Introduction

Write on the chalkboard Samuel Smith —> Phinehas Young and John P. Greene —> ___________. Once the gospel was restored, the Church began a tremendous missionary effort to spread these glad tidings throughout the world. Many new converts responded with zeal to missionary calls. One of these converts was Joseph Smith’s brother Samuel.

In April 1830, Samuel Smith began traveling to neighboring towns in New York to preach the gospel and introduce people to the Book of Mormon. He had little success, though he did sell a copy of the book to a man named Phinehas Young. In June 1830, Samuel was set apart by the Prophet Joseph to take a missionary journey to the east. He walked 25 miles the first day and stopped at many houses, but the people treated him unkindly and would not listen. The next day he left a copy of the Book of Mormon with John P. Greene, a Methodist minister. John Greene’s wife, Rhoda, was Phinehas Young’s sister.

Facing rejection from almost everyone he contacted, Samuel felt that his mission had not been very successful. However, the books he left with Phinehas Young and John P. Greene led to their conversion and the conversion of many others. For example, Phinehas Young and Rhoda Greene had a brother named Brigham, who was converted and later became the second President of the Church. Brigham Young’s friend Heber C. Kimball also joined the Church. He later served in the First Presidency. Both Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball were instrumental in the conversion of thousands in the United States and England.

If we were to fill in the names of those who were influenced as a result of Samuel Smith’s missionary work, the list would number in the millions. We have all been influenced by his service.

President Hinckley said: “We need more missionaries. The message to raise the bar on missionary qualifications was not a signal to send fewer missionaries but … a call for parents and leaders to work with young men earlier to better prepare them for missionary service and to keep them worthy of such service. All young men who are worthy and who are physically and emotionally able should prepare to serve in this most important work” (“To the Bishops of the Church,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, June 19, 2004, 27).

President Benson said: “We need increasing numbers of senior missionaries in missionary service. Where health and means make it possible, we call upon hundreds more of our couples to set their lives and affairs in order and to go on missions. How we need you in the mission field! You are able to perform missionary service in ways that our younger missionaries cannot” (Ensign, November 1989).

I believe that in addition to doing missionary work today, each of us should be actively engaged in preparing for missionary work in the future:

Preparing to serve as a 19-21 year old full time missionary if we are of that age personally
Preparing our children and the youth of the Church to serve full time missions
Preparing to serve in an expanded capacity as a senior missionary

In April 2005, Elder M. Russell Ballard asked every ward and branch to send one more young man into the mission field as a full time missionary. During this lesson, please consider how you can contribute to this work, possibly if you yourself might be that “one more.”

During this lesson, we will read the Lord’s words regarding missionary work. Watch for ways to broadly classify God’s instruction in the following areas:

How are we to preach?

When are we to preach?

Why are we to preach?

What are we to preach?

Who is called to preach?

What blessings are promised to those who faithfully preach?

Instructions from the Scriptures

Read the fourth section of the Doctrine and Covenants. This section was given by revelation through the Prophet Joseph to his father, Joseph Smith, Sr. in February 1829:

1–2 – If we want to be blameless before God, we need to serve with all our heart, might, mind and strength. Going on a mission isn’t enough; we must serve a mission.

Assign to how and why.

3 – If we don’t have the desire, we’re not called to the work. I don’t think this excuses us however if we simply say, “I didn’t want to…” How can we increase our desires to serve the Lord?

Assign to why and who.

4 – The work is ready to be done already. We don’t need to wait for the Lord to do anything else before we can be a missionary. This work is essential to the salvation of our souls.

Assign to why and when.

5–6 – How have you seen these attributes bless efforts to share the gospel? How can we develop specific attributes in which we may be lacking?

Assign to how.

7 – What does this say about the role of prayer in missionary work? How has prayer helped you?

D&C 75:3 – Why do we sometimes delay? How can we overcome that tendency?

Assign to when.

The Lord gives some specific instructions regarding what the missionaries are to teach in D&C 11:9, 33:10–11, 31:3–4, and 42:12. Notice the emphasis on preaching repentance, baptism, and the words of the prophets.

In addition to knowing what to teach, the Lord is extremely concerned with how we teach it. Read D&C 18:20–21, 38:41, and 75:4. Why do you suppose the Lord wants us to preach in humility and meekness? At least partly because Jesus describes Himself as “meek and lowly of heart.” If we’re going to preach His gospel, we’d better preach it like Him!

The Lord promises that as we serve him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, He will bless us abundantly: