My dear brothers and sisters, dear friends,
last month the Twelve were invited by our dear prophet,
President Russell M. Nelson, to travel
with him to the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple.
While traveling, I thought about the Apostle Paul
and his journeys.
In his day, to get from Jerusalem to Rome,
it would have taken about 40 days.
Today, in one of my favorite airplanes,
it takes less than 3 hours.
Bible scholars believe that Paul was
in Rome when he wrote several of his letters, which
were key in strengthening Church members then as well as today.
Paul and the other members of the ancient Church,
the early-day Saints, were intimately
familiar with sacrifice.
Many were severely persecuted, even unto death.
In the last 200 years, the members
of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, the Latter-day Saints,
have also experienced persecution in many forms.
But in spite of that persecution (and sometimes because of it),
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
has continued to grow and is now found all across the globe.
There is much to do.
However, before we bake a cake, throw confetti,
and congratulate ourselves on this remarkable success,
we would do well to put that growth into perspective.
There are roughly seven and a half billion people
in the world, compared to some 16 million members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--a very small
flock indeed.
Meanwhile, the numbers of Christian believers
in some parts of the world are shrinking.
Even in the Lord's restored Church--while overall
membership continues to grow--there are too many who do
not claim the blessings of regular Church participation.
In other words, wherever you are on this earth,
there are plenty of opportunities
to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ
with people you meet, study, and live with or work and socialize
with.
During this past year, I have had the exciting opportunity
to be deeply involved with the worldwide missionary activities
of the Church.
I have often pondered and prayed about the Savior's great
commission to His disciples--us, His children--to "go ye
therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost."
I wrestled with the question "How
can we, as members and disciples of Christ,
best fulfill that great commission in our daily lives?"
Today I invite you to ponder that same question
in your heart and mind.
Church leaders have emphasized the clarion call "Every member
a missionary!" for decades.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ--both in past times
as well as in ours--have enthusiastically and joyfully
shared the gospel with friends and acquaintances.
Their hearts are aflame with the testimony of Jesus Christ,
and they sincerely want others to experience
the same joy they have found in the Savior's gospel.
Some members of the Church seem to have a gift for this.
They love being ambassadors of the gospel.
They boldly and gladly serve and lead
the work as member missionaries.
However, others of us are more hesitant.
When missionary work is discussed in Church meetings,
heads are slowly lowered until submerged behind the pew,
eyes focused on the scriptures or closed in deep meditation
to avoid eye contact with other members.
Why is this?
Maybe we feel guilty for not doing more to share the gospel.
Perhaps we feel uncertain about how to do it.
Or we might feel timid about going outside our comfort zone.
I understand this.
But remember, the Lord has never required
expert, flawless missionary efforts.
Instead, "the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind."
If you are already happily doing missionary work,
please continue, and stand as one example to others.
The Lord will bless you.
If, however, you feel that you have been dragging your feet
when it comes to sharing the gospel message,
may I suggest five guilt-free things anyone
can do to participate in the Savior's great commission
to help gather Israel?
First, draw close to God.
The first great commandment is to love God.
It is a primary reason why we are on this earth.
Ask yourself, "Do I really believe in Heavenly Father?"
"Do I love and trust Him?"
The closer you draw to our Heavenly Father,
the more His light and joy will shine from within you.
Others will notice that there is something unique and special
about you.
And they will ask about it.
Second, fill your heart with love for others.
This is the second great commandment.
Try to truly feel and see everyone around you
as a child of God.
Minister to them--regardless of whether their names appear
on your ministering sister or brother list.
Laugh with them.
Rejoice with them.
Weep with them.
Respect them.
Heal, lift, and strengthen them.
Strive to emulate the love of Christ and have compassion
for others--even to those who are unkind to you,
who mock you and wish to cause you harm.
Love them and treat them as fellow children
of Heavenly Father.
Third, strive to walk the path of discipleship.
As your love for God and His children deepens,
so does your commitment to follow Jesus Christ.
You learn about His way by feasting upon His word
and heeding and applying the teachings of modern prophets
and apostles.
You grow in confidence and courage
to follow His way as you communicate
with Heavenly Father with a teachable, humble heart.
Walking the path of discipleship takes practice--each day,
little by little, "grace for grace," "line upon line."
Sometimes two steps forward and one step back.
The important thing is that you don't give up;
keep trying to get it right.
You will eventually become better, happier,
and more authentic.
