The Covenant Responsibilities of Missionary Work

Good afternoon brothers and sisters, I’m incredibly grateful to be with you and for the opportunity that I have to serve with you and work with you amazing people in the greatest work on earth.

There once was a man, a man that the Lord gave great extraordinary gifts and remarkable talents to, a man who was gifted, a man who didn’t understand the great eternal weight given to him, a man that worried due to risk of vulnerability, a man who wanted to conserve and conceal what he had, a man that feared greatly, a man who despite his remarkable eternal potential and gifts failed to understand their significance, a man whom the Lord wishes he would trust and follow him—yet the Lord’s love remains, waiting for him to embrace his true potential.

The Lord saw this man. He knew him. He cherished him. His heart ached with sorrow for all that He gave Him that was buried. The Lord’s voice whispered words of encouragement and strength to him. Yet this man was absorbed in doubt and fear. The man’s Father had a marvelous plan in-store for him. He ordained a magnificent destiny specifically for this man. He found his heart aching with sorrow as He watched the man struggle to find the joy that He found. The Father and Lord’s love remained beckoning him to embrace his true purpose.

At various points in our lives, we may find ourselves in this man’s shoes. Lacking to fulfill what our Father has lined out for us. But with the power of Jesus Christ, we can do all things. That is why God has given us covenants, to empower us, to bind us to him, to making the impossible possible. These covenants allow us to better understand this great marvelous plan our Father has for us and the role that we play in it.

At baptism we covenant keep four things: Be willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ Keep the commandments of God Serve God and others Endure to the End

Reflect on your life for a moment: what are some things that we do each day to display our willingness to take the Lord’s name upon us?

President Russell M. Nelson has taught us that “taking the Savior’s name upon us includes declaring and witnessing to others—through our actions and our words—that Jesus is the Christ.”

Jesus Christ commands us in 3 Nephi, “Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. …I have commanded that … ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.” (3 Nephi 18:24-25)

Elder M. Russel Ballard said, “When we covenant in the waters of baptism to ‘stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places,’ we’re not talking solely about fast and testimony meetings. It may not always be easy, convenient, or politically correct to stand for truth and right, but it is always the right thing to do—always”

Jesus Christ needs disciples. It’s not a small task to stand as a witness of Him, it’s definitely not easy, but it is so rewarding and worthwhile. There are few things in life that are as important as standing as a witness of Christ.

President Russel M. Nelson mentioned, “We have the sacred responsibility to share the power and peace of Jesus Christ with all who will listen and who will let God prevail in their lives. Every person who has made covenants with God has promised to care about others and serve those in need. We can demonstrate faith in God and always be ready to respond to those who ask about “the hope that is in [us].” Each of us has a role to play in the gathering of Israel.”

There has never been a time like this in the history of the world. The Lord has reserved and prepared you to come into the world at this sacred time to be a part of the greatest and most important work on earth in the fullness of times. This is incredibly special—and eternally significant—the Lord sent you. You are remarkably important in this great work. He knows you, He knows how amazing you are, and that’s why he brought you into this world at the most important time in the history of the world. Don’t miss out on these incredible opportunities that the Lord has given to us. You are needed. You are called to feed His sheep.

President Eyering noted, “Because of technology, perhaps more of God’s children will hear and recognize the word of God this weekend than during any other two days in history.”

Everything has accelerated since the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and denotes of the restoration. Power, radios, TV, mass shipping systems, vehicles, planes, wireless networks, mobile phones, the internet, social networks, you name it! All of these haven been instruments given to us to accomplish the gathering of Israel and fulfill the prophesy, to preach the gospel to “every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.” This is the fullness of times—now more than ever!

Our mission leaders—President & Sister Gill —shared something that the Prophet President Russel M. Nelson shared in a meeting with the quorum of the twelve apostles and other representatives of the church just over a month ago. President Nelson said, “if I could have one wish, it would be that people would stop wasting time.” There’s a great sense of urgency. President Holland is really pushing urgency too in his last days. He recently said “go to work with urgency,” “However strong your prayers are, make them stronger. However often you testify, testify some more.” Even President Bragg, ended our MLC session with, “there’s too much work to do. Don’t give up, keep going.” Now is the time. Now more than ever. We live in the dispensation of the fullness of times. Prophets have all looked to this time today. The eternal weight of today and the importance of what we are doing right now cannot be comprehended. This is the greatest work on earth, preparing the world for the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must be giving it all that we can.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf posed a deeply eternal question, “When our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work?” Just think about that. Maybe the things that seemed previously important now seem less important. I can’t imagine looking back on life in the eternities, with the eternal guilt that I didn’t fulfill the measure of my creation.

In the end, why do we do this? Why does it matter so much? Moses asked God the same question, when he asked “…Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them?” (Moses 1:30) God’s response is resounding and incomprehensibly significant. We review his answer every time we participate in the endowment session. The presentation unfolds this purpose. God explains how the earth was formed and the process of organizing it. And in this long explanation we finally arrive at the conclusion. God did this for families. That’s why the earth was created. That’s why we are here, and that’s what this work is all about. It’s about reuniting families, not just now, but in the eternities. That truly is where true joy is found. And that’s what matters most.

This is why I serve. Because I have been given much, I too must give back.