Following the resurrection, Christ gave His Apostles a commission to teach all nations and baptize them into the fold of God¹. Latter-day Saints take this commission with the utmost seriousness, sending tens of thousands of missionaries into the world to preach the gospel. Then, as everyday members, we hear the number of new converts each year and are pleased with the success. To many of us, the commission of Christ has become a well-oiled and successful system. If that were the case, then these words would never have been uttered from President Hinckley:

“It is wonderful. But it is not enough. I am not being unrealistic when I say that with concerted effort, with recognition of the duty which falls upon each of us as members of the Church, and with sincere prayer to the Lord for help, we could double that number.” ²

Missionary work is not a program; it’s a lifestyle. It is gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned. It is living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Same System = Same Results

Despite intense emphasis and years of experience, most of us continue to struggle in sharing the gospel, and it’s easier to point out the errors than offer solutions. Still, a brief examination of common mistakes in missionary work proves instructive. For example, doing it for the numbers is not wrong because numerals are somehow satanic, but rather the removal of individuality and sincere love for a person are at risk of being lost when we doggedly focus on narrow-minded results. The usual outgrowth of this strategy is guilt, a less-effective motivator at best. This approach creates a divide between us and them; church members and non-members. If we see every non-Mormon as a potential point in our favor than we’re drifting pretty far from the Savior’s approach.

Another standard error is a heavy reliance on missionaries to do the work. Only a small fraction of the church members are serving full-time missions. There’s simply no way that our success will increase by passing the buck to them. Even if we do take our responsibility in seriousness, we often find ourselves looking in the wrong places. We tend to ignore the natural relationships the Lord has caused in our lives in favor of seeking out strangers with an ulterior motive to baptize them. That’s a shaky foundation for friendship. Perhaps we tend to focus on strangers because we can de-personalize the work, and thus quiet our fear and anxiety in sharing the good news. But, does that sound right to anybody?

Beware “New Programs”

Every few years, missionaries will come along with a new program. This system promises miraculous results as if the spiritual destiny of the world is in the hands of party planners. These are generally the same old re-hashed ideas. The truth is that programs don’t save people, preaching does.

Alma and his fellow-workers in the kingdom understood this principal when they saw a threatening current of public opinion outside the church that nearly consumed the consciousness of the Nephite people, leading many away from the kingdom:

“And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.” ³

Later, another Chief Judge, Nephi, saw the same need. Though he held powerful political position, he surrendered it in order to preach:

“And it came to pass that Nephi had become weary because of their iniquity; and he yielded up the judgment-seat, and took it upon him to preach the word of God all the remainder of his days…” ⁴

Each of these accounts resulted in far-reaching and significant political, social, and spiritual changes among the people of that day— so will our preaching.

Doing Missionary Work Vs. Being A Missionary

Perhaps the most frequent trap we may fall into is to do missionary work without being a missionary. What is the difference? Elder Lynn G. Robbins explained this in General Conference:

“Many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists. Why? To do’s are activities or events that can be checked off the list when done. To be, however, is never done. You can’t earn checkmarks with to be’s. I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to do. But being a good husband is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am.” ⁵

Likewise, missionary work, or the preaching of the gospel, and the invitation to come unto Christ, should be a part of our very nature. Missionary work is about using opportunities, not forcing them. A true missionary honors the agency of his fellowmen. Therefore, the meeting of (1) a receptive hearer and (2) a friend in tune with the Spirit is the optimal opportunity for the gospel to be shared. And thus, we must be worthy servants at all times.

The Error of Expectations

Never expect to quantify the impact of your labors in this life. Our mortal probation is not about the return, but the work. Rather, let your motivation be love and not merely accomplishment. Attitude is key in this work.

“No one baptized in Kingston. Just ask any missionary who labored there. Time in Kingston was marked on the calendar like days in prison. A missionary transfer to another place—any place—would be uppermost in thoughts, even in dreams.

“While I was praying about and pondering this sad dilemma, for my responsibility then as a mission president required that I pray and ponder about such things, my wife called to my attention an excerpt from the book A Child’s Story of the Prophet Brigham Young. She read aloud that Brigham Young entered Kingston, Ontario, on a cold and snow-filled day. He labored there about 30 days and baptized 45 souls. Here was the answer. If the missionary Brigham Young could accomplish this harvest, so could the missionaries of today.

“Without providing an explanation, I withdrew the missionaries from Kingston, that the cycle of defeat might be broken. Then the carefully circulated word: ‘Soon a new city will be opened for missionary work, even the city where Brigham Young proselyted and baptized 45 persons in 30 days.’ The missionaries speculated as to the location. Their weekly letters pleaded for the assignment to this Shangri-la. More time passed. Then four carefully selected missionaries—two of them new, two of them experienced—were chosen for this high adventure. The members of the small branch pledged their support. The missionaries pledged their lives. The Lord honored both.

“In the space of three months, Kingston became the most productive city of the Canadian Mission. The grey limestone buildings still stood; the city had not altered its appearance; the population remained constant. The change was one of attitude. The label of doubt yielded to the label of faith.” ⁶

When we decide what should or shouldn’t happen, what the measure of our success is, then we put mortal limits on an Eternal God. Our only expectation should be that, as we work in the power of the spirit, we will fulfill the Lord’s purposes.

24/7 Missionaries

This work requires the spirit, and thus, worthiness is integral. Consider the counsel from Joseph Smith on this matter:

“Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the Holy Spirit in accomplishing the great work of the last days” ⁷

Knowing the importance of our companionship with the Spirit, Satan will seek to disrupt this connection either by severing the line completely, or by creating so much interference that it becomes impossible to hear the still, small voice. We can be assured that each time we experience great temptations there lies, just ahead, an opportunity to bless a life.

Equipped without he strength of the spirit, we can begin our work. But how do we do it? Henry B. Eyring offered up this useful insight:

“You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands. His work is to bless His Father’s spirit children with the opportunity to choose eternal life. So, your calling is to bless lives. .

“Your call has eternal consequences for others and for you. In the world to come, thousands may call your name blessed, even more than the people you serve here. They will be the ancestors and the descendants of those who chose eternal life because of something you said or did, or even what you were. . .You see, there are no small callings to represent the Lord.” ⁸

Thus, our obligation is to serve others in the manner Christ would. We do this by standing as a witness in all times and places. That extends in to such a variety of circumstances that elaboration becomes impossible. However, one example was given by President Uchtdorf at General Conference:

“My dear young friends, perhaps the Lord’s encouragement to ‘open [your] mouths’  might today include ‘use your hands’ to blog and text message the gospel to all the world! But please remember, all at the right time and at the right place.

Brothers and sisters, with the blessings of modern technology, we can express gratitude and joy about God’s great plan for His children in a way that can be heard not only around our workplace but around the world. Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity.” ⁹

Conclusion

As we seek opportunities to share the gospel, we will find them. They will not occur on our time-table and according to our expectations, but they will have a lasting impact in the lives of others. Begin by sharing testimony of gospel principals and uplifting thoughts on social networks, text messages, or in conversation. Then, seek other means of preaching the gospel in natural ways. This is what it means to live as a missionary.

1. Matthew 28:19-20
2. “Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep,” President Gordon B. Hinckley
3. Alma 31:5
4.. Helaman 5:4
5. “What Manner of Men and Women Ought Ye to Be?”, April 2011 General Conference
6. Thomas S. Monson, ”Labels,” Ensign, Sept. 2000, 5
7. “Teachings”, 178
8. ”Rise to Your Call,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 76
9. “Waiting on the Road to Damascus”, April 2011 General Conference