Talking with others about your faith
will become normal and natural.
In fact, the gospel will be such an essential, precious part
of your lives that it would feel unnatural not
to talk about it with others.
That may not happen immediately--it is a lifelong
effort.
But it will happen.
Fourth, sharing what is in your heart.
I am not asking that you stand on a street
corner with a megaphone and shout out
Book of Mormon verses.
What I am asking is that you always look for opportunities
to bring up your faith in natural and normal ways with
people--both in person as well as online.
I am asking that you stand as a witness of the power
of the gospel at all times--and when necessary, use words.
Because "the gospel of Christ ...
is the power of God unto salvation,"
you can be confident, courageous,
and humble as you share it.
Confidence, courage, and humility
may seem like contradictory attributes, but they are not.
They reflect the Savior's invitation
not to hide gospel values and principles under a bushel
but to let your light shine, that your good works may
glorify your Father in Heaven.
There are many normal and natural ways
to do this, from daily acts of kindness
to personal testimonials on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram,
or Twitter, to simple conversations
with people you meet.
This year we are learning from the New Testament in our homes
and in Sunday School.
What a marvelous opportunity to invite friends and neighbors
to church and your homes to learn about the Savior
with you.
Share with them the Gospel Library app, where
they can find Come, Follow Me.
If you know young people and their families,
give them the For the Strength of Youth booklet,
and invite them to come and see how our young people strive
to live by those principles.
If someone asks about your weekend,
don't hesitate to talk about what you experienced at church.
Tell about the little children who
stood in front of a congregation and sang with eagerness how
they are trying to be like Jesus.
Talk about the group of youth who spent time
helping the elderly in rest homes
to compile personal histories.
Talk about the recent change in our Sunday meeting schedule
and how it blesses your family.
Or explain why we emphasize that this is the Church of Jesus
Christ and that we are Latter-day Saints, just
as the members of the ancient Church were also called Saints.
In whatever ways seem natural and normal to you,
share with people why Jesus Christ and His Church
are so important to you.
Invite them to "come and see."
Then encourage them to come and help.
There are numerous opportunities for people
to help in our church.
And pray not only for the missionaries to find the elect.
Pray daily with all your heart that you
will find those who will come and see, come
and help, and come and stay.
Keep the full-time missionaries in the loop.
They are like angels, ready to help!
As you share the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ,
do so with love and patience.
If we interact with people with the sole expectation
that they soon will don a white jumpsuit
and ask for directions to the nearest baptismal font,
we're doing it wrong.
Some who come and see will, perhaps, never join the Church;
some will at a later time.
That is their choice.
But that doesn't change our love for them.
And it doesn't change our enthusiastic efforts
to continue inviting individuals and families
to come and see, come and help, and come and stay.
Fifth, trust the Lord to work His miracles.
We heard a wonderful message from Elder Hales about this.
Understand that it's not your job to convert people.
That is the role of the Holy Ghost.
Your role is to share what is in your heart
and live consistent with your beliefs.
So don't be discouraged if someone does not accept
the gospel message immediately.
It is not a personal failure.
That is between the individual and Heavenly Father.
Yours is to love God and love your neighbors, His children.
Believe, love, do.
Follow this path, and God will work miracles through you
to bless His precious children.
These five suggestions will help you
to do what disciples of Jesus Christ
have done since ancient times.
His gospel and His Church are an important part of your life
and of who you are and what you do.
Therefore, invite others to come and see and come and help,
and God will do His saving work, and they will come and stay.
"But," you might ask, "what if I do all this and people
react poorly?
What if they are critical about the Church?
What if they unfriend me?"
Yes, that may happen.
Since ancient times, disciples of Jesus Christ
have often been persecuted.
The Apostle Peter said, "Rejoice ...
as you share Christ's sufferings."
The early Saints rejoiced "that they
were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
Remember, the Lord works in His mysterious ways.
It may be that by your Christlike response
to rejection, a hardened heart could be softened.
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ,
I bless you with the confidence to be a living testimonial
of gospel values, with the courage
to always be recognized as a member of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the humility
to assist in His work as an expression
of your love for Heavenly Father and His children.
My dear friends, you will rejoice
in knowing that you are a significant part
in the long-foretold gathering of Israel,
preparing Christ's coming in "power and great glory;
with all the holy angels."
Heavenly Father knows you.
The Lord loves you.
God will bless you.
This work is ordained of Him.
You can do this.
We can all do this together.
I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.