Online Missionary Work

(Note: The following post was written by Alexander Barton, a full-time missionary serving in the Tennessee Nashville Mission.)

I've been called to labor in the Tennessee Nashville Mission, but I'm touching the lives of people in faraway places like Australia, China, Germany, the Philippines, Russia and Spain.

How? Because I'm engaged in online missionary work as part of a pilot program introduced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I use tools like Facebook and Blogger to broadcast the joyful message of the restored gospel.

Though the online environment is different in many ways from standard missionary work, the doctrines we teach are still the same. We still want others to come unto Christ through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. But instead of teaching one person at a time, the Internet allows us to share our message with thousands of people around the world.

More Than I Asked For. Better Than I Expected

When I signed up to come on a mission I did not know what to expect,I knew I would be knocking doors and having long days, but I did not realize how tired I would be all the time! I had expected to be studying but never did I realize the intensity that would prevail in those study sessions. Yes my mission was more than I asked for... but it has been much better than I expected! Yes I am tired most often, but I am happier at the end of every day then I have ever been. If there is anything to be tired of it is sharing the restored gospel. Yes we study a great deal, but now I know truly what i believe and my testimony of my Savior has grown and I know how to apply the gospel to all those wonderful people I meet. My mission was more than I asked for but it is much better than I expected. I am Sister Austin, and I am serving in the Tennessee Nashville Mission.

Called to Serve...in Cyberspace

As a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I get to experience a little bit of everything. No two days are exactly the same. Although every day includes some listening and teaching, gospel study and discussion, the people and places are always changing. From washing dishes in a smokey trailers to sharing scriptures with strangers in public restrooms (yes I've done that) to watching people I love come to know our Savior and be baptized, each day seems to hold a new adventure. The most recent adventure in my missionary life, however, is internet proselyting.