Preach My Gospel unifies members
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Preach My Gospel, the guidebook for full-time missionaries, can be a unifying tool between members and missionaries, said Elder Erich W. Kopischke of the Seventy.
Speaking in the Saturday afternoon session of conference, Elder Kopischke observed: "If we want to understand and help our missionaries, we must have faith as missionaries have faith, we must think as missionaries think and we must feel as missionaries feel."
Being acquainted with Preach My Gospel will not only help members gain a greater understanding of the work of missionaries, it will also help members in their day-to-day life.
He listed several headings from the book: "How do I recognize and understand the Spirit?" "How do I study effectively and prepare to teach?" "What do I study and teach?" "What is the role of the Book of Mormon?" "How do I develop Christlike attributes?"
Then he asked, "Aren't those things that all of us want to learn? For everyone who wants to become a better member missionary and who wants to know how to support the missionaries, Preach My Gospel is full of powerful ideas and insights. We learn how we can help the missionaries and find people to teach and how we, as members, can work hand-in-hand, and why strong invitations to act are helpful to those investigating the Church."
He recommended the book to ward missionaries and leaders to study as well.
Elder Kopischke suggested that youth preparing for missions study the book. He also encouraged members to invite the full-time missionaries into their homes to teach a principle or doctrine from Preach My Gospel, and for parents to occasionally use principles from the book in a family home evening.
"In our home, we have had some surprisingly great lessons given by our children," he said. He concluded by saying, "Missionaries and members must speak one language. We must become one in our efforts to proclaim the gospel....
"As members of His Church, we are expected to be part of this glorious gathering process."
