Your Purpose: Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
Consider This
What is my purpose as a missionary?
What authority and power come with my calling?
How do I rely on, recognize, and teach by the Spirit?
What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?
What is the message of the Restoration? Why is it so important?
What is my responsibility to establish and build up the Church of Jesus Christ?
How will I know whether I am a successful missionary?
Your Commission to Teach the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
You are surrounded by people. You pass them on the street and travel among them. You visit them in their homes and connect with them online. They are all children of God—your brothers and sisters. God loves them just as He loves you.
Many of these people are searching for purpose in life. They are concerned for their future and their families. They need the sense of belonging that comes from knowing they are children of God and members of His eternal family. They want to feel secure in a world of changing values. They desire “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23).
Many are “only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12). The gospel of Jesus Christ, as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, provides eternal truth. This truth addresses people’s spiritual needs and helps them fulfill their deepest desires.
As an authorized representative of Jesus Christ, you teach that “redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:6). You invite people to come unto Christ to become converted to Him and His restored gospel. As they accept your invitation, they will have greater happiness, hope, peace, and purpose.
To come to the Savior, people need to have faith in Him. You can help them develop this faith as you:
Teach them the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and testify of its truth.
Invite them to commit to live according to its teachings.
Follow up and help them act on the commitments they make.
Help them have experiences in which they feel the influence of the Holy Ghost (see 1 Nephi 10:17–19).
Faith in Jesus Christ will lead people to repent. By atoning for our sins, Jesus makes repentance possible. As people repent, they will be cleansed from sin and grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They will experience the joy and peace of receiving forgiveness.
Repentance prepares people for the covenant of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. “Come unto me,” the Savior said, “and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:20).
As your understanding and testimony of the Savior and His Atonement grow, your desire to share the gospel will increase. You will feel, as Lehi did, the “great … importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth” (2 Nephi 2:8).
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the Tree of Life vision
The Tree of Life, by Damir Krivenko.
Personal or Companion Study
Examine the accompanying image as you study the vision of the tree of life in 1 Nephi 8 and 11.
What does the tree of life symbolize in this vision? (See 1 Nephi 11:21–23.)
What did Lehi desire after he ate the fruit? (See 1 Nephi 8:10–18.)
In the vision, what did the people need to do to partake of the fruit? What do we need to do to receive all the blessings of the Savior’s Atonement? In what ways do commitments and covenants help us partake of these blessings?
How can you help others partake of the fruits of the gospel?
The Authority and Power of Your Calling
You are called and set apart to “[proclaim] glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting gospel” (Doctrine and Covenants 79:1). Like the sons of Mosiah, you can teach with the authority and power of God (see Alma 17:2–3).
Under Christ’s direction, the authority to preach the gospel was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. When you were set apart as a missionary, you received this authority. With it comes the right, privilege, and responsibility to represent the Lord and teach His gospel.
This authority includes a responsibility to live worthy of your calling. Take your setting apart literally. Stay away from sin and from anything that is crude or vulgar. Stay away from the ways and thinking of the world. Follow the standards in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ. As the Lord’s representative, be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12). Honor the name of Jesus Christ by your actions and words.
In addition to authority, you need spiritual power to fulfill your calling. God gives spiritual power as you consistently work to strengthen your testimony of Him, Jesus Christ, and the gospel truths you teach. He bestows spiritual power as you pray, study the scriptures, and seek to fulfill your missionary purpose. He grants spiritual power as you strive to keep His commandments and the covenants you made when you received the ordinances of salvation (see Doctrine and Covenants 35:24).
Spiritual power can be manifest as you:
Use the scriptures to teach people, deepen their understanding of gospel truths, and help them see how these truths apply to their lives (see 1 Nephi 19:23; Alma 26:13; 31:5).
Review and ponder the following covenants you have made with God. Study the blessings that God has promised to those who keep these covenants. Reflect on the blessings you have received by keeping them. Record your impressions in your study journal.
Baptism and Confirmation
Be willing to take upon you the name of Jesus Christ.
Read John 15:1–16. In what way is Christ the vine? How are you a branch of that vine? How does your setting apart relate to this relationship?
Read your ministerial certificate. Record your feelings and thoughts about what you read. Each time you study this chapter, consider repeating this process. Note how your feelings change over time.
Write a list of the blessings Joseph Smith requested for the faithful who have been endowed in the Lord’s holy house. What are your feelings about these blessings?
