, as everyone does. We many not speak the language very well or be able to answer every question you have. But we have been called by a prophet of God to share what we know. We know that our message is true.
· We will be guides so that you can learn the truth of our message for yourselves. It is your choice to accept and act on the message. Therefore, you should feel free to ask questions.
· As you sincerely seek to understand our message, you may face challenges, but God will help you.
· As you accept our message, you will learn to make covenants, or promises, with God. You will learn to make changes to bring your lives in closer harmony with His teachings. You will want to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and be baptized by proper authority (see John 3:5).
Before teaching the doctrines in a lesson, consider giving a simple overview of what you are going to teach. Help people see that it will have personal relevance for them. Many of the investigators you teach have been prepared by the Lord (see Alma 16:16-17). As you share spiritual experiences together in the first meeting, they will recognize you as servants of the Lord. You are called to teach the restored gospel to as many people as will receive you. Teaching is central to everything you do. You develop Christ-like attributes, study the missionary lessons, improve your ability to speak in your mission language, and rely on the Spirit in order to teach with convincing power. The Lord stated this very simply as a commandment with a promise:
“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” (D&C 11:21).
“Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man” (D&C 84:85).
The First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles have stated: “Our purpose is to teach the message of the restored gospel in such a way as to allow the Spirit to direct both the missionaries and those being taught. It is essential to learn the [missionary lessons] but these should not be taught by rote presentation. The missionary should feel free to use his own words as prompted by the Spirit. He should not give a memorized recitation, but speak from the heart in his own terms. He may depart from the order of the lessons, giving that which he is inspired to do, according to the interest and needs of the investigator. Speaking out of his own conviction and in his own words he should bear testimony of the truth of his teachings” (“Statement on Missionary Work,” First Presidency Letter, 11 Dec. 2002).
Learn to rely on the Spirit to give you what you should say and do. By studying, developing, and using the teaching skills. . .you will become a more capable instrument in the hands of the Lord. The Spirit will draw upon the knowledge and skills you have developed to help you teach more powerfully. The quality and power of your teaching will help others understand and feel the importance the restored gospel has for them. Their understanding will also be influenced by how well you focus your attention on them, by how well you explain the gospel, use the scriptures, share your testimony, ask questions, and invite them to make and keep commitments. (Preach my Gospel: A guide to missionary service. Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2004, pp. 176-177).
The Elders would go forth, and each must stand for himself... to go in all meekness, in sobriety, and preach Jesus Christ and him crucified; not to with others on account of their faith, or systems of religion, but pursue a steady course. This I delivered by way of commandment; and all who observe it not, will pull down persecution upon their heads, while those who do, shall always be filled with the Holy Ghost; this I pronounced as a prophecy, and sealed with hosanna and amen. (Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1978, 2:431).
This is the mission that has been assigned us, to warn the nations of impending judgments, to preach the Gospel of the Redeemer, ... and to invite all to come unto Christ and receive the benefits of His glorious atonement. “Mormonism,” so-called, is in the world for the world’s good. Its missionary system has no other purpose than to bless and benefit. It has no quarrel with the creeds and sects of the day. It stands for peace, the peace of God “which passeth understanding” (See Philippians 4:7). It is ever ready to do good in every possible way. It pleads for a return to the faith “once delivered to the Saints,” (see Jude 1:3) believing that such a course will save humanity from the sins of the world and eventually exalt men in the presence of God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, the Son, “Who is the Light and Life of the World” (D&C 10:70). (Heber J. Grant, quoted in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. (1965–75), 5:232–233).
A few years ago, when President Merrill J. Bateman was in Japan, the missionaries introduced him to a young Japanese brother who had just joined the Church. He was from a non-Christian background. When he met the missionaries, he was interested in the message, but he could not understand or feel the need for a Savior, and he didn't have a witness regarding the gospel. One day the missionaries decided to show him a film about the Atonement called The Bridge. The young man saw the film and was disturbed by it and couldn't sleep all that night, but still he didn't have a witness.
"The next morning he went to work. He worked in an optician's shop making eyeglasses.
. . . An elderly woman came in. He remembered her coming in a few weeks before. She had broken her glasses. She needed a new pair. When she had come in earlier, she didn't have enough money and had gone away to save more in order to purchase the new glasses. As she came in that day, she again showed him her spectacles and showed him the money that she now had. He realized that she didn't have enough yet. Then a thought came to him: I have some money. I don't need to tell her. I can make up the difference. So he told her the money she had was adequate, took her glasses, [and] made an appointment for her to return when he had finished making the spectacles. . .
"She returned later. He had the glasses ready for her. He handed them to her, and she put them on [and exclaimed] ‘ . . . I see. I see.' Then she began to cry. At that point, a burning sensation began to grow within his bosom and swelled within him. He said, ‘ . . . I understand. I understand.' He began to cry. Out the door he ran, looking for the missionaries. When he found them, he said, ‘I see! My eyes have been opened! I know that Jesus is the Son of God. I know the stone was rolled away from the tomb and on that glorious Easter morning He arose from the dead. He can make up the difference in my life when I fall short'" (Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 85–86; or Ensign, May 1994, 65–66). (James E. Faust, “Come Out of the Darkness into the Light,” CES Fireside for Young Adults, 8 September 2002).
One of the remarkable features of the work of God in the last days has been that uneducated and sometimes illiterate men have gone out as ministers of Christ. They have had to meet and discuss with the learned men of the world, whose lives have been devoted the study of religious questions, and who have been supposed to be thoroughly familiar with theology. Looking at the Elders of the Church from the standpoint of the world, it would seem to be impossible for them to meet with any success while opposed by such ability and odds. The only advantage that they possessed—and it has been a most stupendous advantage—has been that they have been called of God and ordained as His servants. Like the humble fishermen of Galilee, this has been their only strength.
But what extraordinary results have attended their labors! Wherever they have gone, those who have listened to them have been pierced to the heart by the truths which they taught. In simple and unadorned language they have told the message of which they were bearers, and no music that ever saluted mortal ears has been sweeter to the ears of honest lovers of truth than have been their words and testimonies. Gladness and joy have attended their footsteps. They have carried peace and light, and knowledge to the abodes of men, where uncertainty and doubt and darkness reigned before. (George Q. Cannon, Juvenile Instructor, 27 [25 June 1892]: 373).
When you go into a neighborhood to preach the Gospel, never attempt to tear down a man’s house, so to speak, before you build him a better one; never, in fact, attack any one’s religion, wherever you go. Be willing to let every man enjoy his own religion. It is his right to do that. If he does not accept your testimony with regard to the Gospel of Christ, that is his affair, and not yours. Do not spend your time in pulling down other sects and parties. We haven’t time to do that. It is never right to do that. (Wilford Woodruff, Contributor, [August 1895]: 636–637).
To you young men here tonight I would leave this message: I want you to live above suspicion. It is essential that you live pure lives, that you keep your word sacred, and that you be honest in our business dealings. Don’t tear down other people’s beliefs, but show them yours, and if yours is better they will choose it. That is our idea of religion. (Joseph F. Smith, Elders’ Journal [15 January 1906]: 169).
Some there are who think we are afraid to meet anyone in debate. Not so. It is harder for our young brethren to keep from debating than it is to engage in it; for they feel that they have the truth, and they are not afraid to meet anyone in defense of principles in which they believe. But we have to meet anyone in defense of principles in which they believe. But we have only one object in view in going out amongst the nations, and that is to follow the Master’s instructions—to go out and teach men.
That is our work. We do not go out to win battles as debaters; but we go out to teach men that which we have received, and which we know to be true. If men are not willing to receive it, that is their own concern, not ours. [D&C 43:15-16.] When our Elders show the world the beauty of the principles of the Gospel as revealed to us, it is for men to say whether they will receive them or not. The Elders do their duty, and leave the result to the Lord. Those who seek to debate with our Elders, and thirst for the honor of beating them in argument, do no want to be taught; they simply want contention. Paul tells us to avoid contention. He said: “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” [1 Corinthians 11:16.] So we say, contention is not our custom, and we advise our missionaries not to contend, but simply go out and teach the principles of the Gospel. (Anthon H. Lund, Conference Report, October 1902, pp. 80-81).
