Paul's counsel, "Be thou an example of the believers" (1 Timothy 4:12) applies equally to full-time missionaries and other members of the Church, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve said in his priesthood session address.

Noting that some 52,000 missionaries serve in 340 missions around the world, Elder Nelson said, "They are believers and devoted servants of the Lord."

Quoting a phrase from the missionary guide Preach My Gospel, he said, "Their purpose is to '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.'"

Elder Nelson affirmed that all members can be missionaries, a statement he said reminds him of a humorous report about a sign posted on a large playing field at a missionary training center, "Missionaries only!" Others who also wanted to play on the field posted a sign of their own, "Every Member a Missionary!"

Saying every member can be an example of the believers, Elder Nelson added, alluding to several scriptural passages, "Brethren, as followers of Jesus Christ, each of you can live in accord with His teachings. You can have a 'pure heart and clean hands.' You can have 'the image of God engraven upon your [countenance].' Your good works will be evident to others. The light of the Lord can beam from your eyes. With that radiance, you had better prepare for questions. The Apostle Peter also counseled: 'Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you' (1 Peter 3:15).

"Let your response be warm and joyful. And let your response be relevant to that individual. Remember, he or she is also a child of God, that very God who dearly wants that person to qualify for eternal life and return to Him one day. You may be the very one to open the door to his or her salvation and understanding of the doctrine of Christ."

Be ready to take the next step, Elder Nelson advised, such as inviting a friend to attend Church. "Many of our friends do not know they are welcome in our Church buildings. 'Come and see' was the Savior's invitation to those who desired to learn more about Him."

He counseled members to reach out to those they do not know and greet them warmly. "Each Sunday extend a hand of fellowship to at least one person you did not know before. Each day of your life, strive to enlarge your own circle of friendship."

Elder Nelson said Church members can also invite friends to read the Book of Mormon and to meet with the full-time missionaries. "Your friends, in the comfort of your home and with your constant reassurance, can begin their journey toward salvation and exaltation."

There are new and exciting ways to do missionary work in this day of the Internet, Elder Nelson said, such as the new mormon.org website. "If you have blogs and online social networks, you could link your sites to mormon.org. And there you can create your own personal profile" containing an expression of belief, an experience and a testimony, he said. — R. Scott Lloyd