Three M's of successful missionary work
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PROVO, — The responsibility of the mission president is to see that his missionaries succeed, that no one fails in his mission, said President Thomas S. Monson during the 2002 Seminar for New Mission Presidents.
"Love them, lift them, inspire them, demonstrate your loyalty to them," he said. "[And] your house will be a treasure house of eternal memories."
Addressing the 129 mission presidents and their wives assembled in the Provo Missionary Training Center on June 26 prior to assuming their responsibilities July 1, President Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, emphasized the three M's of missionary labor: the missionary, the message and the member.
The Missionary
"If your relationship is sound, that relationship [with missionaries] will last long after the mission," President Monson said.
"Every missionary deserves to know that his mission president has been on his knees praying and pondering to determine with whom the missionary will be laboring."
Highlighting his address with many anecdotes from his experience years ago as mission president in eastern Canada, President Monson said, "Your poems will be their favorite poems. Your scriptures will be their favorite scriptures. Listen to them. Respond to them. Show them how."
The message
Considering the message of missionary work, President Monson emphasized, "You have the answers to man's search for happiness. The message of the Plan of Salvation, coupled with your testimony, will touch more hearts and souls."
The member
Recounting pleasant memories of members who assisted the missionary effort in Canada, President Monson said that the best assistance comes from converts. They can relate to the investigator and can help explain the gospel in ways investigators will understand.
"Use members to help missionaries teach and you will see membership grow," he said.
President Monson began his address by commending the mission presidents and their wives for their willingness to forsake the comforts of home and family to heed the Lord's command to go into all the world and teach and baptize.
"When standing before a group of members who leave behind family, home and grandchildren, and grandchildren yet unborn," he said, "one feels a spirit of dedication."
He acknowledged the challenge of leaving comfortable lives, and then offered solace by quoting from Doctrine and Covenants, Section 100, in which the Lord assured Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon that their families were well, President Monson said, "The Lord blessed Sidney's and Joseph's families. He blessed us and our family when we served in Canada. And He will bless your families also."
President Monson told of a conversation between Elder Jack Goaslind and his father at the time Elder Goaslind was called as a General Authority. Elder Goaslind asked, "What do I have to give?"
Elder Goaslind's father reached for his scriptures and read 3 Nephi 5:13: "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."
"That's what you have to give," President Monson said in quoting Elder Goaslind's father.
"And that's what you also have to give," President Monson told the mission presidents and their wives. "Do it well."
