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We Are All
Missionaries by
Ed J. Pinegar
We are
all missionaries...for good or ill. We are duty bound to stand as
a witnesses for our Savior (see Mosiah 18:8-9) and pray for all
those who know not God (see Alma 6:6) and warn our neighbors (see
D&C 88:81) and be the salt of the earth and Saviors on Mount
Zion (see D&C 103:9-10).
You are a disciple
of Jesus Christ. Elder Bruce R. McConkie has said of your commission:
I am called
of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth.
By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative
of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master and He has chosen me
to represent Him. To stand in His place, to say and do what He
himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to
the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice,
and my acts are His acts; my words are His words and my doctrine
is His doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants done. To
say what He wants said. To be a living modern witness in word
and deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous latter-day
work (How Great Is My Calling [address delivered while serving
as president of the Australian Mission, 1961–64]).
As missionaries
and missionary leaders we talk of Christ, we preach of Christ, we
testify of Christ. All of us who are serving the Lord in the mission
field are His disciples and ambassadors. The light that we hold
(see 3 Ne. 18:24) is the Lord Jesus Christ. As Elder Hans B. Ringger
so eloquently explains:
The foundation
and guiding light for all our decisions is the gospel of Jesus
Christ and His message to the world. The teachings of Christ must
be embedded in our desire to choose the right and in our wish
to find happiness. His righteous life must be reflected in our
own actions. The Lord not only teaches love, He is love. He not
only preached the importance of faith, repentance, baptism, and
the gift of the Holy Ghost, He lived accordingly. His life reflected
the gospel that He preached. There was and is total harmony between
His thoughts and His actions (“Choose You This Day,”
Ensign, May 1990, 25).
We cannot bear
testimony of this Church and this kingdom without knowing Jesus
Christ, the Savior of the world. When we know Christ, we can hold
up His light; He is the light and the life of the world (see John
8:12). And when we hold up that light, then we truly become His
disciples.
In 3 Nephi
Jesus Christ tells His disciples that they are “the light
of this people," (3 Ne. 12:14) and He explains that they will
bless all of Heavenly Father's children. Earlier, Christ had instructed
the Nephites not to put their light under a bushel, but to put it
"on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the
house" (3 Ne. 12:15). That same instruction applies to each
of us: when we possess the light of Jesus Christ, we must not put
it under a bushel. That light must be held up, and then—and
only then—will we be true and worthy representatives of our
Savior, Jesus Christ.
President Gordon
B. Hinckley observed that we represent Christ’s army:
In this work
there must be commitment. There must be devotion. We are engaged
in a great eternal struggle that concerns the very souls of the
sons and daughters of God. We are not losing. We are winning.
We will continue to win if we will be faithful and true. We can
do it. We must do it. We will do it. There is nothing the Lord
has asked of us that in faith we cannot accomplish (“The
War We Are Winning,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 44).
We are charged
to be His soldiers, to find and help save our brothers and sisters.
Each one of us needs help. Sister Pinegar's my keeper, and she works
hard to help me do what's right. I pray that each of you will seek
to be shepherds like Christ, to be your brothers' and sisters' keeper,
and as you work to help each other, remember: "Inasmuch as
ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me" (Matt. 25:40).
We must not
be manipulative salespeople. We must be disciples of Christ. All
the knowledge and skills we learn must be magnified by the power
of God, by the attributes of Christ, by the Spirit of the Lord,
by the mind and will of the Lord.
THE
POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST
If I would
pray for anything for the missionaries scattered all over the world,
I would pray that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon them with
such power that they would never, ever want to do anything wrong
again. When we're filled with the power of the Holy Ghost, we simply
cannot sin. That's why the Nephite nation, in 3 Nephi 19:9, prayed
"for that which they most desired; and they desired that the
Holy Ghost should be given unto them."
Why would the
Nephites desire the Holy Ghost so fervently? Elder Parley P. Pratt
answered this question when he described the extraordinary characteristics
of this remarkable power:
The gift
of the Holy Ghost . . . quickens all the intellectual faculties,
increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions
and affections, and adapts them by the gift of wisdom to their
lawful use. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness,
gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and
features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling.
It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical
and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives tone
to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone,
joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life
to the whole being (Key to the Science of Theology, 101–2).
So all you
need for a strong testimony is the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Just because you can’t move a mountain yet, don't ever think
your testimony isn't strong, because it is. Every testimony that's
born is not born of man, but born of God by the power of the Holy
Ghost. When we bear testimony it's not you or me; it's the Spirit
of God, and that's powerful.
I received
a weekly letter when I was a Mission President that went like this....
"Dear President Pinegar," it started, "We didn't
know what we were doing. We didn't know which way was up, but we
took ten copies of the Book of Mormon, we placed ten copies, and
we have nine referrals. Is that pretty good?"
Pretty good?
This elder didn't know all the dialogues. He didn't know every word
to say. But he loved the Lord and loved the person he was talking
to, and when he bore testimony of the Book of Mormon, that testimony
went into the other person's heart. "For when a man speaketh
by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth
it unto the hearts of the children of men" (2 Ne. 33:1).
Each missionary
has been called of God. Do you understand the magnitude of that?
You've taken upon yourself sacred covenants. You've been empowered
from on high. In my eyes, you're wonderful. If you abhor sin, and
you are like Nephi of old, you will with unwearyingness want to
be obedient. With unwearyingness you will want to be kind to your
companion, even when he or she doesn't deserve it. With unwearyingness
you'll say your prayers; you'll do every needful thing. With unwearyingness
and perseverance you'll do those things you've covenanted to do
(see Hel. 10:4–6).
As missionaries,
you must teach the Lord's word from His book, for these are the
scriptures of the Restoration. When you look into the eyes of your
investigators and testify, "It's true, I beg of you to read
it. I testify," then they will believe.
You enter the
mission field to find, teach, and baptize. There is no hope for
anyone on this earth unless they receive the covenants of the priesthood
of God through baptism and the holy temple. You can be friendly
and kind and loving, and that is good. But you must testify with
power to bring people to Christ—the Spirit is that power.
HUMILITY
AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH
As part of
the perfection process, the Book of Mormon instructs us that we
must be humble or we will not learn (see 2 Ne. 9:42). And in Ether
we are told that becoming humble is part of the process of learning,
recognizing our weaknesses, and becoming strong and great in the
Lord's hands. Humility is essential to that process: “And
if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give
unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient
for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble
themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak
things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).
Certainly the
people in the Book of Mormon had a hard time with humility, and
we have a hard time, too. But we are told that when God loves a
people, He chastens them (see Hebrews 12:6). Chastening often results
in humility, and we cannot grow without humility.
Humility is
the beginning virtue or the precursor of all spiritual growth. Until
we are humble, we cannot grow. Elder Richard G. Scott describes
this virtue in even greater detail:
Humility
is the precious, fertile soil of righteous character. It germinates
the seeds of personal growth. When cultivated through the exercise
of faith, pruned by repentance, and fortified by obedience and
good works, such seeds produce the cherished fruit of spirituality
(see Alma 26:22). Divine inspiration and power then result. Inspiration
is to know the will of the Lord. Power is the capability to accomplish
that inspired will. (See D&C 43:15–16.) Such power comes
from God after we have done "all we can do" (see 2 Ne.
25:23) (“The Plan of Happiness and Exaltation,” Ensign,
Nov. 1981, 11).
You recall
when Alma was teaching the Zoramites; many were humbled because
they were cast out of the synagogue. And it was those who were cast
out of the synagogue who listened to Alma and his message (see Alma
31–32). The wealthy and haughty Zoramites, those climbing
up on the Rameumpton and praying, did not hear the word of God or
feel the Spirit of the Lord. Humility is the key to our ability.
As missionaries,
your hearts will resonate to President Lorenzo Snow's observation:
“The Lord has not chosen the great and learned of the world
to perform His work on the earth . . . but humble men [and women]
devoted to His cause . . . who are willing to be led and guided
by the Holy Spirit and who will of necessity give the glory unto
Him, knowing that of themselves they can do nothing” (Teachings
of Lorenzo Snow, 77).
Humility leads
to righteousness and goodness. That's why I just love to be around
missionaries, teaching them, because missionaries are so willing
to accept the teachings of the Lord. I tingle when I think what
a great honor and joy it is to work among the missionaries; their
righteousness and willingness is inspiring and touching.
I think of
two missionaries in specific, a companionship I worked with when
I was mission president. These two elders were my assistants. "President,"
they said, "we've only got a month left. We're training the
new assistants, and they're doing really well. President, please
let us go teach and baptize." In other words, they didn't want
the honor of being assistants to the president or any other honors
of men. "Let us just go find and teach," they said. "President,
we feel the power of God is upon us." And with that commitment
and their strong desire, they went out and joyfully baptized twenty
three people in one month.
How was that
possible? Simple: it happened because of the humility of two missionaries
who gave themselves to the Lord and asked every day, "Father,
what would thou have us do?" And then they went out and did
it.
Of course,
no matter how great we are, it doesn't mean we don't need to change.
None of us are perfect. But it does mean that we are willing to
serve, and that we are submitting to the Lord—giving Him the
gift of our hearts. Whenever the people in the Book of Mormon were
prideful or disobedient, the Lord would work with them to bring
about humility so they could grow. Sometimes if the people were
doing well, the Lord would send prophets who would exhort them to
be better. Sometimes they became wicked, sinking into sinful behavior,
and the Lord would still exhort them. Sometimes the people would
change, and sometimes they wouldn't. Our challenge is to learn from
their experiences and always be willing to change.
EVALUATING
OUR LIVES AND BECOMING LIKE CHRIST
We grow and
become like Christ through recognizing where we are and what we
need to do. Once we evaluate our lives, we set goals and make plans
to keep the commandments and the covenants we have made. Unfortunately,
some of us never recognize where we are because we never take the
time to evaluate our lives. Every day should be an evaluating day,
a goal setting and plan making day, and a living day.
In Alma 5,
Alma the Younger asks the people to consider at least forty three
questions about their spiritual progress. Can you imagine the scene?
Alma was speaking
by way of commandment to Church members, reminding them of the goodness
of God in their lives. He asked the people (and I'm paraphrasing),
"Has a remembrance of the captivity of your fathers brought
you to remember the mercy and long suffering of God towards you?
Do you realize He delivered your soul from hell?" Alma 5 is
the great evaluation chapter—a great example of the questions
we can ask ourselves as we're evaluating our own lives.
Alma continues,
reminding the people that God "changed their hearts; yea, he
awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold,
they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were
illuminated by the light of the everlasting word" (v. 7). Our
souls, too, are illuminated by the everlasting word.
"Yea,"
Alma continues, "they were encircled about by the bands of
death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did
await them" (v. 7).
And then Alma
talks about experiencing a mighty change of heart, and asks those
in the congregation if they had been spiritually born of God (see
v. 14).
Can you imagine
that? He's talking to Church members (like us), asking if they realize
that it’s not enough to just be baptized and receive the Holy
Ghost; he's saying that we must be spiritually born of God.
In verse 13
Alma observes: "And behold, [Alma the Elder] preached the word
unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their
hearts and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true
and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore
they were saved." Notice how it is humility, being meek and
lowly, that creates a place for the word in our hearts, and the
word then brings a willingness to change.
There are more
treasures in Alma 5. Through the Spirit and revelation, Alma asks
the people if they've been stripped of envy and pride. He asks who
mocks or persecutes others. Listen to the fate of someone who belittles
another one of Heavenly Father's children: "Wo unto such an
one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must
repent or he cannot be saved!" (v. 31).
Alma pleads
with all of his heart, and I plead with all of my heart, that we
all might listen to the words of Christ and examine ourselves as
suggested in Alma 5.
As did Alma,
I also speak by way of command to you, the disciples of Christ.
We must honestly look at ourselves and evaluate our lives and actions.
Each day we can say, "I am a divine child of God, and I can
be better each day, a step at a time." Don't overwhelm yourself;
but whether you're nineteen or ninety-nine, each day strive to be
better than you were the day before.
Oh, you missionaries
are so good! You'll increase in your faith because you’ll
have a vision of who you are. You'll possess the pure love of Christ
because you know who you are. You'll choose to be exactly obedient
because you love your God.
Each day I
pray that you'll take a moment to look in the mirror (maybe the
mirror could even have a picture of Christ taped to it) and evaluate
your life. Then go and do as Jesus would do. Every day, let us be
as the Savior, Jesus Christ, would have us be. And what manner of
men and women ought we to be? The Savior tells us: "Therefore
I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who
is in heaven is perfect" (3 Ne. 12:48).
Now is the
time, and you are the ones who are instruments in the hands of God
to bring souls unto Christ.
Ed
J. Pinegar graduated
from BYU in 1956 with a degree in chemistry and mathematics. He
played basketball and tennis for BYU. He attended dental school
at the University of Southern California and graduated in 1961.
Between 1962 and 1964 he served as a Captain in the United States
Army. While attending dental school, he taught early morning seminary.
Upon returning to Provo to begin his dental practice, he again taught
early morning seminary and taught the Book of Mormon and Gospel
Principles and Practices at BYU for 18 years. Brother Pinegar recently
retired from the faculty at the Orem Institute of Religion at Utah
Valley State College.
Some
of Brother Pinegar's former Church callings include: member of the
General Board for Young Men and Aaronic Priesthood; President of
the England London South Mission, President of the Missionary Training
Center in Provo Utah; and member of the Missionary Programs Advisory
Committee, Temple Sealer and Bishop (twice) and presently serves
as President of the BYU 20th Stake and as a Church Service Missionary
at the Senior MTC.
Brother
Pinegar is the author of several LDS books, including You, Your
Family and the Scriptures, Fatherhood, The Mighty Change (with
Elaine Cannon), Called to Serve Him, and Preparing
for Your Missionand most recently The Ultimate Missionary
Companion andLatter Day Commentary on the Old Testament,
Lengthen Your Shuffle and soon to be released Leadership for Saints
and Latter-day Commentary on the New testament gospels . He
has also produced numerous talk tapes including many "Especially
for Missionaries." He has taught in many Continuing Education programs
and was a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from the
Division in 1979. He also received the Outstanding Young Man of
the Year Award and Service to Mankind Award and in 1998 received
the Donald Sloan Speaker Award from BYU.
Brother
Pinegar is married to Patricia Peterson, who was recently released
as General President of the Primary for the Church, and they are
the parents of eight children and have thirty-two grandchildren
and one great-grand child.