Controversy is a thing which, in a general way, had better be refrained from by the Elders. Their special duty is to preach the Gospel and administer its ordinances; and although they may at times have to face unsought opposition in various forms, it is not for them to stoop from their high and holy calling as ministers of the Gospel of peace to . . . take the challenge of any petty antagonist who may audaciously confront them to dispute their testimony and teachings. They have something better to do—-a higher and holier work to perform—-than engaging in . . . encounters with those who seek, by polemic warfare, to waste the time of the Elders and gain at their expense the inglorious fame of “Anti-Mormon” champions. (George Q. Cannon, Millennial Star, 24 [19 April 1862]: 249).
Your description of the discussion with the minister was particularly impressive to the folks. But, my son, do not waste breath nor time in discussions, arguments, or contentions with any such characters. If anybody asks a question, whether he asks it civilly or not, answer it civilly, but decline to contend. There is a great difference between reasoning, and contention. Discussion nearly always runs into contention, and that is not of the Lord, nor at all wise. I can understand you well, and I know how hard it is to decline to banter to discuss questions. I have been in it myself, and your disposition is much like my own. Experience has taught me that where calm statements of fact and mild reasoning will not prevail or succeed, there is no use to enter into discussions and arguments. Say to people: “We have not come to contend with you. All men are free to choose their own course and believe what they please, but, that we have that we believe to be truth, eternal truth, and we simply want to tell the people of it.” And then leave them to receive or reject it as they choose. You must take care that your earnestness be not carried to the extent, as mine has often been, to be mistaken for anger. Of course, you will have to learn by experience all these things. But put your trust in the Lord. Be calm, truthful, and moderate, and fear not the face of man! Nor shrink from any. (Joseph F. Smith, From Prophet to Son: Advice of Joseph F. Smith to His Missionary Sons, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981, p. 44).
Assailing a man’s belief or exposing the weakness of his religion is not the best plan to adopt to convince him of his error or to convert him to the truth. Arouse a man combativeness and make him angry, and he will fight; he will regard neither reason nor argument under such circumstances but will cling to and defend his opinions, right or wrong, to the extent of his ability and power against every assailant.
If men are to be convinced, it must be done by showing them the truth and setting before them its beauties in a simple mild, kind manner. . . .
As a people, we should be most kind in all our intercourse with those who do not believe as we do. The knowledge which we now possess of the truth, contrasted with our former ignorance of its saving principles, should fill us with charity for those who are in the position we were in when the Gospel found us. (George Q. Cannon, Millennial Star, 27 [1 February 1862]: 74).
Seek by faith, prayer and humility, to obtain wisdom, and the Spirit of God to dictate in all your labors. Wisdom is one of the greatest gifts of God, and the voice of wisdom will not tell us to spend our time in warring against the sects of the day, opposing the opinions of men, ridiculing the religions that surround us, thereby cutting off the ears of the hearer; barring the hearts of men against light and truth; the opinions and religions of other men are as dear unto them as ours are unto us. … Let Salvation be your text, in meekness and humility, with the power of eternal truth, wisdom, light and knowledge that are hid in the first principles of the gospel of the Son of God. You can be instrumental in saving the souls of men, and they will rejoice with yourselves that they have ever beheld the light thereof; we should never get above the gospel, or leave it to preach something that is foreign to our calling; or to make strife about words to no profit; every tree is known by its fruit; if we are faithful before the Lord, pursue a wise and prudent course, good fruit will be sure to follow our labors. (Wilford Woodruff, “To the Officers and Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Islands,” Millennial Star, [February 1845]: 141–142).
In proclaiming the principles of the Gospel the Elders should remember that it is not necessary to indulge in the denunciation of any sect or belief. Errors of doctrine and practice may be exposed and the truth be plainly taught without calling to our aid sarcasm or ridicule. We know that if is a gratification to some of the Elders to denounce the fallacies of sectarianism and demolish the feeble defenses of its advocates, and whenever an opportunity of this kind offers, the temptation is almost too strong to be resisted. But a practice of this kind is rarely, if ever, attended by good results. Men are not won, generally, by such a style of reasoning.
There are a very few who cannot—after hearing the truth preached in simplicity and tasting of the Spirit of Truth—draw their own contrasts between truth and error, the Gospel of Jesus and the systems of men, and arrive at correct conclusions upon the subject. The great duty which devolves upon the Elders is to teach the truth and render the children of men all the assistance in their power in comprehending it, and this certainly can be done without our descending to abuse opposite systems of their advocates. (George Q. Cannon, Millennial Star, 25 [11 July 1863]: 440-441).
Our elders are instructed here, and they are taught from their childhood up, that they are not to go out and make war upon the religious organizations of the world when they are called to go out to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but to go and bear with them the message which has been given to us through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph, in this latter dispensation, whereby men may learn the truth, if they will. They are sent out to offer the olive branch of peace to the world, to offer the knowledge that God has spoken from the heavens once more in his mercy restored again to the world the fullness of the Gospel of His Only Begotten Son in the flesh, that God has revealed and restored to mankind the divine power and authority from Himself, whereby they are enabled and authorized to perform the ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ necessary for the salvation, and their performance of these ordinances must of necessity be acceptable unto God who has given to them the authority to perform them in His name.
Our elders are sent out to preach repentance of sin, to preach righteousness, to preach to the world the gospel of love, of fellowship and of friendship among mankind, to teach men and women to do that which is right in the sight of God and in the presence of all men, to teach them the fact that God has organized His Church, a Church which He, Himself, is the author and the founder—not Joseph Smith, not President Brigham Young, not the Twelve Apostles, that have been chosen in this dispensation—to them does not belong the honor of establishing the Church, God is author, God is its founder and we are sent out and we send out our elders to make this proclamation to the world, and leave it to their own judgment and discretion as to whether they will investigate it, learn the truth for themselves, and accept it, or whether they will reject it. We do not make war upon them; if they do not receive it, we do not contend with them if they fail to benefit themselves by receiving the message that we give to them for their own good, we only pity. Our sympathy goes out to those who will not receive the truth and who will not walk in the light when the light shines before them; not hatred, not enmity, not the spirit of condemnation; it is our duty to leave condemnation in the hands of the Almighty God. He is the only real true, righteous, impartial judge, and we leave judgment in his hands. (Joseph F. Smith, Conference Report, 4 April 1915).
The danger of the young brethren being overcome was not now when they feel their weakness but after they came to rely more on their own individual ability and ceased to trust in the arm of God. There is little fear of Elders falling so long as they call upon God and depend entirely on him. But when Elders become accustomed to speaking in public and they begin to imagine that it is their own ability that accomplishes the labor in which they are engaged, and they rely upon their own strength, they have commenced to transgress the law of God, and they are in danger of falling. If you will peruse the history of the Church, you will find that the greatest speakers have in this manner fallen. You will find they have been unable to stand in the church while they have indulged in these feelings.
The man who is endowed with natural ability to speak in public must be exceedingly careful. The devil is ever ready to whisper in his ear that he had talent. This reminds me of an instance which occurred in the experience of one of our leading Elders. He was on a mission to the Eastern States and was considered to be a gifted speaker. He had been speaking on one occasion to a very attentive congregation, and at the conclusion of the meeting one of the brethren stepped up to him, apparently well satisfied with the remarks that he had made; and he said, “Brother, you have preached an excellent discourse.” ”Brother.” replied he, ”the devil told me that before you did.”
