Mission President Steve Sisters still friends I'm so happy to be with you today as you

begin your service as Mission presidents, and companions as mission leaders and we
have been truly uplifted and instructed and edified this morning by our beloved
Prophet and President. It is a woferful site to see you with your individual Missionary
Badges displaying not only your names, but in the very center the name of Jesus Christ
our Lord and Master I'm reminded of The Parables found in the Book of Mormon.
“And it came to pass that the servents did go, and work with all their might, and the
Lord of the Vinyard labored with them and they did obey the Commandments of the
lord of the vineyard in all things.” Isnt wonderful that as we serve, the Lord of the
Vineyard the laborer with us. In fact he's already working in your mission and will
continue to do so long after you have returned home from your missions. Something
said by the Savior “ He that keepeth Israel shall either slumber nor sleep.” The
knowledge that he will be laboring with you will be your hope and your insurance that
you will never be alone day or night. The lord loves you, we love you. The Lord knows
your heart, he values your sacrifices. Your service in your mission matters to him, your
service matters to us. We're so grateful to have our dear Prophet President Russell M.
Nelson with us today, and his wonderful wife, Sister Wendy Nelson. His message today
during sacrament meeting signaled the begaining of the 2018 Mission Leadership
Seminar. Which incluedes new Mission presidents and companions present today at
the Provo Missionary Training Center and all currently serving Mission Presidents all
around the world and their companions who will all participate in these sessions to the
missionary portal. I hope you always remember the feelings you had as the
missionaries administered the sacrament, and as you heard President Nelson's
inspiring and uplifting message I hope the memory of these feeling will help you when
burdened with the cares of the work, and the cares of those you serve. During this
seminar you will be blessed to hear inspired messages from brothers and sisters who
represent the missionary commity of the church. The combined wisdom of these men
and women regarding missionaries, missionary work, the life and ministry of Mission
Presidents and companions All refined by the prompting of the Holy Ghost cannot be
overestimated. They are a virtual Treasure Trove of experince in every aspect of this
great work. Let me show this one here. We hope that “Preach My Gospel.” a guide to
missionary service will become a constant companion in your mind, your heart, and a
valued tool in your daily service. We pray that listening to Prophets, Aposltes, other
church leaders, and the Spirit will help settle your minds and hearts and increase your
love for the missionaries, and for the precious souls they will find, teach, baptize, and
help on the path of discipleship. As you begin this great adventure, and it is a
adventure. You may feel a little overwhelmed by the huge target in front of you with a
multitude of responsibilities, duties, and opportunities including interviewing,
teaching, training, and edifying the missionaries. But there's an overarching purpose of
this work, and we heard this from the prophet today. The Lord himself stated it for us
“for behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal
life of man.” This is the purpose, this is our purpose in this work. And YES there is a
target. Even with a bullseye if you will and your charge is to keep this purpose in your
mind and heart and to hit the target as often as you can during your Ministry. Our
loving Heavenly Father gave us two great Commandments as the Divine motive for our
service as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are to love and serve God, and to
love, and serve his children. Fail in these two Commandments and we fail in all. He
gave us as Servants of the Lord a great commission. “Go ye therefore and teach All
Nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Ghost,
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am
with you always even until the end of the world.” As mission presidents and
companions you represent Jesus Christ, our savior, his church, and his teachings. So
your focus needs to be on what was important to the Lord's in ancient times, and still is
today. To interconect the teachings of the two great Commandments of the Great
Commission are the bullseye for Mission presidents and companions. On one occasion
as you know Jesus was asked the seemingly impossible question. Master which is the
greatest commandment of the law? Those who heard his answer then must have
marveled that he was able to digest 613 Commandments found in the Hebrew Bible
down to two interrelated Commandments. But Jesus hit the bullseye by his absolutely
perfect response to that question. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind… This is the first and great commandment
“And the second is like unto it neighbor as thyself.” these two Commandments hang all
the law and the prophets. Our love for God and neighbor is the foundation of the
higher and holier way described in our most recent General Conference by our
President Nelson. Our church service is one of loving and caring for God's children that
has no beginning or end. We don't finish Ministring, we don't finish loving, we don't
finish praying, and we don’t finish thinking about those whom God has put in our path.
Instead loving God and serving our fellow man is our way of life. It is what we do each
and every day and we respond to him who said “Follow me and I will make you fishers
of man.” How do these two great Commandments translate into your daily Ministry?
