Missionary Work

"Those who have planted the good word of God have served faithfully invariably have awakened in them a great desire for self-improvement. And with that comes a desire to learn more and to gain greater skills." (President Henry B. Eyringf, "Education for Real Life," Ensign, Oct. 2002, 14, "Real-Life Education)


"Every missionary experience requires faith, sacrifice, and service, and these are always followed by an outpouring of blessings." (Elder Robert D. Hales, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 2005 General Conference, "Couple Missionaries: Blessings from Sacrifice and Service")


"To prepare to become a missionary...you can begin to think as missionaries think, to read what missionaries read, to pray as missionaries pray, and to feel what missionaries feel. You can avoid the worldly influences that cause the Holy Ghost to withdraw, and you can grow in confidence in recognizing and responding to spiritual promptings. Line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, you can gradually become the missionary you hope to be and the missionary the Savior expects." (Elder David A. Bednar, "Becoming a Missionary", October 2005 General Conference)


"Now, some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to the call to serve. Remember that this is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. The Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it." (President Thomas S. Monson, "The Lord Needs Missionaries," The Liahona Magazine)


"All of us who lead in the wards and stakes must open the door to the lost sheep; stand aside to let them through. We must learn not to block the entrance. It is a narrow way. Sometimes we assume the clumsy posture of trying to pull them through the gate that we ourselves are blocking. Only when we have the spirit of lifting them, pushing them before us, seeing them elevated above us, do we have that spirit that will engender a testimony." (President Boyd K Packer, February 2011 Liahona, "Strengthening the Less Active")


"Member missionaries - both you and I - are the shepherds, and the full-time missionaries, like the search and rescue team, are trying to do something almost impossible for them to do alone. Certainly the full-time missionaries will continue to do the best they can, but wouldn't it be better if you and I stepped up to do a job that is rightfully ours and for which we are better suited since we know personally those who are lost and need to be rescued?" (Elder L Tom Perry, April 2009 General Conference, "Bring Souls unto Me")


"When nonmembers interact with faithful members of the Church over an extended period of time or are exposed to clear and accurate information regarding Church beliefs and doctrines, their attitudes become positive and open." (Elder L Tom Perry, April 2009 General Conference, "Bring Souls unto Me")


"Most of our full-time missionaries spend more of their time trying to find people rather than teaching them...If you and I did more of the finding for the full-time missionaries and freed them up to spend more time teaching the people we find, great things would begin to happen. We're missing a golden opportunity to grow the Church when we wait for our full-time missionaries to warn our neighbors instead of us doing it ourselves." (Elder L Tom Perry, April 2009 General Conference, "Bring Souls unto Me")


"Scripture tells us that 'there are many yet on the earth...who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.' Isn't that your opportunity? You can become their own disciple of discovery!" (Elder Russell M. Nelson, October 2010 General Conference, "Be THou an Example of the Believers")


"From time to time we need to remind ourselves why we have missionaries. It is because of a commandment from the Lord, 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.' This commandment is one of many that have been renewed because the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fulness. Missionaries serve now just as they did in New Testament times." (Elder Russell M. Nelson, October 2010 General Conference, "Be THou an Example of the Believers")