Becoming a Preach My

Gospel Missionary
BY ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From a devotional address given at the Provo Missionary Training Center on June 24,
2011.

I am delighted to be with you in this sacred setting. Thank you for your faithfulness, for
your preparation, and for your goodness. The entire world will be influenced for good
because of you and the work of the Lord in which you are now and will continue to be
engaged.
I bring to you the love and blessings of President Thomas S. Monson, his counselors,
and of all my associates in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. An Apostle is first,
foremost, and always a missionary. For that reason, I am especially pleased to greet
you as fellow servants in this magnificent latter-day work.
The topic I have chosen to address in this devotional is Becoming a Preach My
Gospel Missionary. I will begin by briefly defining what a Preach My Gospel missionary
is and then describing five fundamental requirements for becoming Preach My
Gospel missionaries.
I earnestly pray the Holy Ghost will inspire and help each of us to learn what is needful
in our lives as we consider together this important topic.

What Is a Preach My Gospel Missionary?

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 Saviors everlasting and
restored gospel (see D&C 68:1) in His way (see D&C 50:1314, 1724).
Please note the similarity between this definition and your overarching purpose as a
missionary described in Preach My Gospel: 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 (Preach My Gospel, 1).
The prophet Mormon used slightly different language to describe the essence of
a Preach My Gospel missionary in his generation: Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people,
that they might have everlasting life (3 Nephi 5:13).
Thus, elders and sisters, the basic purpose and functions of missionaries always have
been and always will be the same. Today we frequently use the term a Preach My
Gospel missionary, but the sacred responsibility to proclaim authoritatively the gospel
and administer the saving ordinances has been in operation since Adam was driven
from the Garden of Eden and will continue until the Great Jehovah shall say the work is
done (Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 4:540).

Requirements to Become Preach My

Gospel Missionaries
I now want to discuss five basic requirements for becoming Preach My
Gospel missionaries. Preach My Gospel missionaries:
1. Understand that they serve and represent Jesus Christ.
2. Are worthy.
3. Treasure up the words of eternal life.
4. Understand the Holy Ghost is the ultimate and true teacher.
5. Understand teaching is much more than talking and telling.

Requirement #1: Preach My

Gospel missionaries understand that they
serve and represent Jesus Christ.
Preach My Gospel missionaries know and understand whom they represent, why they
serve, and what they are to do. Full-time missionaries are called to serve and properly
set apart by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the
ordinances thereof (Articles of Faith 1:5). In this sacred calling, we are servants and
representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pledged in the waters of baptism our
willingness to take upon ourselves His name. We pray to our Heavenly Father in His
name. By virtue of the holy priesthood, the brethren perform saving ordinances and
bless in His name. And as full-time missionaries, we bear witness of His name and of
the reality, divinity, and mission of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and
people (see D&C 133:37). We authoritatively bind up the law and seal up the
testimony (D&C 88:84) among the inhabitants of the earth in preparation for the
Second Coming of the Savior.
We love the Lord. We serve Him. We follow Him. We represent Him.

As we serve, we do not represent our families, our friends, our branches or wards, or
our communities or nations. Rather, we represent Him. His purposes must be our
purposes. His interests should be our interests. His work should be our work. His ways
should be our ways. His will increasingly should become our will.
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 do not dwell upon the unknowable mysteries in our
personal study or in lessons with investigators. We proclaim and testify of simple
restored truth in the Lords way and by the power of His Spirit.
Preach My Gospel missionaries understand that the responsibility to represent the
Savior and to bear testimony of Him never ends. When the day arrives for an honorable
release as a full-time missionary, you will depart from a field of labor and return to your
familybut you will not cease being and becoming a missionary. A release as a fulltime missionary is a call to serve as a lifelong missionary. And Preach My
Gospel missionaries honor, always, this sacred obligation.
Please remember Him in all that you think, in all that you do, and in all that you strive
to become, and represent Him appropriately to all of Heavenly Fathers children with
whom you interact now and always.

Requirement #2: Preach My

Gospel missionaries are worthy.
In the 18th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith,
Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer the calling and mission of the Twelve Apostles in
the latter days. The revelation includes this direct and powerful admonition: You must
walk uprightly before me and sin not (v. 31). This inspired instruction applies equally
to you. Thus, an essential prerequisite to becoming Preach My Gospel missionaries is
personal worthiness before the Savior.
Proclaiming the gospel is priesthood work and is dependent upon the powers of
heaven.
The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven,
and the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles
of righteousness.
That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our
sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or
compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness,
behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it
is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man (D&C 121:3637).
The fact that proclaiming the gospel is a priesthood responsibility and duty does not in
any way overlook nor minimize the consecrated service of you faithful sisters. Rather, it
highlights the divine authority by which this holy work is governed and directed and

emphasizes the sacred obligation that rests upon all men who receive the holy
priesthood (see Abraham 2:811). I thank you sisters for all you have done and will yet
do to build and strengthen the Lords kingdom.
Now, let me state several simple truths just as clearly as I know how.

We are authorized representatives of the Redeemer and Savior of the world.

We are called to declare His restored and everlasting gospel.

We cannot be stained with the spots of the world and authoritatively represent Him
and act with power in His holy name.
We cannot help others to overcome the bondage of sin if we ourselves are
entangled in sin (see D&C 88:86).
We cannot help others learn to repent if we ourselves have not learned to repent
properly and completely.

We can proclaim and preach with power only that which we are striving to become.

We will be held accountable before God for our righteous desires and worthiness to
act as His agents.
Elders and sisters, we obviously are not required presently to be perfect. But we are
commanded to be clean and to walk uprightly before the Redeemer of Israel. Be ye
clean that bear the vessels of the Lord (D&C 38:42).
Repentance is a principle of hope and healingnot of discouragement and despair.
Repentance indeed is humblingbut not frightening. Repentance is simultaneously
demanding and comforting, rigorous and soothing. Repentance is a priceless gift made
possible through the Atonement of Him whom we love, serve, and follow. As we
exercise faith in the Savior and apply the principle of repentance in our own lives, we
become new creatures in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), have no more disposition to
do evil (Mosiah 5:2), and are filled with a desire to serve him with all [our] heart,
might, mind and strength (D&C 4:2; see also D&C 59:5).
If you have committed serious sins, I declare my apostolic witness that through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ and sincere repentance you have been or can again be made
clean and worthyeven clean every whit (John 13:10). Come now, and let us reason
together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).
Within the sound of my voice are elders and sisters who yet need fully to repent. The
time is now. Please, please, please do not procrastinate the day of your repentance.
Within the sound of my voice are elders and sisters who have repented and are
continuing to repent and who wonder if they have done all that is necessary to be
accepted of the Lord (see D&C 97:8). Please remember, the Lord requires you to be
clean but not perfect. The Holy Ghost operating again in your life is the surest indicator

of forgiveness by the Lord because the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy
temples (Helaman 4:24). And recognize that the mandate to forgive all men (D&C
64:10) includes forgiving yourself.
My beloved elders and sisters and couples, as you become clean vessels you can with
appropriate assurance invite all to come unto Christ (see Moroni 10:3032), to receive
the ordinances of salvation, and to endure in faith to the end.
Preach My Gospel missionaries are covenant-honoring and commandment-obeying
disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please always remember Him and be pure and worthy
to represent Him.