Seek to Have the Holy Ghost with You
You received the gift of the Holy Ghost when you were confirmed a member of the Church. As a missionary—and throughout your life—one of your greatest needs will be to have the Holy Ghost with you (see 1 Nephi 10:17; 3 Nephi 19:9). The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead.
The Holy Ghost guides, teaches, and comforts you. He cleanses and sanctifies you. He testifies of truth and bears witness of the Father and the Son. He brings about your conversion and the conversion of those you teach. (See 3 Nephi 27:20; 28:11; Ether 12:41; Moroni 8:26; 10:5; John 15:26.)
The Holy Ghost “will show unto you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:5). He will magnify your abilities and service far beyond what you could do on your own.
Seeking to have the Holy Ghost with you should be one of your most earnest desires. You will feel of His companionship as you:
“I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly” (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96).
Learn to Recognize the Spirit
You will better fulfill your missionary purpose as you learn to recognize and follow guidance from the Holy Ghost. The Spirit usually communicates quietly, through your feelings and thoughts. Devote yourself to seeking, recognizing, and following these subtle promptings. They come in many ways (see chapter 4; see also Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3; 11:12–14; Galatians 5:22–23).
Teach by the Spirit
The gospel of Jesus Christ is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). For that reason, the message of the Restoration of the gospel needs to be taught by divine power—the power of the Holy Ghost.
The Lord said, “The Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:14; see also 50:13–14, 17–22). As you teach by the power of the Holy Ghost, He will:
Teach you truth and bring the doctrine you have studied to your remembrance (see John 14:26).
Carry your message unto the hearts of the people you teach (see 2 Nephi 33:1).
Help you—and those who receive by the Spirit—to understand each other and be edified and rejoice together (see Doctrine and Covenants 50:17–22).
Testify of the truthfulness of your message and confirm your words to those who receive you (see Doctrine and Covenants 100:5–8).
The Lord will bless you abundantly as you seek, rely on, and teach by the Holy Ghost (see chapters 4 and 10).
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One by One, by Walter Rane
The Gospel of Christ and Doctrine of Christ
The gospel of Jesus Christ defines both your message and your purpose. It provides both the “what” and the “why” of your missionary service. His gospel includes all the doctrine, principles, laws, commandments, ordinances, and covenants necessary for salvation and exaltation.
The gospel message is that we can access the saving, redeeming power of Jesus Christ by exercising faith in Him, repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end (see 3 Nephi 27:13–22).
This is also known as the doctrine of Christ. Living this doctrine is how we come unto Christ and are saved (see 1 Nephi 15:14). This is powerfully taught in the Book of Mormon (see 2 Nephi 31; 32:1–6; 3 Nephi 11:31–40). Your purpose is to help people come unto Christ by helping them live His doctrine.
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Hyrum Smith
“Preach the first principles of the Gospel—preach them over again; you will find that day after day, new ideas and additional light concerning them will be revealed to you. You can enlarge upon them so as to comprehend them clearly. You will then be able to make them more plainly understood by those you teach” (Hyrum Smith, in History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844], 1994, josephsmithpapers.org).
Scripture Study
What do the following scriptures and proclamation teach about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of Christ? Make notes in your study journal to help you understand and remember.
The Converting Power of the Book of Mormon, by Ben Sowards
Faith in Jesus Christ
Faith is the foundation for all other gospel principles. It is a principle of action and power.
Our faith needs to be centered in Jesus Christ for it to lead us to salvation. The Savior taught, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Faith in Jesus Christ includes believing that He is the Only Begotten Son of God. It is trusting Him as our Savior and Redeemer (see Mosiah 3:17; 4:6–10; Alma 5:7–15). It is having full confidence in Him and His word, teachings, and promises. Our faith in Christ grows as we follow His teachings and example with full purpose of heart (see 2 Nephi 31:6–13; 3 Nephi 27:21–22).
As a missionary, help people make and keep commitments that build their faith in Jesus Christ. These commitments prepare them to receive ordinances and make and keep sacred covenants with God.
Repentance
Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to repent (see Helaman 14:13). Repentance is the process of turning to God and turning away from sin. As we repent, our actions, desires, and thoughts change to be more in harmony with God’s will.
Through His atoning sacrifice, the Savior paid the price for our sins (see Mosiah 15:9; Alma 34:15–17). As we repent, we can be forgiven because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, for He claims His rights of mercy for the penitent (see Moroni 7:27–28). In the words of the prophet Lehi, our “redemption cometh … through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:6, 8).