The rebuke was truthful and well-timed, for the devil is ever ready to tell an Elder when he has preached an “excellent discourse” and that he is a very wonderful and effective speaker, without the aid of his brethren and sisters to tell him such things. If you allow such insinuations to have weight with you and allow men and women to tell you how able you are and what excellent speakers etc., you are, the result will be, my brethren, that you will be overcome. When you preach under such circumstances, your words will not give that degree of instruction and satisfaction that the broken remarks of a more humble brother will. If your words do not savior the Spirit of God, they will not profit those to whom you speak. (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, sel. by Jerreld L. Newquist, Salt Lake City: Zion's Book Store, 1957, 2:79-80).
Let the elders be exceedingly careful about unnecessarily disturbing and harrowing up the feelings of the people. 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, Jr., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976, p. 176).
But every missionary has a gift. . . . Every missionary has a commission. We just need them to believe in those gifts and embrace that commission. There will be power in such an approach to missionary work. (Jeffrey R. Holland, More astonishing in preaching gospel: Missionary success comes with teaching by power and authority,” Church News [Saturday, January 26, 2008]: 4).
The Lord has placed upon us the responsibility to preach the gospel, but there is another great responsibility. I think some of our missionaries have had an idea that all we had to do was to make friends, and if they wanted to come in the Church, well and good, and the missionaries have not realized that they were under the obligation to leave a warning, and it is just as necessary that we warn the world as it is to declare the way of eternal life. The Lord said to the missionaries who went out in the early days:
“That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
“Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.
“Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads.
“He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken.
Every missionary who goes out should see to it that he leaves his testimony, so that he will be free as the Lord has declared he should be in section four of the Doctrine and Covenants; and so that every man with whom he comes in contact should be warned and left without excuse, and thus the blood of every man be upon his own head. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1946, p. 158).
Those who sincerely, humbly and honestly desire to know God will know that the Elders of Israel are His servants the moment they hear the testimony of the Elders, for the Spirit of God will bear witness to them of its truth; and I am not afraid to say that all the honest in heart among the nations will, sooner or later, obey the Gospel and receive a testimony of the truth. There is no man or woman who is honest and sincerely and truly humble before God but will, sooner or later, receive the testimony of the truth.
There is a power in testimony—-one that is irresistible to the honest soul; and where there is a man or woman who desires to know the foundation on which their faith is based, they seek unto God for it, and when they hear the truth and the testimony of men who have the principles of salvation to proclaim unto the people, they are ready to receive them, because they take the right course to obtain a knowledge of the truth for themselves. (George Q. Cannon, Millennial Star, 25 [12 April 1863]: 307).
I do not wish to chide you for having allowed yourself to contend . . . on a public rostrum, but I could not help feeling it was a little undignified on your part. While I approve of your efforts to defend the truth, and commend you in the exercise of vigor and holy zeal in the defense of truth, allow me to suggest that when you are compelled by a sense of duty to meet the enemy, try and make sure your “foe is worthy of your steel.” The truth is always dignified and her advocates and defenders should carefully maintain a corresponding dignity in the choice of their associates and in yielding to come in contact with those who oppose, but I do not blame you. On the contrary, I know your heart and intentions are good and, therefore, it will be overruled eventually for good. But as far as you can, consistently, avoid street rabbles and noisy contentions, which can never be mistaken by candid people for argument or reason. It is calm reason and cold truth that will weigh in the balance. Seek to convey the truths you utter with moderate voice, without excitement, deliberately, and as well chosen words as you can possibly command. You will the, as Disraeli did, command the attention of our auditors, and not only that, but their respect. (Joseph F. Smith, From Prophet to Son: Advice of Joseph F. Smith to His Missionary Sons, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981, p. 55).
Seek to help save souls, not to destroy them: for verily you know, that 'there is more joy in heaven, over one sinner that repents, than there is over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.' Strive not about the mysteries of the kingdom; cast not your pearls before swine, give not the bread of the children to dogs, lest you and the children should suffer, and you thereby offend your righteous Judge. (Joseph Smith, Jr., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976, p. 172).
Of one thing be sure. There is no use to argue or contend with a truly wicked, corrupt person. It would be time lost. Never contend anyway. Try to set forth reasons and good thoughts and gospel truths, but don’t contend. Be careful not to provoke argument or contention either with “saint or sinner.” Avoid it. Remember the admonition of the Savior to his disciples, “Let your communications be yea, yea or nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Joseph F. Smith, From Prophet to Son: Advice of Joseph F. Smith to His Missionary Sons, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981, p. 108).
We are in the business of communication. Missionaries need to communicate with people if we are to teach them the gospel. . . . But the missionaries still need to have the right attitude in contacting people. They need to cast aside all fear and be positive about the great message which is here. (James E. Faust, Church News, [Saturday, 26June 1999]; ).
When we arrived, some of the young elders were about engaging in a debate on the subject of miracles. The question--'Was it, or was it not, the design of Christ to establish his Gospel by miracles?' After an interesting debate of three hours or more, during which time much talent was displayed, it was decided, by the president of the debate, in the negative, which was a righteous decision. I discovered in this debate, much warmth displayed, too much zeal for mastery, too much of that enthusiasm that characterizes a lawyer at the bar, who is determined to defend his cause, right or wrong. I therefore availed myself of this favorable opportunity to drop a few words upon this subject, by way of advice, that they might improve their minds and cultivate their powers of intellect in a proper manner, that they might not incur the displeasure of heaven; that they should handle sacred things very sacredly, and with due deference to the opinions of others, and with an eye single to the glory of God. (Joseph Smith, Jr., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976, pp. 176-177).
Boys on missions should cultivate amity with all, and more especially with their file leaders and presidents. I hope you will keep on the good side of President Penrose, and all of your companions. Missionaries should all be as members of one family and each should strive to make it pleasant for all the rest. Strife, or differences, or any degree of the spirit of disunion existing among them just so much weakens their influence and impairs their usefulness and efficiency. Avoid carefully giving offense to any, but always be ready to show kindness and sympathy. (Joseph F. Smith, From Prophet to Son: Advice of Joseph F. Smith to His Missionary Sons, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981, p. 115).
Our challenge as missionaries is to declare the word of the Lord among all nations, kindred, tongues and people of the earth who are searching and hungering and yearning for the truth. "For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations who are . . . kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it". (Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Mission Presidents’ Seminar: Apostles Counsel Embarking Leaders," Church News, [2 July 1994]: 5).
Each person or family you teach is unique. Even though you will not understand all of their interests, achievements, needs, and concerns, you should seek to be sensitive to their circumstances. Regardless of needs or problems, all people are best helped as they accept and live the gospel. You will be able to adjust your teaching as you listen to the promptings of the Spirit.
You may altar the order of the lessons as you are inspired to adapt to the investigators’ interests and needs. You may use more than one meeting to teach the principles in one lesson, and occasionally you may teach the contents of two lessons in a single meeting. Heavenly Father knows His children, so rely on inspiration to make these decisions as you teach. Pray for the gift of discernment, and pay attention to thoughts that come to your mind or feelings you have about what to teach.
You will need to adjust your teachings to give more attention to those commitments that are more difficult for an investigator to keep. For example, one person may easily accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God, while another may struggle to accept anything but the Bible. One person may have trouble giving up tobacco but will readily accept the law of tithing.
As you plan when to teach certain doctrines, be sensitive about how much new information you share. Teach at a pace that is appropriate for the investigators. Some will progress faster or slower than others. Make sure that you ask enough questions and listen carefully to their answers so you have a firm understanding of how quickly and how well the investigator is learning and applying the doctrines you are presenting.
Be sensitive to time. Most teaching appointments should not last beyond 45 minutes. A teaching visit can be completed, however, in 15 or 20 minutes if needed. If the person has only 15 minutes to meet with you, adjust your teaching to respect that limitation.
Trust in the promise that the Spirit will give you “in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say” (D&C 100:6). (Preach my Gospel: A guide to missionary service. Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2004, pp. 177-178).
