Missionary Work 1 Lack Of Love example essay topic

Brothers & Sisters we are privileged to be living in the most glorious of times, A time when all the generations of mankind come together. A time just before our Savior appears for his millennial reign. Think about that for a moment. Last General Conference in April our beloved Prophet spoke on this subject and reiterated the fact that these are perilous times.

We know this to be true. Dall in H. Oaks spoke on the signs of the times & our need to prepare for his 2nd coming. He told us there are 4 matters indisputable to Latter-day Saints. 1.

The Savior will return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during the millennium. 2 At the time of his coming there will be great destruction, a destruction of the wicked and a resurrection of the righteous. 3. No one knows the time of his coming, but, 4 the faithful are taught to study the signs and to be prepared for it. He focused primarily on the 4th with our need for spiritual preparation. He began the 4th topic with Alma 34: 32 "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God... the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" and he asked "Are we preparing?" Imagine that you are living just below a large dam.

One day you notice a crack in the dam. What would you do. Would you call someone to repair the crack or see what could be done to repair it? Later you see water leaking thru this crack and you realize that the dam soon will break. Would you mention casually to your family and friends that a problem exists or is developing? Or would you urgently do everything possible to warn others to escape the danger?

We should have much the same concern about sharing the saving truths of the gospel with those who have not yet heard them. We know the dam is about to break but do we see or feel the urgency D&C 88: 81 "It be cometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor". When we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and are baptized into his church we accept the responsibility of sharing it with others, particularly relatives and friends. Great blessings are promised the House of Israel. Some of us may not even comprehend these great blessings, - blessings of the priesthood, of exaltation, salvation and eternal life, the first resurrection, thrones, kingdoms, principalities, powers, dominions, to be gods and have eternal increase and have no end, even the angels are to be subject unto them, all power will be given unto them.

He has watched over and protected the House of Israel down thru the ages. We, you and I, are the House of Israel. This is the covenant made to Abraham but continued thru his son Isaac, then Jacob whose name was changed to Israel and he had 12 sons. But do you think about Abrahams other sons and daughters. Ishmael is also a son of Abraham by Hagar. Ishmael also had 12 sons and Esau who Jacob's brother and son of Isaac also took of Ishmael's daughters to wife.

After Sarah died, Abraham married Katsura and had 7 more sons and daughters. Many other people occupied the earth at the time of the Lord's covenant with Abraham. They also have descendants But only thru Jacob and his literal or by adoption descendants does Abraham's covenant continue But where much is given much is expected. And rightly so. Why? We may ask.

1 Nephi 15: 18 gives insight. The House of Israel is a peculiar treasure unto the Lord. "In the latter days all the nations, kindred, tongues and peoples are to be blessed by them". How, we may ask? Missionary work.

Sometimes we feel that we " re doing our part by feeding the missionaries and sending our sons or daughters out on full time missions or contributing to the missionary fund but this is not enough and doesn't full fill our requirements. Mark 16: 15 "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature"D&C 84: 74 "Those who have received the kingdom must preach it unto those who have not"1 Corinthians 9: 16 "necessity is laid upon me; yea woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel " Pay particular attention to this 1 Corinthians: "woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel". Do not suppose that he is not talking to you and me. Just as he gave Adam & Eve a commandment in the Garden of Eden to multiply and replenish the earth that is as binding on us as it was them. So is our individual and personal command to share the gospel The mission of the church is 3 fold.

Preach the gospel, redeem the dead and perfect the saints. The last is primarily done by laboring in the first two. Story of Enos Enos prayed so hard for a forgiveness of his sins, all day and into the night and once he had obtained an assurance of the forgiveness of his sins and immediately he becomes concerned for his brethren and his posterity. The Story of the sons of Mosiah. Once they had received a forgiveness of their sins, they to had a desire to bring souls unto Christ insomuch that they preached the gospel the rest of their lives.

