In his Saturday morning address, Elder L. Tom Perry of the Council of the Twelve noted that much progress has been made in declaring the gospel to the peoples of the world, yet much more needs to be done.
He said stakes have been established throughout many lands, buildings and temples have been constructed, priesthood leaders are being taught how to minister to the people and build faith, the Book of Mormon has been translated into many languages, and technology has given man tools for teaching and communicating."How exciting it is to live in this great day and be called to labor and bear testimony of the work in which we are now engaged," he declared.
Elder Perry said the work grows in direct proportion to the number of messengers. Last year, he said, the Church had its largest number of full-time missionaries and highest yield of convert baptisms. Still, many young men and women and couples have not heeded the call to serve.
"Even though we have heard our prophet declare for decades, `Every member a missionary,' we still have only a small percentage of the membership of the Church actively engaged in assisting stake and full-time missionaries in our responsibilities to declare the gospel to the world," declared Elder Perry.
He said only a small percentage of Church members actively help stake and full-time missionaries in declaring the gospel to the world.
Elder Perry said he believes members are reluctant to become involved in missionary work for two basic reasons:
First, they are afraid they will offend, and second, they have not prepared themselves to be good messengers. Neither reason can be justified, he said.
He pointed out that three messages have the greatest appeal to those who might become interested in the gospel:
First, the purpose of life; second, the concept of the eternal family; and third, the testimony of the Lord and Savior. "Perhaps they offer us a starting point in our preparation to become better messengers," he said.
Speaking in a powerful voice, Elder Perry declared that members should develop as one of their teaching skills the presentation of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon as another reliable, sound witness of the mission of the Savior.
Of the divinity of the book, Elder Perry noted that only 60 to 65 days were spent in its actual translation, and that Joseph Smith and his scribe had no time to consult libraries, or to revise or refine, or to cross reference dates or intervals and details.
"How do we develop an approach to a friend who needs the light and life of the gospel?" asked Elder Perry. "Be a good example! Develop a meaningful relationship of sincere caring. Be genuinely interested in your friend's thoughts, feelings, and experiences involving our Eternal Father, the meaning of life, the reason for families and the mission of our Savior. Have an enjoyable, edifying experience listening to your friends.
"Then, as President Spencer W.T Kimball once said: `We have double responsibility: we must testify of the things we know, feel, and have felt, and we must live so the Holy Ghost can be with us and convey our words in power to the heart of the investigators.' "