After all, the gospel is simple. I have not any patience with people who say they do not understand the gospel....It is so simple that we can take young 19-year-old boys out into the world, who feel insecure, who are backward in their dispositions. When they enter the mission field, they at once dedicated their lives to the work of the Lord; they almost instantly feel the power which is theirs, in their call as missionaries. I have the testimony of a young man as backward a young man as any young man I have met in many years. He had been in the mission field only two weeks, when it was possible for him to present the gospel as wells any of his companions. Once he was asked to take the lead in discussions, when challenged the boy was electrified with the power there was in him. The application of that knowledge of the gospel which had lain dormant in his mind up to that point was brought clearly to his mind. He said he was certain after that challenge there would never be another time in his life when he would have the least fear in declaring to the world that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored to the earth. (Henry D. Moyle, Church News, (19 November 1960): 11,15).
The zealous missionary accomplishes most in the cause of the Lord; it is necessary that all of your interests be centered in your work. But the over-zealous missionary is likely to be as offensive as the high-pressure salesman. Individuals cannot be driven into the gospel. They must be led tactfully and graciously. Guard against forcing your message. Converts are first friends. ("Meeting the Public," The Missionary's Handbook, Independence, Missouri: Zion's Printing and Publishing Co., 1937, p. 56).
They go out with this definite message to the people, and you can give a missionary no greater joy than to listen to him attentively while he states his message, and then discuss it with him in a friendly spirit. You will find that he does not try to force it upon you...You know the missionary does not try to force the gospel upon those people out in the world; he tries to present it to them for their consideration ever praying that the Lord will bear witness in the heart of his hearer or hearers as to whether he is telling the truth or not. (James E. Talmage, Conference Report, October 1924, p. 141).
Seek to help souls, not to destroy them; for verily you know, that "there is more joy in heaven, over one sinner that repents, than there is over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance." Strive not about the mysteries of the kingdom; cast not your pearls before swine, give not the bread of the children to dogs, lest you and the children should suffer, and you thereby offend your righteous Judge. (Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1978, 2: 229-230).
In the revelation to Oliver Cowdery, and to several others who came to ask what the Lord would have them do, the Lord said: "Say nothing but repentance unto this generation: keep my commandments, and assist to bring my work." We must not infer from this expression that those who went forth to preach were limited in their teachings so that all they could say was "repent from your sins," but in teaching the principles of the gospel they should do so with the desire to teach repentance to the people and bring them in humility to a realization of the need for remission of sins. Even today, in all of our preaching it should be with the desire to bring people to repentance and faith in God. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1953, 1:42).
The purpose of teaching is to help others develop faith in Jesus Christ and repent of their sins. As Mormon taught, “the first fruits of repentance is baptism” (Moroni 8:25). The baptismal interview is the way established by the Church to ensure that each candidate meets the Lord’s standards for baptism and is prepared to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through this interview, baptismal candidates fulfill the scriptural requirement that they witness before an authorized representative of the Church that they have “truly repented of all their sins” (D&C 20:37). The commitments that investigators make prepare them to make and keep the covenant of baptism. People who have kept the commitments that you invited them to make will be well prepared for the interview and for membership and activity in the Church. (Preach my Gospel: A guide to missionary service. Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2004, p. 203).
There is one thing that...a missionary should learn...that he is engaged in God's work and not the work of man. That one fact is essential to a missionary in order to succeed. A man who undertakes to proclaim the gospel of his own wisdom and knowledge, and in a boastful manner, will emphatically fail. (Joseph F. Smith, in Albert Zobell, Minute Sermons, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946, p. 59).
Missionary work is God’s work. Missionaries are but His messengers, His ambassadors. They must deliver His message to the world. That does not mean that they need no preparation. An ambassador from one nation to another needs a great deal of training to fill that position efficiently and worthily. The ambassadors of our Lord need more preparation than any representative of a mere worldly kingdom. It is a missionary’s duty to “get an understanding of the gospel, and teach it, as the Spirit directs”; but to get an understanding of the gospel, he must both study it and practice it. That is his preparation. When he is thus prepared, the Spirit will direct his utterance. (Hyrum M. Smith and Janne Sjodahl, The Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1974, p. 632).
As each missionary goes forth it is strictly required of him that he shall not baptize a child without its parents' consent nor a wife without her husband's consent. This is binding upon him, and should any ask for baptism under such circumstances it is his duty to advise against and decline to do it. Duty is first with us--duty to God, duty to the Church, duty to the home and duty to our country. (Joseph F. Smith, Millennial Star 73 [June 1911]: 403).
Our proselyting is geared to bring families into the Church. Salvation is a family affair. Further, we want to baptize in areas where wards and branches are already located, so the people will have a place to come and be active and associate with the Church. But we don't want to go to extremes. We want to continue to baptize husbands and wives and children alone in proper cases. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
May the Lord bless you, my brethren, and bring this great missionary spirit close to your hearts, for while there are now available to us innumerable facilities, which make the world very small, (methods of transportation and communication have become such that we are readily transported to distant lands, and our voices are carried instantaneously over the globe) not any of these facilities, however much they may contour ultimately to the advancement of our work, will ever take the place of and supplant that personal contact which is involved in our missionary service. The reaction of one personality upon another, the bearing of a personal testimony to a fellow, in order that he may know and feel the truth that the real missionary carries with him--nothing will take the place of that, so we will always need to supply missionaries. (Stephen L. Richards, Conference Report, October 1952, p. 88).
I believe that the television and radio have been released to general knowledge by the Lord for the special purpose of building his kingdom, to produce programs which will build the testimonies of the Church members and take messages to numerous people. I urge our missionary committee to explore every possibility to use all inventions and opportunities afforded them to bring the gospel to the world and to build the kingdom. (Spencer W. Kimball, Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 3 April 1975, p. 12).
I am confident that the only way we can reach most of these millions of our Father's children is through the spoken work over the airwaves. . . Our Father in Heaven has now provided us mighty towers--radio and television towers with possibilities beyond comprehension—to help fulfill the words of the Lord that "the sound must go forth from this place unto all the world."
Even though there are millions of people throughout the world who cannot read or write, there is a chance to reach them through radio and television. The modern transistor radio can be mass produced by the thousands in a size that is small and inexpensive. We can preach the gospel to eager ears and hearts. . . .
There are over 7,000 AM and FM radio stations in the United States, with thousands more in other parts of the world. There are innumerable opportunities for us to use these stations overseas, if we only prepare the message in the native languages...
The Lord has blessed the world with many Early Bird satellites. They are stationed high in the heavens, relaying broadcast signals back to almost every corner of the earth's surface. Today there are 67 earth receiving stations operating in 50 countries of the world. Certainly these satellites are only the genesis of what is in store for the future of world-wide broadcasting.
With the Lord providing these miracles of communication, and with the increased efforts and devotion of our missionaries and all of us, and all others who are "sent," surely the divine injunction will come to pass: "For verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth--the gospel must be preached unto every creature" [D&C 58:64]. And we must find a way. (Spencer W. Kimball, "When the World will be Converted," Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 4 April 1974, see also Ensign, [October 1974]: 10-11).
We are deeply grateful for the opportunities of radio and television, and the generosity of the public press, all of which help to build a favorable atmosphere in which to teach the gospel. But I am confident that the time will never come when we shall not need vigorous men an women of faith to go into the world as missionaries for this cause. We have never found, and I think we shall never find, an adequate substitute for the situation in which two wholesome young men meet with a family, reason with them, teach them, testify to them, and pray with them. We shall always need missionaries. (Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, April 1959, pp. 119-120).
For many years as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I had responsibility for East Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic. In this assignment, my knowledge of the Articles of Faith was most helpful. On each of my visits throughout the 20 years I supervised this area, I always reminded our members in that area of the twelfth article of faith: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."
