Missionary Work

There were a couple of things that I felt were emphasized to me as I studied about missionary work this week in Doctrine and Covenants 30-36.  

First: missionary work is for everyone. In Section 30 we read of three brothers (David, Peter and John Whitmer) who were all given missionary assignments, but they differed in their scope and reach. David was told to start first in his father's home, then to minister to the church and finally to the world and regions round about (v. 4). His brother, Peter was asked to go on a journey to declare the gospel to the Lamanites (v. 5-6), and John was told to go to Phillip Burroughs' home and then to the region round about (v. 10). In these verses I see different places that missionary work can take place...

• In our own homes 
• Through our church callings. 
• Full-time mission (Peter was told to travel and share the gospel with the Native Americans)
• Through ministering (John was given a specific person to go to-like ministering assignments)

Second: companions are important. Peter Whitmer was told to go with Oliver Cowdery (v. 5), and they would be joined by Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson (Section 32).  In our homes, most of  us have a spouse. When we minister, we are assigned a companion. In most church callings you are linked to one or more people to work with. It is important to use these different "companions" we are given to help us in our missionary efforts because they each have been given different gifts, strengths, talents, knowledge, backgrounds and insights that can compliment what we have to offer. As we learn to combine our abilities, we can become more powerful and effective missionaries.

Third: declare gospel with the voice of a trumpet. I love the imagery of a trumpet that is used in connection to sharing the gospel (30:9, 33:2, 34:6, 36:1). To me this means that we should not be ashamed about our beliefs and what we are teaching, and in order to have that kind of confidence we need to be living what we are teaching. Trumpets are powerful instruments and they are not quiet. We can be powerful instruments for the Lord as we speak up and share our knowledge and testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. In history, trumpets have also been used to call soldiers to the battlefield. As we declare the gospel with the voice of the trumpet we are helping to gather the soldiers that God needs in His army to fight against Satan.

No matter what stage of life we are in, we can participate in missionary work and we can make a difference.