Mormon Mission Prep Webinar:

Gaining a Desire to ServeOne of a series of webinars on LDS Missionary Preparation by Jimmy Smith of

MormonMissionPrep.com. Other Webinars:

-Preparing to Serve-Receiving the Call to Serve

-Gearing Up to Serve

View recordings at www.MormonMissionPrep.com/webinar

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Before We Begin

• Etiquette– Please mute your line during the presentation– You can unmute at the end when we get to the Q&A

• This webinar is being recorded• You can click on the links within the slide presentation

– For example, click here to go to MormonMissionPrep.com• What this webinar is not

– It is not an official presentation of the LDS Church– It is not the Church Mission Prep class offered by wards,

stakes, and LDS Institute programs

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Introduction to Jimmy

• Working for the LDS Church since 2008– Currently website product

manager for Seminary and Institute

• In 2009 started MormonMissionPrep.com

• Graduate of BYU and ASU

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Served mission in Rosario, Argentina from 1995 to 1997

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My First Missionary Apartment: Parana, Argentina, December 1995

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The Almada Family: Parana, Argentina, January 1996

Mormon Mission Prep Webinar 1: Preparing to Serve 8Baptism of the Almada Family, February 1996

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Agenda

• The Gospel, Atonement, and Worth of Souls• Gaining a Desire to Share• You Are a Chosen Generation and We Need

You• Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission• Blessings of Missionary Work

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Preach My GospelA Guide to Missionary Service

• The full-time missionary guide is called “Preach My Gospel”

• What is the “gospel”?

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The Gospel is theAtonement of Jesus Christ

• Bible Dictionary says the gospel = good news• What is the good news? “That Jesus Christ has made a perfect

atonement.”• “And this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I

came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross.”– 3 Nephi 27: 13-14

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Heavenly Father and Jesus Have Shown Their Love for Us

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”– John 3:16

• “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”– John 15:13

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The Worth of Souls is Great

• “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;… And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” (D&C 18: 10, 15-16)

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Agenda

• The Gospel, Atonement, and Worth of Souls• Gaining a Desire to Share• You Are a Chosen Generation and We Need

You• Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission• Blessings of Missionary Work

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Lehi tasted of the fruit (the love of God) and wanted to share it

• The Book of Mormon teaches that the “the tree of life was a representation of the love of God” (1 Nephi 11:25)

• Lehi said “I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also” (1 Nephi 8:12)

• When you taste of that fruit, you too will want to share it with others

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Alma wanted to help others “taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste”

“And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world…And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!...Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste.”• Alma 36: 17, 20, 24

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The Mission of the Four Sons of Mosiah was due to Similar Motivations

• “Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.”– Mosiah 28:3

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Agenda

• The Gospel, Atonement, and Worth of Souls• Gaining a Desire to Share• You Are a Chosen Generation and We Need

You• Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission• Blessings of Missionary Work

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A Chosen Generation

• President Hinckley said he never spoke to the youth of the Church without thinking of this scripture:

• “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9.)• See A Chosen Generation

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A Chosen GenerationEzra Taft Benson

“We love you. As leaders of the Church, there isn’t anything in this world we wouldn’t do that’s right for you. We have great confidence in you. You are not just ordinary young men and young women. You are choice spirits, many of you having been held back in reserve for almost 6,000 years to come forth in this day, at this time, when the temptations, responsibilities, and opportunities are the very greatest.”-A Message to the Rising Generation

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The Greatest Generation of Missionaries

“We look to you, my young brethren of the Aaronic Priesthood. We need you. ... We need you to be meticulously obedient and faithful, just as they were. What we need now is the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the Church. We need worthy, qualified, spiritually energized missionaries.”-M. Russell Ballard, The Greatest Generation of Missionaries

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Young Men:Oh, how the Lord needs you!

“We need you. Oh, how the Lord needs you! … My plea to you this morning for leadership has never been more critical in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than it is today. I now understand abundantly why the prophets have said that the Lord reserved for this last day some of his very choice spiritual sons and daughters. I understand why you have been reserved to come forth now: because he needs you. He needs you desperately in the building of his kingdom.”-M. Russell Ballard, You—the Leaders in 1988

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Spiritual Starvation that Missionaries Can Alleviate

• Amos 8:11: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.”