Our meetings behind what was known as the Iron Curtain were always monitored by the communist government there. In the early 1980s, when we sought approval from the government officials to build a temple there, and later when we asked permission for young men and women from that area to serve missions throughout the world and for others to come into their country to serve missions, they listened and then said, "Elder Monson, we've watched you for 20 years, and we've learned we can trust you and your Church because you and your Church teach your members to obey the laws of the land." (Thomas S. Monson, “Examples of Great Teachers,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting: Teaching and Learning, 10 February 2007).
Let us alone, and we will send Elders to the uttermost parts of the earth, and gather out Israel, wherever they are; and if you persecute us, we will do it the quicker, because we are naturally dull when let alone, and are disposed to take a little sleep, a little slumber, and a little rest. If you let us alone, we will do it a little more leisurely, but if you persecute us, we will sit up nights to preach the Gospel. (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young. sel. John A Widtsoe. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1941, p. 351).
The day will come when the gospel will be presented to the kings and queens and great ones of the earth; but it will be presented with a different influence from that with which it has been presented to the poor, but it will be the same gospel. We shall not present any other gospel; it is the same from everlasting to everlasting. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, London: Latter-day Saints Book Depot, 1855-1886, 13:150).
I have often thought of some of our professional brethren. I recognize from my experience in the missionary field that these young men that we send out are not always able to deliver the message to certain groups--the educated classes. They feel abashed and ashamed. Like attracts like, and they naturally go to their own kind, where truly we have found the bulk of the members of this Church. Nevertheless, our obligation is to teach the truth to kings, to Presidents, senators, governors, bankers, teachers, lawyers, and to men and women in the professional world. And many of these young men feel wholly unqualified. I have felt many times not justified in saying that we had fairly and fully warned men when we have done our best, because our best was not a good presentation always. (Melvin J. Ballard, Conference Report, April 1925, pp. 134-135).
We gather the poorest of the people, the unlearned, and a few of the learned; but generally, we gather those who are poor, who wish to be redeemed; who feel the oppression the high and the proud have made them endure; they have felt a wish to be delivered, and consequently their ears were open to receive the truth. Take those who are in the enjoyment of all the luxuries of this life, and their ears are stopped up; they cannot hear. (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, John A. Widtsoe, sel., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1941, p. 321).
The gospel must be preached to all men, not alone the poor and unschooled, but also to the rich and scholarly. And we need all sorts of men to do this work. Hitherto we have done our proselyting among the so-called middle classed. But the gospel will have to be presented to the so-called high born, the aristocracy of the blood and the mind. They, too, must be left with out excuse. But we must have a different class of preachers from the otherwise very excellent Welshman who sent a bundle of tracts to Mr. Gladstone, with the explanatory letter: "Here is some trax, read them, for they are fax!" We must have scientific preachers to preach the gospel scientifically; poetic preachers to preach it poetically; philosophical preachers to preach it philosophically. There are innumerable opportunities open before the preacher. Time is crowding upon us. We must reach the educated and cultured classed through preachers who are themselves cultured and educated. (Orson F. Whitney, Improvement Era, 13 [September 1910]: 1022).
Preaching the gospel is a serious and important task. Heavy demands are made of the missionary who has his heart in the work. All types of people are met with, a variety of situations are confronted, and all sorts of problems arise. To be able to meet and do them justice requires prayerful concentration, extensive reading and sound common sense. You must be prepared. ("Study," The Missionary's Handbook, Independence, Missouri: Zion's Printing and Publishing Co., 1937, p. 39).
It is a vain idea to suppose that we can send Elders into the world who have not got good common sense, to make men of them. If they have good sense here, they will have it yonder; if they have good sense yonder, they will have good common sense here. Whether they are here or there does not alter the foundation that is in them. If the Elders have natural ability and have obtained great wisdom or learning, to go abroad gives them an opportunity to improve on what they have. (Brigham Young, Special Elders Conference, 28 August 1852 quoted in The Mind and Will of the Lord, Brigham Young, compiled by Harold W. Pease, Springville, UT.: Bonneville Books, 1998, p. 90).
Preach short sermons, make short prayers, deliver your sermon with a prayerful heart, and you will be blessed, and the truth will prosper in your hands. (Joseph Smith Jr., to 17-year-old George A. Smith who was called on a mission, cited in Elders Journal, 4:108).
We continually strive to share the gospel with others, but we cannot dilute it to suit their taste. We did not set the standards; the Lord did. It is his Church. (Boyd K. Packer, "Where Much is Given, Much is Required," Ensign, [November 1974]: 87).
There are many millions of people in the world who count themselves Christian and who undoubtedly have deep and sincere faith in the spiritual realm of our Lord. I could wish that we might look upon all such good men and women as of Zion and that they might be considered as having come out of the world. This would please me because it seems so broadminded, so tolerant, and so neighborly.
My theology teaches me, however, that I cannot be quite so liberal and I am constrained by the plain revelation of our Father to say to my Christian brother, however indelicate it may seem to utter it: "I believe you to be good; I acknowledge your sincerity; I am grateful for the faith you have; I esteem your goods works; but it is my duty to tell you that there is a higher order of things than you have yet embraced, that more light and knowledge have been given than you have received. When you have accepted this higher order which embraces the fullness of the gospel of our Lord, and then only is it possible for you to come into Zion and truly be of the fold of Christ. (Stephen L. Richards, quoted in Albert L. Zobell, Mini-talks, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 85-86).
The gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in the year 1830, after centuries of darkness had passed. When the call was given, the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints went out into the world--not to criticize others, not to find fault, but to say to our Father's other children: "Keep all the good that you have received, keep all the truth that you have learned, all that has come to you in your homes, in your institutions of learning, under your many facilities for education, keep it all; and then let us divide with you additional truths that have been revealed by our heavenly Father in our day." (George Albert Smith, Conference Report, 4 October 1946, p. 5).
We are using the press, and the press is a mighty missionary, but this individual labor will continue. I have heard the remark made by a few--it so insignificant that perhaps I should not stop to refer to it--by the few who are a little out of harmony with the system, that we have outgrown our missionary work, and will have to bring about a revolution and supplant it by something better and more up-to-date. What is better, what is more up-to-date than the method of a man approaching another with the truth, and bearing witness to it in all solemnity? And yet with all humility, earnest in his testimony, merely asking the other man to listen, the humble missionary continues his labor, for our missionaries have a little of the spirit of the fabled ancient mariner, they are not at peace unless they can get somebody to listen to that which they have to tell them, because they know the value of their message. (James E. Talmage, Conference Report, October 1924, p. 141).
Our problem is not that we shall offend by too fervent testimony or make enemies by insisting on raising the warning voice. Our problem is one of personal timidity, of being afraid to stand forth boldly and testify of those things which have been revealed to us.
We are expected to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus. Only the valiant are saved. Let us remember that missionaries "who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus" shall inherit, not a celestial, but a terrestrial inheritance. Be valiant. Testify and warn the people. Teach, testify, and baptize. (Bruce R. McConkie, Harvester, South American Mission Publication, May 1963, p. 13).
When I was a young missionary in the state of Ohio, I received a letter from President Brigham Young, containing these golden words: "Never condescend to argue with the wicked. The principles of the gospel are too sacred to be quarreled over. Bear your testimony in humility, and leave the result with the Lord."
That is all we can do. This is God's work, not man's, and he is doing it in his own way, and using men and women as his instruments. No man can say, of any part of the Lord's work, "I did it." No flesh can glory in his presence. The missionary does his whole duty when he bears a faithful testimony by tongue or pen, by word and deed, and leaves the rest with the Lord. (Orson F. Whitney, Improvement Era, 13 [September 1910]: 1020).