First as mission leaders you will love your missionaries. You will help them to know
and love God with all their hearts. You will teach them to believe instead of doubt. You
will assist your missionaries to become truly converted and become lifelong Disciples
of Jesus Christ. Second you will inspire your missionaries to reach out in compassion,
empathy, and love to those around them as they fufill their purpose to find people. And
invite them unto Christ. By helping them receive restored gospel through faith in
Jesuschrist, and his attonment his sacrifice, repentance, Baptism, receiving the gift of
the Holy Ghost, and enduring and I add joyfully to the end. Our love for others does
not end if they do not accept a baptismal date or refuse to listen to the good news of the
Gospel it doesn't end, we still love them. Our love is not conditional upon their intrese
upon spending time with our missionaries we love them because they are children of
our heavenly father they are our brothers and sisters we love and pray for all men and
we continue to serve them even those who hate, curse, persecute, or mistreat us. You
may know the story of the First Missionary of the restored Church Samuel Smith I'm
sure you have read about it and wondered how the times were back then. Three
months after the church was organized Samuel set out on foot with a backpack filled
with copies of the Book of Mormon like Harvesters not when you see them out there he
was anything but successful. As he shared the story of the Book of Mormon he was
yelled at, called a liar, and kicked out five times in one day. Samuel Smith may have
believed his mission was a failure. He may have asked God why he had been called
when no one seemed to listen. Had he not witnessed the miracoulas translation of the
Book of Mormon had he not become one of the eight Witnesses of Book of Mormon? It
might be understandable if Samuel had given up and become discouraged. Instead he
continued to open his mouth and testified of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Miraclously he was able to give a Book to a preacher named Phineas Young this is the
original one don't try to take it into your mission okay, we will protect it. But this is the
book. Phineas read the book and became convinced that it wa the word of God. He
shared the book with his father and other family members who were also impressed by
it, including his brother Brigham Young. Shortly thereafter Samuel Smith lent another
copy of the Book of Mormon to another preacher John P Green. Greens wife read the
book and was conviced of its truthfullness after convincing her husband to read and
pray about the two were soon baptized. In the end Samuel served six missions
missions, and baptized many people. On his first mission however he didn’t baptize a
single soul. But by placing copy of the Book of Mormon with Phineas Young he began
the process of the convertion of many memebrs of the church. We may never know the
influence of our acts of charity and kindness, and willingness to open our mouths to
share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most missionaries will never know the full impact and
positive influence they had with families they meet, but they can be assured that the
Lord will bless them in their labors and he will magnify their efforts even if those
blessing are not immediately apparent. When itcomes to loving others your
missionaries will look to you as examples of this pure love. You must constantly
remind yourself that you first must love your missionaries just as the Savior loved you
first. Under your guidance and Leadership your missionaries will discover the love for
God and others within themselves. Motivated by pure charity they will serve the Lord
as true disiples. They will find, they will invite, they will teach to help other come unto
Christ and become disiples. Instead of a mechanical approach to teaching the gospel
your missionaries will have great success when they interact with people by touching
their hearts. Helping them to see what the gospel and the church is all about, by
inviting them come unto Christ. This can best be accomplished if your missionaries
first listen to the promptings of the spirit while finding people. Then listen to these
people with compassion and love, and be guided by the spirit how best to teach and to
help them. It's Christ who invited “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy
laden I will give you a rest take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and
lowly in heart and you shall find rest unto your souls.” The Lord knows what heavy
burdens people carry and as we watch and listen carrfully we will come to know how
the Lord will help our brothers and sisters who search for the truth, and find answers
within the gospel. Let us now turn to our attention to the great commission. The lord
gave to his disciples. As they met in Galilee after the resurrection. There after the
Saviorcommanded. “Go ye therefore teach All Nations baptizing them in the name
father and of the son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all thing
whatsoever I have commanded you and low I am with you always even unto the end of
the world.” Mattew 28:19-20 the relationship of the three verbs Go, Make Disciples,
and baptize says to go out and make disiples mainly true teaching. Because faith comes
from hearing and after baptize them. There are three actions. Go, Teach, and Baptize.
And doing all of this our focus is making disiples. But each step is important, we must
go, let us find, we must teach the true dovctrine, and we must make disiples, and
baptize. Leaving one of the steps out will not fufill christs command. Lets talk about
the three aspects of the great command. Each day every mission must go there forand
find people to teach. A day without finding efforts is a day without fulfilling their
mission purpose. many of you will see an increased effort to take advantage of the
internet to find more people. This they provide more referrals than in the past.
However it would be a fatal mistake if you and your missionaries simply waited
passively for referrals. It is one of missionaries primary responsibilities to find people
and to teach each day. Referrals will be an additional blessing but we can never take
away the responsibilities from each missionary to become Fishers of Men and go out
and find those whom God has prepared to receive them. Your missionaries need to
develop compassion, empathy, and love for the people they find. Instead of just
teaching a lesson a missionary will need to teach to specific circumstances of the
people they find. This will take practice. It needs practicing in zone conference, in
district meetings, even practicing in their companionships. Confidence in teaching will
be rewarding as they move from the mechanical approach, to a approach in which they
listen more intently to the spirit, and to the people and then teach to the needs of those
they meet. Your missionaries have been sent to baptize! Each missionary, and teaching
area will have a different harvest. Bu the purpose of the lord to send missionaries into
the world is to baptize his children. The decision to be baptized is sacred and personal.
Mission presidents and missionaries should never judge their success solely on
baptisms. We cannot control nor do we want to control another persons decision. We
Mortals do not convert anyone receiving a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
making a commitment to enter the Waters of baptism is between the individual person
and the Holy Ghost. But we can help in this conversion process, we must help,
conversion comes from personal revelation and from heavenly manifestation of
spiritual light. It even comes by hearing testimonies of those around us. Our task is to
preach word of God and testify of its truth. As we do we so promise that if we open our
mouths and spare not we shall not be Laden with sheaves upon our backs for low I am
with you. Preaching and testifying is something we can control. Preaching and
testifying is something we can control that is something we can do, and the Lord will
bless each Missionary with Baptisms, and as we refine and increase our efforts the
Lord will bless us even more. However we should never baptized people before they
meet the qualifications for baptism mentioned in the scriptures a baptismal date
should never be pushed because the missionaries being transferred, completing his or
her mission, or achieving a monthly goal. Such unholy efforts would simple add
addicitional names to the recordes of the church instead of producing commited
lifelong disciples who continue to bear fruit even long after the missionary has
returned home. Our missionaries should never feel like door-to-door sales men and
women pressurising people to be baptized. Such a feeling and practice would only
cause our missionaries to be weakened in their own conversion. And some might even
lose their testimony especially after returning home. We must always remember that
we are in this great cause because our love for God and his children, and our mission is
part of Gods work and glory. You have been sent to find, to teach, to baptize. And to
make disiples. When following the Lord's plan eventually baptisms will increase. Each
baptism in a mission should be felt and claimed as a united effort, in succuess of each
and every individual missionary. Worldwide each month you, your missionaries
baptize 20,000 individuals into the Church. Ust imagine this picture in your mind Salt
Lake Conference Center Filled to the last seat with newly baptized members each
month. The Lord has said “Therefore, o ye that embark in the service of God see that
you serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength… “Therefore if you have
desires to serve God ye are called to work.. “For behold the field is white already to
harvest.” The field is white and ready to harvest with people that the Lord is preparing
to receive the missionaries. Please remember that the spiritual journey of a new
Convert began even before the missionaries arrived to teach them. The motivating
basis of our missionary efforts must be the two great Commandments and the great
comission they are given to us by the Savior himself. Should we fail in these we cannot
expect to build his kingdom. Everything you will do in your mission needs to lead to
this end the scriptures, the teachings of living Apostles and Prophets, preach my
Gospel, the missionary handbook, and the mission president handbook all have this
end in mind. This is where you must focus your industry, your energy, and your
passion. Your missionaries deserve and desire to hear and feel this message. It will
help the missionaries to have hope and confidence. As you focus on the purpose and
target of their mission you will be better able to fully turn your missionaries hearts to
God. They will in turn reach out in compassion, empathy, and love to others. Invitin
helping, and increasing the number of God's children who come unto Christ. These
outcomes will fill their souls with light and their hearts with hope. Part of your
ministry to your missionaries is to comfort those who mourn and to provide refuge for
them. President Gordon B Hinckley said any individual who is worthy of baptism is
worthy of saving as a member of the church the same is true of your missionaries, all
who are called to serve the Lord as missionaries are worth savings during their mission
and after they return home. The fruits of your missionariers are their converts, your
fruit is the missionaries and their descendants. In conclusion dear friends, in this
sacred work we don't get to choose the target let alone the bullseye it has already been
chosen by savior himself. Our role is not to redefine the purpose but to aline with it.
For the next three years you opportunity and your great charge are to create a Spirit of
love and unity in the mission where you have been called of God. He will do this by
enfusing your beloved and precious missionaries for the love of God and of all people.
Your love for the missionaries your rightsous example of service to God will inspire
your missionaries to gather light into their own Souls by loving God with all thy hearts
souls and mind, and to fill their hearts with charity, empathy, and compassion that will
cause them to reach out and fight people to teach them, make disciples, and help them
come unto Christ. There will be greater unity between members and missionaries, less
ladder climbing will take place for mission leadership positions in your mission. Less
apathy, disobedience, and hopelessness will occure amongst your missionaries. Fewer
missionaries will want to leave earlier. Fewer of your missionaries will loose their way
after completing their mission. A sweet spirit of love and unity will be reflected in your
mission, and God will bless your efforts. As you focus on the bullseye you will see your
precious missionaries move forward with courage, faith, and hope to find to teach to
baptize, and to make disiples. You will see convert baptism and convert retention
increase more of God's children attending sacrament meeting more ordinations in the
priesthood and more converts making and keeping sacred Temple Covenants. Your
missionaries will experience the Divine Light of Holy Spirit in their lifes and as that
light increases they will be able to come as a light on a hill that penetrates the darkness
and becomes a beacon of righteousness to the world. My dear Presidents and sisters we
love you, God loves you, we thank you for your Devotion to this great work your
goodness and your love for God and his children may you feel the love and blessings of
heavenly father in your lifes in the lifes of your missionaries and your families. As my
blessing my prayer and promise as an apostle of the Lord. In the name of our master,
in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.