Repentance is much more than exercising willpower to change a behavior or overcome a weakness. Repentance is sincerely turning to Christ, who gives us the power to experience a “mighty change” in our hearts (see Alma 5:12–14). It includes humbly yielding to the Spirit and submitting to God’s will. As we repent, we increase our commitment to serve God and obey His commandments. We are spiritually born again in Christ.
Repentance is a positive principle that brings joy and peace. It brings us “unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of [our] souls” (Helaman 5:11).
Be bold and loving in helping people understand why they should repent. By inviting the people you teach to make commitments, you invite them to repent and you offer them hope.
Scripture Study
What can you learn from the following scriptures about declaring repentance?
Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance prepare us for the ordinance of baptism. “The first fruits of repentance is baptism” (Moroni 8:25). We enter the gate to eternal life when we are baptized by immersion by one who has authority from God.
When we are baptized, we make a covenant with God. As we keep this covenant, God promises to give us the companionship of the Holy Ghost, forgive our sins, and give us membership in the Church of Jesus Christ (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79; Moroni 6:4). We are gathered to the Lord and spiritually reborn through this joyous and hopeful ordinance.
Baptizing and confirming the people you teach are central to your purpose. Help them understand that to qualify for baptism, they need to meet the conditions in Doctrine and Covenants 20:37.
Based on your study of the scriptures above, make two written lists:
The qualifications for baptism
The covenants made at baptism
Discuss with your companion how to teach this to others.
Confirmation and the Gift of the Holy Ghost
Baptism comes in two parts: baptism of water and baptism of the Spirit. After we are baptized by water, baptism is completed when we are confirmed by the laying on of hands by one who has authority from God. Through confirmation we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and a remission of our sins.
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 95).
Alma taught, “All mankind … must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures” (Mosiah 27:25–26).
For the penitent, baptism of water and of the Spirit is spiritual rebirth.
Scripture Study
What are some of the blessings of having the gift of the Holy Ghost?
Following Jesus Christ is a lifelong commitment. We endure to the end as we continue throughout our lives to exercise faith in Christ, repent daily, receive all the ordinances and covenants of the gospel, keep those covenants, and have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This includes renewing the covenants we have made by partaking of the sacrament.
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The Lord Is My Shepherd, by Yongsung Kim
The Lord Is My Shepherd, by Yongsung Kim. Image courtesy of Havenlight.
The Gospel—Our Heavenly Father’s Path Back to Him
The gospel of Jesus Christ can change how we live and who we become. Its principles are not just steps that we experience once in our lives. When we repeat them throughout life, they bring us closer to God and become an increasingly rewarding pattern of living. They bring peace, healing, and forgiveness. They also define the path our Heavenly Father has given for us to have eternal life with Him.
The gospel of Jesus Christ guides how you work as a missionary. It also focuses your efforts. Help people gain faith in Jesus Christ unto repentance (see Alma 34:15–17). Teach and testify that the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the authority of the priesthood have been restored. Invite people to be baptized and live by the Savior’s teachings.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ Blesses All of God’s Children
The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all of God’s children. The scriptures teach that “all are alike” unto God. He invites “all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him” (2 Nephi 26:33).
The gospel blesses us throughout our mortal lives and throughout eternity. We are most likely to be happy—both as individuals and as families—when we live by the teachings of Jesus Christ (see Mosiah 2:41; “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Living the gospel deepens our joys, inspires our actions, and enriches our relationships.
One of the great messages of the restored gospel is that we are all part of God’s family. We are His beloved sons and daughters. Regardless of our family situation on earth, each of us is a member of the family of God.
Another great part of our message is that families can be united for eternity. The family is ordained of God. Latter-day prophets have taught:
“[Heavenly Father’s] divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World”).
Many people have limited opportunities for marriage or for loving family relationships. Many have experienced divorce and other difficult family circumstances. However, the gospel blesses us individually regardless of our family circumstance. As we are faithful, God will provide a way for us to have the blessings of loving families, whether in this life or in the life to come (see Mosiah 2:41).
The Message of the Restoration: The Foundation of Faith
No matter where you serve or whom you teach, center your teaching on Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. As you study the doctrine in the missionary lessons, you will see that we have one message: Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Through a modern prophet, Heavenly Father has restored knowledge about His plan for our salvation. This plan is centered on Jesus Christ. Through His atoning sacrifice, the Savior makes it possible for all of us to be saved from sin and death and return to Heavenly Father.