Ensure that [investigators] have developed faith in Christ, repented of transgressions, and made sufficient changes in their lives to qualify as commanded in the Doctrine and Covenants 20:37. Investigators should live the principles of moral worthiness, the Word of Wisdom, and commit to pay tithing. If missionaries feel additional preparation is needed, they should postpone baptism until the investigator meets the standard.
Before baptism each investigator should receive all the missionary [lessons], meet the bishop or branch president, and attend several sacrament meetings. (“Statement on Missionary Work,” First Presidency letter, 11 Dec. 2002).
We are sent out to teach and to testify. Now, the reason we teach is so there will be a background, a foundation, a basis, to enable people to have an intelligent opinion when we bear testimony. We teach the gospel so that receptive lays a foundation for faith. Faith cometh by hearing. We want to teach the gospel in the most intelligent way. We have found that the best way to do it is to use the standard proselyting system that all missionaries receive and are expected to learn and use. But the conversion comes when spirit speaks to spirit. If you teach the gospel, and get the right climate arranged, and then bear testimony that what you are saying is true, it strikes a responsive chord in the heart of the hearer. The conversion comes when the hearer, the investigator, bears testimony back to you, when his soul vibrates and responds to what you have said. He can't explain it, and he doesn't know why, but all of a sudden he knows that the work is true. We have got to do more testifying. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
Use the proselyting discussions. Do not devise new programs and write new handbooks. You may work on special approaches to suit your cultural circumstances but the basic presentation is the same everywhere. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
The scriptures testify of God and contain the words of eternal life. They become the strength of the missionary's message--even the tools of his trade. His confidence will be directly related to his knowledge of God's word. (Thomas S. Monson, Pathways to Perfection, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979, p. 97).
Now, how many converts should we make each year? How many people should come into the Church?
In principle--we should baptize as many people as the Church can assimilate and fellowship without causing the wild olive branches which are grafted in to overpower the tame branches and thus cause the apostasy of the whole Church as was the case in the Meridian of time. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
Will you please see that every convert who comes into the Church while you are here on this mission is so taught that he or she will grow in faith and that a year after baptism he or she will be ready to get a temple recommend, and as soon as the temple is completed will be eligible to go to the house of the Lord? (Gordon B. Hinckley, Bolivia Cochabamba Missionary Meeting, 10 November 1996).
And that marvelous work, that wonder, is the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the people in all the world. I wonder at times if all who have held the divine authority to preach had done their very best during the hundred years since the Lord Himself restored this power and authority to the earth. (Richard R. Lyman, Conference Report, April 1942, p. 31).
We are not getting the results that we ought to get. We are not getting the number of baptisms that in my judgment the Lord expects us to get. To a degree, at least, we are grinding our wheels without going forward. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
We are not getting the results we ought to get. We are not getting the numbers of baptisms that in my judgment the Lord expects us to get. To a degree, at least, we are grinding our wheels without going forward....Perhaps what is wrong is that we have not desired faith with all our hearts to bring souls into the kingdom. Perhaps we have not made up our minds that we can and will bring people into the Church. Now, very frankly, whether we gain many converts or few depends in large measure upon our frame of mind. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
We live in that day, the day when the harvest is ripe. We have deluded ourselves long enough that this is a day of gleaning only. This is not a day of gleaning but of harvest. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
President Kimball said yesterday: "As the number of missionaries’ increases and the baptisms decrease, it would suggest that something is basically wrong with our policy and our program."
Perhaps what is wrong is that we have not desired in faith with all our hearts to bring souls into the kingdom. Perhaps we have not made up our minds that we can and will bring people into the Church. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
Baptizing is a matter of attitude, and desire, and feeling. We want converts, and we never say to a missionary, "Don't baptize unless." We always say: "You can baptize; there are choice, wonderful people out there; and here is how you do it." We give them an intelligent, affirmative approach; we instruct them in how to do it; and we motivate them. Then somehow or other the Lord does the rest and they get people into the Church. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
We have to ask the Lord for help; we have to seek converts; we have to desire baptisms; we have to know that we receive according to our desires, and if we desire to get such and such a thing, and have faith in the Lord, it is going to eventuate. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
When you get into the active operation of your proselyting program, this is a concept you absolutely must have. It has been our traditional course in days past, unfortunately all too frequently, to say, 'Here is the Bible, and the Bible says this and this, and therefore the Gospel has been restored.' Well now, there is no person on earth that believes the Bible more than I do. I read it and ponder its words. I know that what is in it is true. But let me tell you, it is not the Bible that brings people into the Church; it is the Book of Mormon and latter-day revelation. We can use the Bible to lay a foundation, and to point people's attention to Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, but until we get involved with latter-day revelation, the process of conversion does not begin to operate in any substantial degree in the heart of an investigator. The Lord said to Joseph Smith: 'this generation shall have my word through you...' (D&C 5:10). That is his decree. They either get it through Joseph Smith or they do not get it, and our whole perspective is: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. (Bruce R. McConkie, "Seven Steps to More and Better Converts," Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 21 June 1975).
There is no magic formula...except the simple teaching of the truth to everyone in an orderly program and procedure. (Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, October 1961).
What is their prediction that is of such high importance to all people? Why, this: Having stated before the congregations of the world that they are authorized to preach the gospel of life and salvation, that they are authorized to promise the gift of the Holy Ghost, that shall lead into all truth and show things to come, and shall testify in reference to their authority, then to make this prediction--that such as will obey the simple principles of the gospel shall receive a perfect knowledge, a knowledge not by the reading of books, the scriptures or any past revelations that may have been given, but they shall receive a knowledge of this from God himself. (Lorenzo Snow, Conference Report, 5 October 1897, p. 30).
Sowing of seed is important; otherwise, there would be no harvest, and as stated in the Lord's parable of the sower, there must be good ground to bring forth a good harvest. Plowing must have been done before the sowing or there would have been no seedbed.
Of all the work of the field, plow-work is the heaviest labor. It is primary and fundamental--it is pioneer toil. A seed may be dropped anywhere, and there is no resistance, but put the blade of the plow into the ground and a thousand forces join to oppose the change. To disturb the conventional, to overturn the traditional, or to attempt to make changes in the deep-rooted way of doing things in the lives of individuals, requires toil and sweat. The heaviest work in the kingdom of God is to turn the hard surface of the earth which has been baked in the sun or covered by the growth of nature. What a change comes over land which has been cleared and plowed, row after row of evenly spaced furrows, the subsurface loosened and exposed to the sun and air and the rains from heaven, ready to be broken up and planted to seed. the wilderness is conquered and subdued.
Those who became disciples of the Master and put their hands to the plow without turning back proved themselves to be worthy plowmen. By turning over the old surfaces of tradition, they prepared the fields for the introduction and the spread of Christianity into the world.
We do not need to go back to the time of Christ, however, to find fields to plow. Fields exist today all over the world, and missionaries have been called and have put their hands to the plow. Furrows are being cut and seeds planted, and every day we see the results of the harvest. (Howard W. Hunter quoted in Albert L. Zobell, Notes to Quote, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 84-85).
Setting our hand to the plow involves hard work and determination. We have in Church leadership great plowmen with firm hands and stout hearts—-stake presidents and mission presidents—-determined men who work in the fields. Bishops, branch presidents, heads of priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations are toiling in their assigned fields. Missionaries have been called and have put their hands to the plow. Nearly 15,000 stake and full-time missionaries are now in the fields. Furrows are being cut and seeds planted and every day we see the results of the harvest. Close at home and in distant countries new lands are being broken up by these plowmen, and the subsurface exposed to the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Is it hard work? Of course, but that which is worthwhile is seldom easy. As individuals we have a responsibility to plow. Some accept the opportunity, but some shrink from the responsibility. Some of those who commence cut only a short furrow and then the false illusion of the ease which they had left behind. Their plowshares are left to rust in the furrow.
Whatever the past may have been in our individual lives, it is gone. The future lies ahead, and we must face it with resolution. There is always a point from which we can begin. Even though we may have been faithful in the past, if we turn away, that faithfulness will profit us nothing. “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
There is danger in looking backward. One must keep his eyes ahead in order to cut a straight furrow. When the plowman commences to look backward, he cuts a crooked furrow, and his work is spoiled. We cannot continue to walk forward when at the same time we are looking backward. It makes no difference what object or occasion causes us to look backward, the backward glance commences the backward turning, and may be the beginning of our disendowment in the kingdom of God.
As plowing requires an eye intent on the furrow to be made and is marred when one looks backward, so will they come short of exaltation who prosecute the work of God with a distracted attention or a divided heart. We may not see clearly the end of the furrow, but we dare not look back, Eternity stretches on ahead, challenging us to be faithful. Through searching the scriptures we come to know the will of the Lord. Our Church leaders have laid great stress on the matter of reading the scriptures and the words of the prophets, ancient and modern. Fathers and mothers have been asked to read the scriptures so that they may properly teach their children. Our children are reading the scriptures as a result of the example being set by parents. We are studying the scriptures at our family home evenings, and some families are reading scriptures together at an early morning hour.
Young people are learning to know the scriptures in seminary and institute classes. Missionaries are studying, becoming familiar with, and memorizing scriptures so that they can better teach the gospel. This is the way we learn to know the will of the Lord, that we might be obedient. (Howard W. Hunter, The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997, pp. 48-49).
The Lord hates a quitter and there should be no such thing as quitting when we put our hands to the plow to save men. (Joseph F. Smith, "Character, Mettle, and Mission of the Latter-day Saints, Improvement Era, 13 [October 1910]: 1055).
This remarkable missionary work has been accomplished by humble men and women. Their equipment in the main has not been the training of schools. It has been the influence and discipline of good homes, Church organization, and individual testimony. Their testimonies and their lives have had more potential than their preaching. The only eloquence they have required to deliver their message is the eloquence of the message itself portrayed in the devotion and purity of their lives. They have never had to rant and yell, nor chant and sigh, to make a convert. They have carried the natural simple joyous message of the Christ in a natural, cheerful way. Was that not the Savior's way? Did he not ever suit the lesson to the people in their language and understanding? Have we any evidence that he employed rituals, ministerial garb, and sonorous phrases to make it impressive? I think we have not, and I advance as a worthy argument for the divine authenticity of the gospel we bear, the manner of its presentation by the missionaries of the Church. (Stephen L. Richards, Conference Report, October 1945, p. 55).
The great characteristic of this gospel is that every human being who embraces it has the right to know for himself concerning its divinity. It is distinguished in this respect from all the systems of men. The constant appeal that is given to the members of this Church is, "You enquire for yourselves concerning the truth of these things." This is the constant exhortation and teaching of the elders when they go out on missions to preach the gospel to the people. I would not baptize a man, I never did baptize one, without pleading with him, with all the energy of my soul, to ask God for himself that he might have a testimony form God that that which he was about to espouse was the gospel of Jesus Christ. Individuals who would join the Church upon somebody else's persuasions are of no value; for when the day of trial and perplexity should come, their faith would melt away and they would leave the body of the Church. Wise elders desire no such converts as these. (George Q. Cannon, Salt Lake Stake Conference, Sunday, 1 March 1891. Deseret Weekly [Saturday, 14 March 1891]: 373).
We realize that while all able men definitely should, all men are not prepared to teach the gospel abroad. Yes, we would say, every able, worthy man should shoulder the cross. What an army we should have teaching Christ and him crucified! Yes, they should be prepared, usually with saved funds for their missions, and always with a happy heart to serve.
The Lord says:
"And that every man [Did you catch the words, every man?] should take righteousness in his hands and faithfulness upon his loins, and lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth; and declare both by word and by flight that desolation shall come upon the wicked." (D&C 63:37). (Spencer W. Kimball, "When the World will be Converted," Ensign, [April 1984]: 5).
Almost any returned missionary will have a question: "If they are starving spiritually, why do they not accept what we have? Why do they slam the door on us and turn us away?"
One of my sons was serving in Australia and was thrown off a porch by a man who rejected his message.
My son is big enough and strong enough that he had to be somewhat agreeable to what was happening or the man never could have done it.
Be patient if some will not eat when first invited. Remember, all who are spiritually hungry will not accept the gospel. Do you remember how reluctant you are to try any new food? Only after your mother urges you will you take a little, tiny portion on the tip of a spoon to taste it to see if you like it first.
Undernourished children must be carefully fed; so it is with the spiritually underfed. Some are so weakened by mischief and sin that to begin with they reject the rich food we offer. They must be fed carefully and gently.
Some are so near spiritual death that they must be spoon-fed on the broth of fellowship, or nourished carefully on activities and programs. As the scriptures say, they must have milk before meat. (See Corinthians 3:2; D&C 19:22). But we must take care lest the only nourishment they receive thereafter is that broth.
But feed them we mush. We are commanded to preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. That message, my young friends, appears more than eighty times in the scriptures. (Boyd K. Packer, CR A'84, Ensign, [May 1984]: 42).
You are called to represent Jesus Christ in helping people become clean from their sins. You do this by inviting them to come unto Jesus Christ and become converted to His restored gospel. To come to the Savior they must have faith in Him unto repentance—making the necessary changes to bring their life in agreement with His teachings. You can help people develop such faith by teaching them the restored gospel by the Spirit and inviting them to commit to live according to its teachings. Keeping this commitment prepares them for the covenants of baptism and confirmation and the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. They are to put off the “natural man” and become a Saint “through the atonement of Christ the Lord” (Mosiah 3:19). (Preach my Gospel: A guide to missionary service. Salt Lake City: Intellectual Reserve, 2004, p. 2).
The calling of a missionary requires him to be able to teach the basic principles of the gospel all day every day. He teaches the plan of salvation over and over and over again. The Lord is our example. It would be hard to describe the Lord as an executive. Let me repeat that. It would be hard to describe the Lord as an executive. He was a teacher! That is the ideal, the pattern. Missionaries are teachers. No student learns quite as much from hearing a lesson as a teacher does from preparing it. (Boyd K. Packer, "Principles," Ensign, [March 1985]: 10).
Missionary work--the preaching of the gospel--has been the major activity of the true Church of Christ whenever the gospel has been upon the earth. Prophets of God and numerous other ambassadors of truth have preached the word "in season, out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). (Ezra Taft Benson, CR A'70, Improvement Era, 73 [June 1970]: 95).
Our means of travel and teaching are improving. Today we have jet planes and radio and television. Who knows what we shall have tomorrow? Whatever the scientific advances may be, they shall be used for the furtherance of the Lord's work and for the spread of truth in the earth. (Bruce R. McConkie, Conference Report, April 1969, pp. 143-144).
Why is this quickening of our pace in missionary work? Why is it?
I have thought of it something like a football game. When we are out on the mud strip in mid-field, the boys take chances; they open up; they throw forward passes; but when they get down inside the ten-yard line, where inches mean the difference between victory and defeat, they say they play it "close to their chest." They do not take any chances. The opposition stiffens; every ounce of energy and all the strategy at their command now on the offensive to try to push over that tally which may mean that success; and the opposition stiffens; resisting every effort somewhat in comparison. We are down inside of the ten-yard line of time, with the goal to go, the goal being the coming of the Lord when Satan shall be bound. And he knows it. And he is putting up the most of that, the powers of the almighty are being extended, as they have never been extended before. And slowly but surely he is being pushed back, back over the goal line of time when the Savior shall come. I read again what Mark said as he closed his record of the mission of the apostles, just after the crucifixion of the savior.
He wrote this very significant thing as he closed his record; "and they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with the, and confirming the word with signs following." (Harold B. Lee, "The Master Reveals Signs of His Second Coming," Church News, [3 December 1960]: 14).
