The following are excerpts from addresses given at the mission president's seminar, June 23-28.
The more I see of the world, and the more I see of events and people, the more I have come to realize that things that seem impossible to us - or [those thingsT we would imagine, "How could that ever be?" the more I sense [theirT possibility. I know in my own heart and soul that if we understood a little more clearly what the Savior is trying to teach us, and to teach mankind, those obstacles that we see out on the horizon will disappear. We are seeing the world change. The barriers are coming down fast.- Elder David B. Haight,
Council of the Twelve
It is interesting to observe how rapidly the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith unfolded after the Book of Mormon was translated and published. Many of the doctrines and the priesthood authority were restored during the translation process. Once the translation was finished and without delay, the first missionary went out, and the Church was organized. We can conclude from this that the Book of Mormon is necessary both to weave the threads of the prophetic mantle of Joseph Smith, and also to lay the foundation for restoring the dispensation of the fullness of times.
- Elder James E. Faust,
Council of the Twelve
Of course the great worth of the Book of Mormon lies not in its miraculous translation, wondrous as it was, nor in its stories that we read to our children. The great worth of the Book of Mormon is that it is another testament of Jesus Christ. All four of its major authors - Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, and Moroni - were eyewitnesses of the Lord, as was His inspired translator of the book. The Book of Mormon is a great clarifier of doctrine. It refutes many myths, and at the same time affirms truths previously obscured. And it reveals many glorious doctrines lost or previously unknown. . . .
The Book of Mormon reveals that Jesus of Nazareth, born of Mary, is literally the Son of God. No book of scripture bears more solemnly the weighty burden of that testimony than does the Book of Mormon. Its pages contain nearly 4,000 references to Christ, using more than 100 different titles for Him. His holy name is mentioned on the average of once every 2.8 verses. No wonder the book has been designated "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."
- Elder Russell M. Nelson,
Council of the Twelve
We do not preach and teach in order to "bring people into the Church" or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach just to persuade people to live better lives. We honor and appreciate the many ministers and others who are involved in the kind of ministry that make bad men good and good men better. This is important, but we offer something more. You can qualify for the terrestrial kingdom instead of the telestial kingdom without the aid of this Church. We are concerned with a higher destination.
The purpose of our missionary work is to help the children of God fulfill a condition prescribed by our Savior and Redeemer. We preach and teach in order to baptize the children of God so that they can be saved in the celestial kingdom instead of being damned in a lesser kingdom. We do missionary work in order to baptize. That is the doctrinal basis for missionary work.
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks,
Council of the Twelve
God loves all of His children, but His way of blessing them is to a great measure through utilizing agents who represent Him. In this manner, His children are blessed, the instruments of His love are blessed in their service, and He is glorified in the accomplishments of His purposes. His Chief Agent in all of this, our Exemplar and Savior, was and is and ever will be, His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.
- Elder Marion D. Hanks,
Presidency of the Seventy
If you teach the gospel and get the right climate arranged and then bear testimony that what you are saying is true, it strikes a responsive chord in the heart of the hearer. The conversion comes when the hearer, the investigator, bears testimony back to you when his soul vibrates and responds to what you have said.
He can't explain it, and he doesn't know why, but all of a sudden, he knows that the work is true.
God bless you to have the richest experiences in your lives as you lead wonderful men and women to find their way, their position and their responsibility as they walk through life.
- Elder Robert L. Backman,
Presidency of the Seventy
"President [Ezra TaftT Benson's counsel is very clear: "Our preaching and our teaching must be by the power of the Holy Ghost. We must ever remember that in this glorious work, the most essential element is the Spirit."
What can we do to help the missionaries speak by the power of the Spirit? Worthiness, prayer, study - yes - in addition we can bear testimony to certain truths that bring a great outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord. I have noticed that the Spirit bears witness to some truths with great intensity. . . .
Inasmuch as a person's eternal welfare is dependent upon accepting certain truths - it follows that the Holy Spirit will bear witness to those truths when that witness is sought under the conditions given by the Lord. It also follows that when a servant of the Lord stands as a witness of those truths, the Spirit is bound by the laws of heaven to respond to the honest, searching heart."
- Elder L. Aldin Porter
of the Seventy