Requirement #3: Preach My

Gospel missionaries treasure up the words of
eternal life.
In the early days of this dispensation, the Lord counseled His missionaries to treasure
up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour
that portion that shall be meted unto every man (D&C 84:85). I invite you to consider
the importance of the active admonition to treasure up.
Treasuring up the words of eternal life is more than merely studying or memorizing, just
as feasting upon the word[s] of Christ (2 Nephi 31:20; see also 2 Nephi 32:3) is more
than simply sampling or snacking. Treasuring up suggests to me focusing and working,
exploring and absorbing, pondering and praying, applying and learning, valuing and
appreciating, and enjoying and relishing. (Do you have a favorite dessert or treat in
which you take great delight and pleasure? That is exactly what I mean by relish.)
Recall how the sons of Mosiahfour truly remarkable missionaries named Ammon,
Aaron, Omner, and Himnihad waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they
were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently,
that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to
much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of
revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God (Alma
17:23). These valiant missionaries truly treasured up continually the words of eternal
life.
And because the sons of Mosiah did not neglect or simply go through the motions of
individual and companion scripture study, because the doctrines and principles of the
gospel were confirmed in their hearts as true by the power of the Holy Ghost, because
this spiritual knowledge and understanding penetrated deep into their own souls, they
became Preach My Gospel missionaries. As Ammon described:
Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast
of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold,
many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name
forever.
Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and
they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word
which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice? (Alma 26:1213;
emphasis added).

Ammon was a Preach My Gospel missionary who treasured up continually the words of
eternal life and had the power of the word in him. And you and I need to follow the
example of Ammon.
As representatives of the Savior, you and I have the ongoing responsibility to work
diligently and to implant in our hearts and minds the fundamental doctrines and
principles of the restored gospel, especially from the Book of Mormon. As we do so, the
promised blessing is that the Holy Ghost will bring all things to [our] remembrance
(John 14:26) and empower us as we teach and testify. But, elders and sisters, the Spirit
can work with and through us only if we give Him something with which to work. He
cannot help us remember things we have not learned.
And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do
that which was justyea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people
than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto themtherefore Alma
thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God (Alma
31:5; emphasis added).
Preach My Gospel missionaries treasure up continually the words of eternal life, they
rely upon the virtue of the word, and they have the power of the word in them. Please
always remember Him, always be worthy to represent Him, and treasure up and rely
upon the virtue of the word.

Requirement #4: Preach My

Gospel missionaries understand the Holy
Ghost is the ultimate and true teacher.
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, and He is the witness of all truth
and the ultimate and true teacher. We should always remember that the Spirit of the
Lord can enter into an investigators heart, when invited through sincere desire and
faithfulness, and confirm the truthfulness of the doctrines we preach and the principles
he or she is endeavoring to learn and live. Indeed, you and I as missionaries have the
responsibility to preach the gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter, as a prerequisite
for the learning by faith that is obtained only by and through the Holy Ghost (see D&C
50:14). But the lessons we teach and the testimonies we bear are preparatory to an
investigator acting and learning for himself or herself.
As missionaries, one of our most important roles is to invite investigators to exercise
their moral agency and act in accordance with the teachings of the Savior. Making and
keeping spiritual commitments, such as praying for a witness of the truth, studying and
praying about the Book of Mormon, attending Church meetings, and keeping the
commandments, require an investigator to exercise faith, to act, and to change.
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. Teaching, exhorting, explaining, and
testifying, as important as they are, can never convey to an investigator a witness of
the truthfulness of the restored gospel. Our best efforts can only bring the message of
truth unto the heart (see 2 Nephi 33:1). Ultimately, an investigator needs to act in
righteousness and thereby invite the truth into his or her own heart. Only in this way
can honest seekers of truth and new converts develop the spiritual capacity to find