King Benjamin, that humble but mighty servant of the Lord, called together all the people in the land of Zarahemla, and the multitude was so great that King Benjamin ‘...caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them.’ (Mosiah 2:7). Our Father in heaven has now provided us mighty towers--radio and television towers with possibilities beyond
comprehension--to help fulfill the words of the Lord that ‘the sound must go forth from this place unto all the world.’ Even though there are millions of people throughout the world who cannot read or write, there is a chance to reach them through radio and television.
The modern transistor radio can be mass produced by the thousands in a size that is small and inexpensive. We can preach the gospel to eager ears and hearts. These should be carried by people in the marketplaces of South America, on the steppes of Russia, the vast mountains and plains of China, the subcontinent of India, and the desert sands of Arabia and Egypt. Some authorities claim that this tiny miracle will be recorded by future historians as an event even greater than the invention of the printing press. The transistor is an eloquent answer to the illiteracy and ignorance which reign supremely over the earth. The spoken voice will reach millions of hearers who can listen through a $3 or $4 transistor but could not read even an elementary treatise.
There are over 7,000 AM and FM radio stations in the United States, with thousands more in other parts of the world. There are innumerable opportunities for us to use these stations overseas, if we only prepare the message in the native languages. Also, missionaries could be supplied with small portable cassette tape players and go into the homes with prepared messages to humble family groups all around the globe. Millions of people are anxious and willing to learn, if only they can hear the ‘sound’ in their own language and in a manner that they can grasp and understand. Just think what can be accomplished when we broadcast our message in many languages over numerous radio stations, large and small, around the world, and millions of good people listening on their transistors are being indoctrinated with the truth. The Lord has blessed the world with many Early Bird satellites. They are stationed high in the heavens, relaying broadcast signals back to almost every corner of the earth's surface. Today there are 67 earth receiving stations operating in 50 countries of the world.
Certainly these satellites are only the genesis of what is in store for the future of world-wide broadcasting. With the Lord providing these miracles of communication, and with the increased efforts and devotion of our missionaries and all of us, and all others who are ‘sent,’ surely the divine injunction will come to pass: ‘For verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth -- the gospel must be preached unto every creature...’ (D&C 58:64). (Spencer W. Kimball, "When the World will be Converted." Ensign, [October 1974] ); Regional Representatives Seminar, 4 April 1974.
There is reason to believe that as the years pass and as our use of modern media increases our missionaries will spend more of their time in answering the queries of truth-seekers who come to us, and less time in going door to door in search of them. (Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Future Missionary," Church News, [20 December 1947]: 11).
A few months ago word reached some of our missionaries on a remote South Pacific island that I would soon be visiting there for two or three days. When I arrived, the missionaries were waiting anxiously to share with me some anti-Mormon literature that was being circulated in their area. They were disturbed by the accusations and were eager to plan retaliation.
The elders sat on the edge of their chairs as I read the slander and false declarations issued by their presence and success. As I read the pamphlet containing the malicious and ridiculous statements, I actually smiled, much to the surprise of my young associates. When I finished, they asked, "What do we do now? How can we best counteract such lies?"
I answered, To the author of these words, we do nothing. We have no time for contention. We only have time to be about our Father's business. Contend with no man. Conduct yourselves as gentlemen with calmness and conviction, and I promise you success."
Perhaps a formula for these missionaries and all of us to follow can be found in the Book of Mormon: "And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul." (Helaman 5:30).
There never has been a time when it is more important for as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to take a stand, remain firm in our convictions, and conduct ourselves wisely under all circumstances. We must not be manipulated or enraged by those who subtly foster contention over issues of the day. (Marvin J. Ashton, What Is Your Destination? Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1978, pp. 67-68).
I remember when I started in my family life; we were raising alfalfa almost totally in the valley where I lived. Alfalfa was our main crop. We also had grain and such, but cotton came into the program, so we all ploughed up our alfalfa fields and put them into cotton. We could get a great deal more per acre by raising cotton than we could alfalfa. We had to return to alfalfa once in a while because it enriched the soil and we needed the alfalfa once in a while to do that; but consistent with every good reason, we grew cotton because it brought us more money to take care of our family. That is the way it is in missionary work. There is always a better way to do it. Always something that will be more efficient to use, some plan, organization or otherwise, and that we continue to pray for. (Spencer W. Kimball, Johannesburg, South Africa Area Conference, 23 October 1978).
We hope to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness by the more effective use of radio and television. Some of our plans include developing a series of radio and television programs that will meet the needs of people throughout the world and at the same time present the gospel in a favorable light. Examples of the material to be covered will be the family, stress on education, the Book of Mormon, a living prophet, health, etc. (Ezra Taft Benson, Mission Presidents’ Seminar, 27-28 June 1974).
We must more effectively proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through the media. The restoration of the gospel is the most momentous message in the world. Our message is not that we are mainstream Christians; nor is it the Word of Wisdom; nor is it the family. Our message is that the gospel has been restored to earth; that the heavens have been opened again, that God has spoken in our day and currently reveals his mind and will. This is the message we must proclaim from the housetops.
We must see to it that we more effectively utilize technology to help bring the gospel message to our people and the people of the world. President Kimball has challenged us to do more. We can and will do more in this vital area. (Ezra Taft Benson, "The World is our Mission," Salt Lake City Meeting, 6 June 1980).
These missionaries are now going to school to teach others, and in teaching others they themselves will be instructed, and when they rise to speak in the name of Israel's God, if they live in purity and holiness before him, he will give them words and ideas of which they never dreamed before. I have traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to preach this gospel among all grades and conditions of men, and there is one thing that always gave me satisfaction--I never yet found a man in any part of the world who could overturn one principle that has been communicated to us; they will attempt it, but error is a very singular weapon with which to combat truth; it never can vanquish it.
When men go forth in the name of Israel's God, there is no power on earth that can overturn the truths they advocate. Men may misrepresent and calumniate them; they may circulate false reports, for as a general thing men love lies better than truth; but when men go forth possessing the truths of the everlasting gospel which God has revealed, they have a treasure within them that the world knows nothing about. They have the light of revelation, the fire of the Holy Ghost, and the power of the priesthood within them--a power that they know very little about even themselves, which, like a well-spring of life, is rising, bursting, bubbling, and spreading its exhilarating streams around. Why, says the Lord, with you I will confound the nations of the earth, with you I will overturn their kingdoms. (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1855-1886, 14 April 1867, 12:396-397).
And I wish we had more Elders to go and preach just such sermons by the power of God, that is, "I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, and that this is the gospel of salvation, and if you do not believe it you will be damned, every one of you."
That is one of the most important sermons that ever was preached, and then if they could add anything by the power of the Spirit, it would be all right. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1855-1886, 4:298).
Today we have a multinational force coming from many nations and spreading themselves among a great number of other nations of the world. Missionaries go forward with the purest intent, with no hidden agenda, and at great personal sacrifice. They are not out to destroy anyone's faith or to exert unrighteous pressure. They are teachers who invite those interested in their message to listen and determine for themselves if the message is true. They go forward not representing any government or political philosophy. Furthermore, they will not be active nor participate in, encourage, or even express an opinion on the politics of the country in which they are called to labor. (L. Tom Perry, CR O'89, Ensign, [November 1989]: 71).
I have heard the testimonies of these young men and women, and I wish I could relay to you the language of sincerity and conviction which these young missionaries are carrying to the world. If there was ever a day in the history of this sorry old world when we needed to hear the voice of conviction and the language of sincerity, this is the time, and in all the world's confusion it is not only inspiring but refreshing to hear hundreds of our men and women speaking a language of sincerity to all who will hear. (Matthew Cowley, Conference Report, October 1949, p. 45).
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. (D&C 10:62-63). Remember that "it is a day of warning, and not a day of many words" (D&C 63:58). 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, Jr., History of the Church, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1978, 1:468).
