Mormon Missionaries - Why They Serve
Why do Mormon missionaries put their lives on hold to serve a
mission for the Mormon Church? The answer as stated in 1907 by the
First Presidency of the Church is simple, "Our motives are not selfish;
our purposes not petty and earth-bound; we contemplate the human race,
past, present and yet to come, as immortal beings, for whose salvation
it is our mission to labor; and to this work, broad as eternity and
deep as the love of God, we devote ourselves, now, and forever."1
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe
that all men and women are brothers and sisters, spirit children of a
Heavenly Father. Because of this belief Mormon missionaries
feel compelled to share the message of the restored gospel to their
brothers and sisters around the world. Mormon missionaries are obeying
the call to serve so that all may "come unto Christ, and be perfected
in him."
2
Mormons
believe that the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is only found
within the Mormon Church. It is only through the saving ordinances
administered through the power of the Priesthood that a person can be
saved in the kingdom of God.
Some may wonder why Mormon missionaries preach to Christians and
non-Christians alike. Elder Oaks explained to a leader of an Orthodox
Church, "We preach to believers as well as unbelievers because our
message, the restored gospel, makes an important addition to the
knowledge, happiness, and peace of all mankind. As a matter of
practicality, we preach to believers as well as unbelievers because we
cannot tell the difference." 3
Mormon missionaries
carry forth the idea presented by a former president of the Mormon
Church. "We have come not to take away from you the truth and virtue
you possess... but we have come here as your brethren … and to say to
you: ‘Keep all the good that you have, and let us bring to you more
good, in order that you may be happier and in order that you may be
prepared to enter into the presence of our Heavenly Father." 4
Mormon missionaries strive to bring people everywhere to the truth.
Their desire is that each person may experience the joy that the gospel
of Christ brings as they develop a lasting relationship with Jesus
Christ and forge eternal bonds with their family within a Mormon temple.
For more information about Mormon missionaries follow the links below:
Mormon Missionaries - LDS.About.com
Mormon Missionaries - BBC Religion & Ethics
LDS Mission Network
Mormon Missionary - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly - Cover Story - God's Army: Mormon Missionaries
DearElder.com - A fantastic way to write your LDS Missionary
Columbia News Service: A Token Sermon: Manhattan Mormon Missionaries
Mormon Missionary: Information from Answers.com
Mormon Missionaries - AboutMormonism.com
LDS Missions.com
(1) Conference Report, Apr. 1907, appendix, p. 16.
(2) Moroni 10:32
(3) Dallin H. Oaks, “Have You Been Saved?” Ensign, May 1998, 55
(4) Sharing the Gospel with Others, comp. Preston Nibley, Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1
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