answers for themselves and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,
and in all places (Mosiah 18:9).
Preach My Gospel missionaries obviously must learn to teach by the power of the Spirit.
Of equal importance, however, is the responsibility to help investigators learn by faith
and by the power of the Holy Ghost. In this regard, you and I are much like the long,
thin strands of glass used to create fiber optic cables through which light signals are
transmitted over very long distances. Just as the glass in these cables must be pure to
conduct the light efficiently and effectively, so we should become and remain worthy
conduits through whom the Spirit of the Lord can operate. But elders and sisters, we
must be careful to remember in our service that we are conduits and channels; we are
not the light. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in
you (Matthew 10:20).
This work is never about me and it is never about you. We need to do all in our power
to fulfill our missionary responsibility and simultaneously get out of the way so the
Holy Ghost can perform His sacred function and work. In fact, anything you or I do as
representatives of the Savior that knowingly and intentionally draws attention to self
in the messages we present, in the methods we use, or in our personal demeanor and
appearanceis a form of priestcraft that inhibits the teaching effectiveness of the Holy
Ghost.
Doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? And if it be by some other
way it is not of God (D&C 50:1718).
For example, goals are worthwhile and help in accomplishing the Lords work. But if we
achieve goals primarily to receive praise and recognition from our families and friends,
from other missionaries, or from Church leaders, then we are practicing priestcraft
and we need to repent. Preach My Gospel missionaries are focused upon helping
Heavenly Fathers children worthily receive the covenants and ordinances necessary to
return to Him, and they are not focused on compiling impressive statistics that
supposedly make them look good.
Righteous influence is important in building the Lords kingdom on the earth. But if we
aspire to leadership positions in the mission and believe the principal measure of a
missionarys success is reflected in serving as a district or zone leader or as an
assistant to the president, then we are seeking to gratify our pride and vain ambitions
and we need to repent. Preach My Gospel missionaries serve well wherever and
whenever they are assigned and are not unduly concerned about prominence, position,
or prestige.
Persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness and meekness, and love unfeigned (see D&C
121:41) are the Lords ways of inviting all to come unto Him. But if we preach, invite,
and testify in ways that control, manipulate, or exploit an investigator, then we are
exercising unrighteousness dominion and compulsion and we need to repent. Preach
My Gospel missionaries strive to accomplish the Lords work the Lords wayand do
not stubbornly insist on doing things their own way. As John the Baptist testified, He
[the Lord] must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).
Strive to apply in your ministry this timeless counsel from Paul:

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1
Corinthians 2:15).
Preach My Gospel missionaries understand the Holy Ghost is the ultimate and true
teacher, consistently do their best to get out of the way, and avoid and overcome
priestcraft, vanity, and unrighteous dominion as they serve and represent the Lord.
Please always remember Him, be worthy to represent Him, treasure up His word, and
allow the ultimate and true teacher, the Holy Ghost, to witness of all truth.

Requirement #5: Preach My

Gospel missionaries understand teaching is
much more than talking and telling.
As the Savior sat on the Mount of Olives over against the temple with Peter, James,
John, and Andrew, He declared: And the gospel must first be published among all
nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand
what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in
that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost (Mark 13:10
11).
This same pattern for preaching was reiterated repeatedly by the Savior in the early
days of this dispensation as He instructed missionaries to open your mouths and they
shall be filled (D&C 33:8, 10) and to lift up your voices unto this people; speak the
thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;
for it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say
(D&C 100:56).
Please notice in these scriptural instructions the important sequence of first acting in
faith (open your mouths or lift up your voices) before receiving a promised blessing
(they shall be filled; you will not be confounded). Interestingly, many of us routinely
seek for precisely the opposite; we pray and ask for the blessing so we can act in faith
(first fill our mouths so we can open them). But that is not the Lords way or pattern.
Faith precedes the miracle, and ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith
(Ether 12:6).
These scriptures emphasize a most demanding and exacting pattern for preaching and
helping investigators to learn truth. Preach My Gospel missionaries know we do not

