Related stories from the 2011 Seminar for New Mission Presidents:
President Monson: 'Precious commodity entrusted to your care'
President Henry B. Eyring: Holy Spirit will help missionaries succeed
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Presidents help missionaries reach their potential
President Boyd K. Packer: A voice felt, rather than heard
Elder Russell M. Nelson: Learn, live and teach the doctrine of Christ
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Mission president, trainer important to new missionaries
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Faith in Christ is an 'upward cycle'
Elder Richard G. Hinckley: Recent changes intended to encourage senior couples to serve missions
PROVO, UTAH
Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was the devotional speaker at the Provo Missionary Training Center, Friday, June 24, during the 2011 Seminar for New Mission Presidents. In attendance were several General Authorities, 128 new mission presidents and their wives, plus elders and sisters already at the MTC preparing to serve as full-time missionaries.
Elder Bednar spoke on the topic of "Becoming a 'Preach My Gospel' Missionary," referencing the Church's missionary guide introduced in 2004 and earnestly emphasized by Church leaders since then.
"A 'Preach My Gospel' missionary is a servant of the Lord, called by prophecy and authorized by the laying on of hands, who proclaims the Savior's everlasting and restored gospel in His way," Elder Bednar said. Though the term "Preach My Gospel" missionaries might be new, he commented, the purpose and functions of missionaries always have and always will be the same.
He discussed five basic requirements for becoming "Preach My Gospel" missionaries: understand that they serve and represent Jesus Christ, are worthy, treasure up the words of eternal life, understand the Holy Ghost is the ultimate and true teacher and understand teaching is much more than talking or telling."
Elder Bednar instructed, "As we serve, we do not represent our families, our friends, our branches or wards, or our communities or nations. Rather we represent Him." Christ's purposes, interests, and work should likewise be those of the missionary, Elder Bednar said. "His will should become our will."
Elder Bednar taught that "as representatives of the Redeemer, we preach the fundamental doctrines and principles of His restored gospel simply and clearly. We do not present personal opinions or speculation. ... We proclaim and testify of restored truth in the Lord's way and by the power of His spirit."
He emphasized being worthy means that "those who serve God cannot be stained with the spots of the world and at the same time represent Christ and act with power in His name," also stressing that "we cannot help others to overcome the bondage of sin if we ourselves are entangled in sin." Elder Bednar added, "We cannot help others learn to repent if we ourselves have not learned to repent properly and completely. We can only proclaim and preach with power that which we are striving to become." Though not required presently to be perfect, missionaries are commanded to be clean, he explained.
Treasuring up words of eternal life means more than merely studying or memorizing, Elder Bednar said. "Treasuring up suggests to me focusing and working, exploring and absorbing, pondering and praying, applying and learning, valuing and appreciating, and enjoying and relishing." He then added, "The Spirit can only work with and through us if we give him something with which to work. He cannot help us remember things we have not learned."
Testifying of the Holy Ghost as the ultimate and true teacher, Elder Bednar said, "You and I as missionaries have the responsibility to preach the gospel by the Spirit." He then explained, "Regardless of how worthy we are and how earnestly we serve, you and I simply cannot push or force truth into the hearts of investigators." Ultimately, the investigator needs to act in righteousness and thereby invite the truth into his or her own heart, he explained.
Elder Bednar described how "preaching the gospel in the Lord's way includes observing, listening and discerning as prerequisites to talking." He explained that missionaries who talk without observing, listening and discerning "teach neither lessons nor people. Rather, they talk to themselves in front of investigators. 'Preach My Gospel' missionaries act in faith and are guided by the Spirit to help investigators learn truth.
Elder Bednar concluded by repeatedly assuring the elders, sisters and couples that with the Lord's help and in His strength they could do the things required of them.
"If I had the wish of my heart, I would take a few moments with each of you individually," he said. "I would shake your hand, draw you close, look you in the eyes, and say, 'You can do this!'"
