Doctrine and Covenants 18:15–16

Great and eternal happiness can be found in bringing souls unto Christ.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Labor

In this sentence, the word labor means to work diligently. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. … I believe [missionary work] is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul” (“Missionary Work and the Atonement,” Ensign, Mar. 2001, 15).

Crying repentance

“Crying repentance simply means helping people return to God.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Preparing for Your Spiritual Destiny,” (Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Jan. 10, 2010), 7; speeches.byu.edu.

Save

The word save here means “except.”

One soul

Heavenly Father loves and values each of His children. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, said, “God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him” (“You Matter to Him,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 22). When we begin to see others more as Heavenly Father does, we’ll recognize how important it is to share the gospel with them. If you have a hard time seeing the potential in others, you can pray for that gift from Heavenly Father.

How great shall be your joy

“Few joys in life are sweeter and longer lasting than knowing that you have helped others take the restored gospel of Jesus Christ into their hearts.”

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, “How Great Shall Be Your Joy,” Ensign, Feb. 2011, 4.

Kingdom of my Father

The “kingdom of my Father” refers to exaltation in the celestial kingdom—the highest of the kingdoms of glory. Those who receive exaltation will dwell with their families, Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ forever. People who have received all the ordinances of salvation (whether in this life or the next), kept the commandments, repented of their sins, and endured to the end in faith will live eternally in this kingdom.

Many souls unto me

Every day, we interact with people we could share the gospel with. President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, has said, “We need to exercise our faith that the Lord has prepared people around us to be taught. He knows who they are and when they are ready, and He can guide us to them by the power of the Holy Ghost and give us words to invite them to be taught” (“How Great Shall Be Your Joy,” Ensign, Feb. 2011, 4).