teach lessons; we teach people. We do not merely recite or present memorized

messages about gospel topics. We invite seekers of truth to experience the mighty
change of heart. We understand that talking and telling alone are not teaching.
Preaching the gospel the Lords way includes observing and listening and discerning as
prerequisites to talking. The sequence of these four interrelated processes is
significant. Please note that active observing and listening precede discerning and that
observing, listening, and discerning come before speaking. Employing this pattern
enables missionaries to identify and teach to the needs of investigators.
As we observe, listen, and discern, we can be given in the very hour that portion that
shall be meted unto every man (D&C 84:85)the truths to emphasize and the
answers to give that will meet the specific needs of a particular investigator. Only by
observing, listening, and discerning can we be guided by the Spirit to say and do the
things that will be most helpful to those whom we serve.
I hope you are beginning to appreciate why (1) understanding whom we represent, (2)
worthiness, (3) treasuring up, and (4) getting out of the way so the Holy Ghost can
teach are essential to using effectively the Lords pattern of preaching.
Mormon, the principal compiler of the Book of Mormon, is described as being quick to
observe (Mormon 1:2). Recall that Ammaron counseled the youthful Mormon to both
remember and record all of the things he had observed concerning his people
(see Mormon 1:15). His ability to look, to notice, to respond, and to obey provides an
impressive example for us to study and follow.
Being quick to observe is a vital preparation to receive the spiritual gift of discernment.
Discernment is seeing with spiritual eyes and feeling with the heartseeing and feeling
the falsehood of an idea, the goodness in another person, or the next principle that is
needed to aid an investigator. Discerning is hearing with spiritual ears and feeling with
the hearthearing and feeling the unspoken concern in a comment or question, the
truthfulness of a testimony or doctrine, or the assurance and peace that come by the
power of the Holy Ghost.
I frequently have heard President Boyd K. Packer counsel members and priesthood
leaders: If all you know is what you see with your natural eyes and hear with your
natural ears, then you will not know very much. His penetrating observation should
help all of us to appropriately desire and seek for these spiritual gifts of observing,
listening, and discerning.
Many of us have learned to teach without conscientiously observing, listening, or
discerning. We simply talk and tell. 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. Please always remember Him, be worthy to represent Him,
treasure up His word, allow the Holy Ghost to witness all truth, and observe, listen, and
discern as you testify of Jesus Christ to honest seekers of truth.

You Can Do This!

You may listen to and ponder my message, look around at this vast army of
missionaries, and believe that all of the other elders and sisters and couples are doing
and will do what I have been describing. But you may be wondering if you can do it!
Please listen. You can do this!
Several years ago I was invited to counsel a man who was struggling to live the Word of
Wisdom. We met and talked about his challenges following a Saturday evening session
of a stake conference. As I walked into the stake presidents office and greeted this
man, I shook his hand and drew him close to me. I then said, I am an Apostle of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and He sent me to this stake this weekend to tell you that you can do
this. The Savior knows you can do this. As His servant, I know you can do this. And as
His representative, I promise you will have His help. The man was sincere and
conscientious in applying the principles we discussed and was blessed to make great
progress in keeping the commandments.
If I had the wish of my heart, I would take a few moments with each of you individually.
I would shake your hand, draw you close, look you in the eyes, and say, You can do
this! The Lord you represent and serve knows you can do this. I know you can do this.
And as His servant, I promise you will have His help. Please remember always that with
His help and in His strength, you can do this!
I love you and pray you truly will become powerful and effective representatives of the
Lord Jesus Christ. To you, my fellow servants, I declare my apostolic witness that
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. I know and witness Jesus is the Christ, the Only
Begotten Son of the Eternal Father; He is our Savior and Redeemer. I testify the Father
and the Son appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and that the
fulness of the gospel has been restored to the earth in these latter days. The Book of
Mormon is the word of God. I witness priesthood authority and keys also have been
returned to the earth by heavenly messengers. I know President Thomas S. Monson is
the senior Apostle and the only person on the earth who both holds and is authorized
to exercise all priesthood keys. My beloved associates in this work, all of these things
are true; they are all true.
I invoke upon you every spiritual capacity and blessing that you may need to more fully
understand that you represent and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. And I promise that as
you strive to become what you need to become, you will recognize and respond in faith
to His voice and guidance. You can do this!
I declare my witness and invoke these blessings and promises upon you in the sacred
name of Him whom we serve and represent, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.