Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take seriously the commandment given by Jesus Christ to His disciples shortly before His ascension to “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Having experienced greater peace, purpose, and other temporal and spiritual blessings in their lives because of the gospel, members of the Church want to share their joy with others through missionary work.
Missionary work takes on many different forms. Full-time missionaries serve for a period of eighteen months to two years in countries all over the world. They talk to people about the gospel, teach those who are interested in learning more, and support local branches of the Church. Many BYU students plan to serve or have served full-time missions. The experiences these returned missionaries bring back with them contribute to the spiritually strengthening atmosphere of the campus, its linguistic and cultural diversity, and to an increased skillset for students that can help them in employment and other endeavors. Many of these BYU devotionals help young men and women prepare for full-time missionary service or remember and retain the growth they experienced on their missions. Some older addresses were given to a combined audience of BYU students and missionaries in the Language Training Mission (now the Provo Missionary Training Center).
However, missionary work is not limited to full-time missionaries. Young men and women who desire to serve God through missionary service but are unable to do so for health reasons are able to serve through service missions in community and Church organizations. Additionally, married couples may be called to preside over one of the Church’s many missions or may be called to serve as a senior couple. As many of these talks attest, any member of the Church can be a “member missionary” by setting an example of gospel living, reaching out in friendship and service to others, having the confidence to share their beliefs, and supporting new converts or less-active members. Those who do so are blessed with stronger testimonies, deeper friendships, and greater gospel understanding, regardless of whether their friends join the Church. By sharing these encouraging addresses and preparing students to be member missionaries wherever they live, we strive to inspire more Church members to love, serve, and share their faith with those around them, and to extend the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone.
