Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in April 2022 general conference:
. . . . it wasn’t only the Apostles who took Jesus’ words to heart. Members of the early Church, from the newest to the most seasoned, took part in the Savior’s great commission, sharing the good news of the gospel with those they met and knew. The determination to share their testimony of Jesus Christ helped His newly established Church grow expansively.2
We too, as Christ’s disciples, are invited to heed His commission today, as if we were there on that mountain in Galilee when He first proclaimed it. This commission began again in 1830, when Joseph Smith set apart his brother Samuel as an early missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ.3 Since that time, more than 1.5 million missionaries have traveled throughout the world teaching all nations and baptizing those who embrace the glad tidings of the restored gospel.
This is our doctrine. Our fond desire.
From our young children to the eldest among us, we yearn for the time when we can heed the Savior’s call and share the gospel with the nations of the world teaching all nations and baptizing those who embrace the glad tidings of the restored gospel.
This is our doctrine. Our fond desire.
From our young children to the eldest among us, we yearn for the time when we can heed the Savior’s call and share the gospel with the nations of the world. I am sure you young men and young women felt a similar empowering challenge from our prophet yesterday as he invited you to prepare for full-time missionary service just as the Savior did with His Apostles.
Love
The first thing we can do is love as Christ loved.
Our hearts are heavy with the human suffering and tensions that we see throughout the world during these tumultuous times. However, we can be also inspired by the outpouring of compassion and humanitarianism that has been demonstrated by people everywhere through their efforts to reach out to the marginalized—those displaced from their homes, separated from their families, or experiencing other forms of sorrow and despair.
Recently, news sources reported how a group of mothers in Poland, out of concern for desperate, fleeing families, left fully equipped strollers on a train station platform in a neat line, ready and waiting for refugee mothers and children who would need them at that border crossing as they deboarded a train. Surely, our Heavenly Father smiles upon acts of selfless charity such as these, for as we bear one another’s burdens, we “fulfil the law of Christ.”4
Whenever we show Christlike love toward our neighbor, we preach the gospel—even if we do not voice a single word.
Love for others is the eloquent expression of the second great commandment to love our neighbor;5 it shows the refining process of the Holy Spirit working within our own souls. By demonstrating Christ’s love to others, we may cause those who see our good works to “glorify [our] Father which is in heaven.”6
Sharing isn’t about “selling” the gospel. You don’t have to write a sermon or correct someone’s incorrect perceptions.
When it comes to missionary work, God doesn’t need you to be His sheriff; He does, however, ask that you be His sharer.
By sharing our positive experiences in the gospel with others, we take part in fulfilling the Savior’s great commission.
Invite
The third thing you can do is invite.
Sister Mayra is a recent convert from Ecuador. Her joy in the gospel skyrocketed immediately following her baptism as she invited friends and loved ones around her through social media accounts. Many family members and friends who saw her posts responded with questions. Mayra connected with them, often inviting them to her home to meet with the missionaries together. (for Elder Stevenson’s complete talk click. . .Love, Share, Invite).