Help the people you teach understand the following:
God is our literal Father in Heaven. He loves us perfectly. Every person on earth is a child of God and a member of His family.
Heavenly Father provided a plan for us to receive immortality and eternal life, which are His greatest blessings (see Moses 1:39). We have come to earth to learn, grow, and prepare for the fulness of His blessings.
As part of His plan, Heavenly Father has given commandments to guide us during this life and help us return to Him (see, for example, Exodus 20:3–17).
In this life, we all sin, and we all die. Because of Heavenly Father’s love for us, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us from sin and death.
Because of Jesus’s atoning sacrifice, we can be cleansed of our sins as we repent and are baptized and confirmed. This brings us peace and makes it possible for us to return to God’s presence and receive a fulness of joy.
Because of Jesus’s Resurrection, we will all be resurrected after we die. This means that each person’s spirit and body will be reunited and live forever.
Throughout biblical history, the Lord revealed His gospel and organized His Church through prophets. Repeatedly, most people rejected it. A pattern of falling away from the gospel and the need to restore it began in Old Testament times.
After the Savior’s death and Resurrection, His Apostles led the Church for a time. Eventually, they died, priesthood authority was lost, and there was another falling away from the Savior’s teachings. People changed the doctrine and ordinances.
The gospel of Jesus Christ was restored by Heavenly Father through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph in the spring of 1820. Joseph Smith later received priesthood authority and was directed to organize the Church of Jesus Christ again on the earth.
Teach that the Church of Jesus Christ is not just another religion. Nor is it an American church. Rather, it is a restoration of the “fulness of [the] gospel” of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 1:23). It will never be taken from the earth again.
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ bears witness of Jesus Christ and His divine mission as the Savior of the world. It is also a powerful witness that Jesus Christ restored His gospel and Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Invite and help people to read the Book of Mormon and pray about its message.
Trust the remarkable promise in Moroni 10:3–5. Encourage people to ask God sincerely and with real intent whether the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Praying with real intent means being willing to act on the answer that comes from the witness of the Holy Ghost. That witness becomes the foundation of a person’s faith that Christ has restored His Church. Help those you teach to seek that spiritual confirmation.
Scripture Study
How should you use the Book of Mormon in missionary work?
Imagine you are going to write a paragraph about the message of the Restoration on social media or for a local news outlet. In your study journal, write a title that describes the central message. Then record your thoughts and feelings about this message. Include how understanding it better has changed the way you live and the way you view the world around you.
Establish and Build Up the Church
When Jesus Christ restored His Church, He instructed the Prophet Joseph Smith and others to “establish” it and “build [it] up” (Doctrine and Covenants 31:7; 39:13). The Church is established and built up as people with testimonies are baptized and confirmed, keep their covenants, prepare to go to the temple, and help strengthen their ward or branch.
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man praying
As a missionary, you help establish and build up the Savior’s Church. There are many ways you can do this. You can support members as they share the gospel through the principles of loving, sharing, and inviting (see General Handbook, 23.1). You can help people receive baptism and grow in their faith. You can help new members adjust to their new life and continue to grow spiritually. You can also help returning members strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.
New and returning members grow in testimony and faith when they experience the gospel working in their lives. To help bring this about, it is important that they:
Missionaries, local leaders, and other Church members should gladly accept the opportunity to nourish and strengthen new and returning members. This service helps “keep them in the right way” (Moroni 6:4).
Go about Doing Good
During His mortal ministry, the Savior served others. He went about “doing good” and “preaching the gospel” (Acts 10:38; Matthew 4:23). As you follow His example, you will find people you can serve and who will receive you.
Through service, you fulfill the two great commandments to love God and love your neighbor (see Matthew 22:36–40; 25:40; Mosiah 2:17). Through service, you and others may come together in a powerful, inspiring way.
As a missionary, you give planned service each week (see Missionary Standards, 2.7 and 7.2, for information and guidelines). Under the direction of your mission president, you may find opportunities to serve in the community through JustServe (where it is approved) and the Church’s humanitarian and disaster response efforts.
Throughout each day, pray and look for unplanned opportunities to do good. Listen to the Spirit to recognize occasions for small acts of kindness you can offer.
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President Gordon B. Hinckley
“Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. … Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley [2016], 209).
Scripture Study
What was the role of service in the Savior’s life?
