“Hastening the Work of Salvation,” New Era, Nov. 2013, 12–13
Hastening the Work of Salvation
Now Is the Time
“The holy scriptures contain no proclamation more relevant, no responsibility more binding, no instruction more direct than the injunction given by the resurrected Lord as He appeared in Galilee to the eleven disciples. Said He, ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost’ [Matthew 28:19]. The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, ‘After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel’ [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 330]. … President David O. McKay … phrased the familiar ‘Every member a missionary!’ [in Conference Report, Apr. 1959, 122].
“To their words I add my own. Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.”
President Thomas S. Monson
Share and Testify
“Your personal conversion will help you as you prepare to make covenants in the temple, serve missions, and establish your own future homes. As you are converted, you will have a desire to share with others what you have learned, and your confidence and ability to testify to others with conviction and power will increase. This desire to share the gospel with others and the confidence to testify boldly are natural results of true conversion.”
Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president
Trust the Lord and Experience Miracles
“Trust the Lord. He is the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep, and His sheep know His voice; and today the voice of the Good Shepherd is your voice and my voice. And if we are not engaged, many who would hear the message of the Restoration will be passed by. Simply stated, it’s a matter of faith and action on our part. The principles are pretty simple—pray, personally and in your family, for missionary opportunities. Pray for the Lord to put opportunities in your path. The Lord has said in the Doctrine and Covenants that many people have been kept from the truth only ‘because they know not where to find it’ (D&C 123:12).
“You don’t have to be an outgoing person or an eloquent, persuasive teacher. If you have an abiding love and hope within you, the Lord has promised if you ‘lift up your voices unto this people [and] speak the thoughts that [He] shall put into your hearts, … you shall not be confounded before men.
“‘[And] it shall be given you … in the very moment, what ye shall say’ (D&C 100:5–6). …
“… If every member, young and old, will reach out to just ‘one’ between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior. …
“God bless you, brothers and sisters, to find the great joy that comes from experiencing miracles through your faith.”
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Reach Out and Invite
“I testify that many of those who need our help are there waiting for us. They are ready for their valiant brothers and sisters to reach out to them and rescue them through small and simple means. I have personally spent many hours visiting less-active members of the Church whose hearts have already been softened by the Lord, who are now ready to receive our testimonies and our sincere expressions of love. When we reach out and invite them, they will return to the Church without hesitation.
“Let us reach out to others with faith and with love.”
Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela of the Seventy
Find Great Happiness
“Doors and hearts open daily to the gospel message—a message that brings hope and peace and joy to the children of God throughout the world. If you are humble, obedient, and hearken to the voice of the Spirit, you will find great happiness in your service as a missionary. What a wonderful season it is to be a missionary—a time when the Lord is hastening His work!”
Elder Randy D. Funk of the Seventy
Unite in the Work
“The new converts, youth, young adults, those who have retired from their professions, and full-time missionaries need to be equally yoked in hastening the work of salvation. …
“May we all unite in a common objective ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39).”
Elder Edward Dube of the Seventy
Make a Game Plan
“If we, as members, really loved our family, friends, and associates, wouldn’t we want to share our testimony of the restored gospel with them? …
“We need to be engaged as never before to match the excitement of our leaders and the commitment of our full-time missionaries. This work is not going to move forward in the Lord’s intended way without us! As President Henry B. Eyring has said, ‘Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls’ (‘We Are One,’ Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 62).
“… I invite you to consider these three points as you think about your … plan.
“First, specifically pray to bring someone closer to the Savior and His gospel every day. You could do this by seeing all people as sons and daughters of God helping each other on their journey home. Think of the new friends you would make.
“Second, pray for the missionaries serving in your area and their investigators by name every day. The only way to do this is to greet them, look at their badge, call them by name, and ask them who they are teaching. …
“Third, invite a friend to an activity in or out of your home. Wherever you go or whatever you do, ponder who would enjoy the occasion and then listen to the Spirit as He directs you.”
Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy
Qualify for the Work
“Righteous living is a prerequisite for assisting the Lord in gathering His elect and in the literal gathering of Israel.”
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles