This time of year, I tend to head down memory lane a bit more than usual. In June 2011, my husband, Scott, and I were finishing preparations to leave our home and family in Provo, Utah, to serve as mission leaders in the Arizona Phoenix Mission.
Today, there are 416 missions in the world, and roughly a third of those missions each year turn over to a new leadership couple at the end of June. This year, 138 new leader companionships will go out to serve their three-year assignments all over the world.
From Thursday through Sunday, June 22-25, those new companionships are meeting in the Provo Missionary Training Center for the 2023 Seminar for New Mission Leaders, taught by all members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other general authorities and general officers, prior to heading off to their mission assignments. Honestly, it is a little like trying to drink from a fire hose, but it is wonderful.
The training for most of these companionships, however, began months ago.
When Scott and I were called in February 2011, we were assigned a “Preach My Gospel” tutor as well as a language tutor — the Phoenix mission was a Spanish-speaking assignment for the leaders — to begin our training right away.
We were introduced to one of the most impactful resources — not just for full-time missionaries but for every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Preach My Gospel” and the seminar are forefront both in my mind and in the day’s news, with President Russell M. Nelson announcing the manual’s second edition.
“Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service” was first published in 2004, and the current “Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ” is already on the Gospel Library app. I found it to be one of the best resources for helping members of all ages solidify their testimony of Jesus Christ and His doctrine as well as helping teach skills that specifically benefit missionaries or teachers.
What is my purpose as a missionary? “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”
I wrote off to the side margin in the manual: “Everything that a missionary does should tie into this purpose.” I could very well write, “Everything that a member of the Church/parent/child of God does should tie into this purpose.” Yes, this book is for all of us.
The purpose is then expounded throughout the guide to help the reader/student understand the doctrine of Christ better, to learn and love the Book of Mormon and to know how to recognize the Holy Ghost in their own lives so they can help others recognize it.
For example, chapter 3 — originally titled “What Do I Study and Teach?” and now “Study and Teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ” — has four lessons:
- The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Becoming Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ
Sounds pretty much like studying and teaching how to get on and stay on the covenant path.
I have heard my husband talk about the “dinosaur days” when he taught using a filmstrip projector, standardized discussions and flip charts. Don’t get me wrong — he was a really good missionary. But today we are even more blessed to learn the principles of the gospel and then have the flexibility to teach in whatever order or style we need to, as directed by the Spirit, to reach each person one by one.
During our mission service and then as we served for four more years in branch leadership positions at the Provo Missionary Training Center, we were constantly reminded that this is the Lord’s work. He is in charge, and He knows what we need for each time period.
“Preach My Gospel” rolled out, followed by the use of cellphones, tablets, digital area books and online teaching. The age change for missionaries occurred while we served, which fit into His purpose as well. Those young missionaries were participating in the new “Come, Follow Me” program for youth Sunday School and came out ready to teach. It was miraculous. Every program was in place for situations like the pandemic to occur and for the work to carry on as normal as possible.
So, I have a tender spot in my heart for “Preach My Gospel.” It was the start for me of what I saw as miraculous preparation by a loving Heavenly Father to prepare His children to first understand, then internalize and love His plan and then be able to more naturally take that plan to others.
I am excited and thankful for the new mission leaders who will “go and do” beginning this summer (see 1 Nephi 3:7). The rest of you, check out “Preach My Gospel” on your Gospel Library app — don’t let it be a hidden and undiscovered treasure.
— Cheryl and Scott Taylor were mission leaders in the Arizona Phoenix Mission from 2011 to 2014. She is first counselor in her ward Relief Society presidency in Provo, Utah.