Alma even gave up being a ruler and judge over them to go preach the gospel to them when they became wicked. Why would he do this? D&C 15: 6 "The thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to... bring souls unto Christ". Of all the things we can do, the most important is to bring souls unto him. Missionary Work. Mosiah 28: 3 "The sons of Mosiah could not bear that any human soul should perish.

We have the Book of Mormon because Enos couldn't bear that his posterity would be lost and not know the blessings of the Atonement and his great love for us. Each Sunday when we take the sacrament we promise to "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all places". This is sharing the gospel. During the sacrament prayer he promises us "we will have his Spirit more abundantly" as we do this. I personally can tell you this is absolutely the truth. All of us can share the gospel with others because of his Spirit.

Eternal Life is the reward for doing this. Think about that. 1 Nephi 13: 37 "Blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost". D&C 4 "The field is white already to harvest, and lo, he that thrust eth in his sickle with his might... bring eth salvation to his soul. We say, I'm too shy, I'm afraid, I don't have the time, I'm so busy doing other stuff. I don't want to offend them, I'll wait until they have a question.

I don't want to appear pushy. I don't want to lose them as a friend, I can't mix business and religion I'm afraid they won't like me. My example is good enough. When they " re ready the Lord will have them ask or send someone else to them, or even they " ll get it in the Spirit World and the list goes on. But these are only excuses. There are only 2 reasons for not doing missionary work -1. lack of love or 2. lack of faith and you can't have one without the other.

Missionary service requires love. We must love them and We must believe that they need the gospel. Do we really believe these are perilous times. Do we believe there is such a thing as ripened in iniquity?

What are the consequences of being ripened in iniquity? What happened to Sodom & Gomorrah? Do we really believe there is to be a greater and greater separation of the righteous from the wicked? Is conversion easier or harder as one becomes more and more immersed or addicted to sin?

Do we not believe the scriptures that this life is the time to prepare to meet God. As our love for others grow we think and pray about them and try to decide how to share the gospel with them. In Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life whose fruit was most desirable, people were pressing forward to obtain this fruit but some fell away into forbidden paths. We are told that the fruit represents the love of God. We know that God loves us. The question is "Do we love him and what are we doing to acquire this attribute of godliness".

Moroni 7: 48 "Pray with all the energy of heart that ye may be filled with this love". If we fail do missionary work then we must analyze why. Are we not filled with love for our fellowman? Do we not have enough faith?

Do we not have the vision, courage, time and patience to act on our plans. If not we should work on our faith and love more. The Scriptures tell us that love is a reward for personal righteousness. And that Faith also follows works. In other words as we keep the commandments our love for our fellowmen grows, then as we apply the things which we believe to be true, a confirming influence will bring us the knowledge that it is true. Belief plus action equals faith.

The Spirit of the Lord is the most important thing in missionary work. The Spirit will prepare the hearts of the nonmembers to receive the gospel and the Lord will help us know what to do and say. D&C 42: 14 "The spirit shall be given by the prayer of faith " Make a list of your non member friends and acquaintances and select 2 of them that you feel will most likely accept the gospel. Then prepare them. BY Strengthening your relationship with them Serving Them Sharing your testimony with them Inviting them to church Discussing the gospel and sharing literature Show them a video or invite them to family home evening.

After you have sensed that the nonmembers have felt the influence of the Spirit, invite them to hear the missionary discussions. Will you make a commitment and set a date to have someone prepared to take the missionary discussions. If you don't make it as a goal by writing it down and posting it where you see it frequently and talk to your Father in Heaven about it each morning when you arise and again each night when you retire, it becomes only a dream and will never become a reality. Make it a reality brothers and sisters. Don't be discouraged, you can do. I know you can do and the Lord knows you can do it, that's why you are of the House of Israel.

Know who you are - the best of Heavenly Father's children reserved to come forth at this point in time of all the generations of time for this express purpose because you are the best and because you can d.