Your success as a missionary is determined primarily by your desire and commitment to find, teach, baptize, and confirm converts and to help them become faithful disciples of Christ and members of His Church (see Alma 41:3).
Your success is not determined by how many people you teach or help bring to baptism. Nor is it determined by holding leadership positions.
Your success does not depend on how others choose to respond to you, to your invitations, or to your sincere acts of kindness. People have agency to choose whether to accept the gospel message or not. Your responsibility is to teach clearly and powerfully so they can make an informed choice that will bless them.
Think about the Savior’s parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–28. The master, who represents the Lord, praised both of His faithful servants even though the size of their offerings differed (see Matthew 25:21, 23). He also gave them both the same reward, inviting them to enter “into the joy of thy lord” because they magnified what they were given.
God has given you talents and gifts to use in His service. Your talents and gifts are different from those of others. Recognize that all of these are important, including those that are less visible. As you consecrate your talents and gifts to Him, He will magnify them and work miracles with what you offer.
Avoid comparing yourself to other missionaries and measuring the outward results of your efforts with theirs. Comparing usually leads to negative outcomes, such as discouragement or pride. Comparing is also often misleading. What the Lord wants is your own best effort—for you to “serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2; emphasis added).
You may be sad if people do not accept the gospel yet. Sometimes you may feel discouraged. Even the great missionaries and prophets in the scriptures have sometimes felt discouragement (see 2 Nephi 4:17–19; Alma 26:27). In such times, follow the example of Nephi by turning to the Lord, placing your trust in Him, praying for strength, and remembering the good things He has done for you (see 2 Nephi 4:16–35).
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two missionaries praying
As you turn to the Lord in difficult times, He has promised, “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee” (Isaiah 41:10). Through exercising faith in Christ, you can find peace and reassurance about your efforts. Faith will help you press forward and continue in righteous desires.
Remain focused on your commitment to Christ and your missionary purpose—not the outward results. These results often are not evident immediately. At the same time, keep your expectations high regardless of the challenges you face. High expectations will increase your effectiveness, your desire, and your ability to follow the Spirit.
Some ways you can evaluate your commitment to the Lord and your effort to be a successful missionary are outlined below.
Seek earnestly to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, learning of Him and improving little by little (see John 8:31; 2 Nephi 28:30).
Go about doing good and serving people at every opportunity, whether they accept your message or not (see Acts 10:38).
When you have done your best, you may still have disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself. You can feel assured that the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working through you.
Scripture Study
How do servants of the Lord feel about the work? How do servants of the Lord influence those they serve? How do you feel about the work?
Think about the missionary efforts of Abinadi and Ammon (see Mosiah 11–18; Alma 17–20; 23–24). Why were both missionaries accepted by the Lord even though the immediate results of their efforts were different?
Consider the events in your life that have strengthened your testimony of Joseph Smith and the Restoration. Record your impressions.
Companion Study and Companion Exchange
Select one of the following great missionaries, and read the scriptures listed. As you read, discuss how this missionary (1) understood and committed himself to his calling, (2) demonstrated his attitude and desire for the work, and (3) helped others accept the gospel.
Select two hymns about the Restoration of the gospel. Read or sing the hymns. Discuss the meaning of the words.
District Council, Zone Conferences, and Mission Leadership Council
Invite two or three recent converts to share their conversion experiences. How did they feel about the missionaries? How did they feel about what the missionaries taught? What helped them keep commitments? What most strongly influenced their conversion?
Several days before the meeting, assign several missionaries to ponder selected questions from “Consider This” at the beginning of the chapter. Ask each missionary to prepare a two- to three-minute talk on the assigned question. During the district council or zone conference, invite the missionaries to give their talks. After the talks, discuss what was learned and how it could be used in missionary work.
Divide the missionaries into four groups. Ask each group to list as many truths, covenants, and ordinances as they can that were restored and revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Have each group share their lists. Invite missionaries to share how any of the truths revealed through the Restoration have influenced their lives.
Discuss what it means to be a successful missionary. Invite missionaries to give specific examples.
Mission Leaders and Mission Counselors
During interviews or in conversation with missionaries, periodically ask them to share with you:
Their testimony of Jesus Christ.
Their testimony of the restored gospel and the mission of Joseph Smith.
Their testimony of the Book of Mormon.
Their thoughts about their purpose as a missionary.
Invite missionaries to record in their study journal what they feel are some of the purposes of their mission. During an interview or in conversation, ask them to share what they have written.