Just What are They Doing!?

Many people recognize the Mormon missionaries on the street and feel confused about their purpose. Sometimes even members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the missionaries themselves lose focus of the important purpose of the missionaries. They stand as representatives of Jesus Christ and besides wearing his name on their nametags, they strive to work as he would. The missionary handbook Preach My Gospel outlines these goals for a successful missionary.

Loves people and desires their Salvation

• Offers simple service
• Go about doing good
• Look for every opportunity
• Recognizes the source of their salvation
• Does his very best to bring souls to Christ
• Calls people to repentance
• Invites everyone
• to follow Christ
• to commit to follow the commandments
• Warns of the consequences of sin
• Lovingly follows up
• Builds up the Church
  • Helps members
  • Supports ward and branch leaders
  • Encourages Church attendance
  • Brings others into the Church

Spirit testifies through him

• He gives it opportunities by
• Praying
• Bearing his own testimony
• Sharing personal experiences with the Spirit
• Using scriptures
• Showing love to the Lord and others

Obeys with exactness

• "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.” -Ezra Taft Benson§
• Follows missionary rules
• Listens to leaders and his companion
• Expects commands before they come and beats leaders to the punch
• Obeys before being told to
• "For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward."
  [D&C 58:26]
• Quickly follows the promptings from the Holy Ghost

Lives worthy of the Spirit

• Builds faith in Christ
• Prays and asks for it
• Quickly follows the promptings from the Holy Ghost
• Keeps covenants
• Strives to keep promises made to the Lord at baptism and in the temple

Develops Christ-like attributes

• Lives by the Savior's example
• Strives to emphasize the attributes of faith, hope, charity, love, virtue, knowledge, patience, humility, diligence, obedience.
• Makes specific goals for improvement
• Teaches and serves other missionaries
• Looks for every opportunity to help other missionaries
• Kind and constructive
• Enthusiastic and positive

§ Donald L. Staheli, "Obedience—Life’s Great Challenge", Ensign, May 1998, 81