• “The world wants and needs what we have. In the beautiful prayer by Brother Holland, he mentioned the famine in the world—famine not of bread, not of the ordinary needs, but a famine for the word of the Lord; and you are the custodians of the bread of life, you take it to your families so that they can share it with the people of the world.”– Spencer W. Kimball, Men of Example

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Agenda

• The Gospel, Atonement, and Worth of Souls• Gaining a Desire to Share• You Are a Chosen Generation and We Need

You• Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission• Blessings of Missionary Work

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President Kimball’s Landmark Address on Missionary Work

“The question has been often asked, Is the mission program one of compulsion? And the answer, of course, is no. Everyone is given his free agency. The question is asked: Should every young man fill a mission? And the answer of the Church is yes, and the answer of the Lord is yes. Enlarging this answer we say: Certainly every male member of the Church should fill a mission, like he should pay his tithing, like he should attend his meetings, like he should keep his life clean and free from the ugliness of the world and plan a celestial marriage in the temple of the Lord.” -Spencer W. Kimball, Planning for a Full and Abundant Life

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Every Prophet Since Then Has Repeated the Call

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Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission: Ezra Taft Benson

“The Lord wants every young man to serve a full-time mission. …Not only should a mission be regarded as a priesthood duty, but every young man should look forward to this experience with great joy and anticipation. What a privilege—what a sacred privilege—to serve the Lord full time for two years with all your heart, might, mind, and strength. You can do nothing more important. School can wait. Scholarships can be deferred. Occupational goals can be postponed. Yes, even temple marriage should wait until after a young man has served an honorable full-time mission for the Lord.”-To the “Youth of the Noble Birthright”

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Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission: Howard W. Hunter

• “Earlier prophets have taught that every able, worthy young man should serve a full-time mission. I emphasize this need today.” – Howard W. Hunter, Follow the Son of

God

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Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission: Gordon B. Hinckley

• “I throw out a challenge to every young man within this vast congregation tonight. Prepare yourself now to be worthy to serve the Lord as a full-time missionary. He has said, ‘If ye are prepared ye shall not fear’ (D&C 38:30). Prepare to consecrate two years of your lives to this sacred service. That will in effect constitute a tithe on the first twenty years of your lives.” – Of Missions, Temples, and Stewardship

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Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission: Thomas S. Monson

• “We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty—and we encourage all young men who are worthy and who are physically able and mentally capable, to respond to the call to serve. Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome their service.”– Welcome to Conference, President Thomas S.

Monson, October 2012

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Agenda

• The Gospel, Atonement, and Worth of Souls• Gaining a Desire to Share• You Are a Chosen Generation and We Need

You• Every Young Man Should Serve a Mission• Blessings of Missionary Work

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Missionary Work Cleanses Sin• “And in this place let them lift up their voice and

declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you.” -D&C 60:7

• “Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified in me.” -3 Ne. 19: 28

• “If thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” -Ezekiel 33:9

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A mission makes you a “stronger” man and a more “exceptional” woman

Elder Richard G. Scott said mission “experiences will develop a foundation for the later blessing of your being a strong husband and father.” “…Now may I speak from my heart of what an honorable full-time mission has meant to me personally…I served a mission in Uruguay. It was not easy. The Lord gave me many challenges that became stepping-stones to personal growth. There I gained my testimony that God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, did in fact visit Joseph Smith to begin a restoration of truth, priesthood authority, and the true Church on earth…At the same time, my future eternal companion, Jeanene, was being molded to become an exceptional wife and mother by her own mission. Most important, all that I now hold dear in life began to mature in the mission field. Had I not been encouraged to be a missionary, I would not have the eternal companion or precious family I dearly love.”

– Now Is the Time to Serve a Mission!, Ensign May 2006– Watch the video on my site: What a Mission Meant to Elder Scott

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The Blessings of Sharing the Gospel

• “Perhaps your desire or will to serve would increase if you understood more fully the blessings associated with missionary service. …Please understand that these blessings and more can be yours, if you become converted to [missionary] service and make yourselves available to respond”– Carlos E. Asay, The

Blessings of Sharing the Gospel

35

17 Blessings of Missionary Service1. Eternal Life: “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or

brethren, or sisters, …for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matt. 19:29)

2. Leadership Training: “Returned missionaries provide valuable leadership in the Church, especially in the developing countries of the world.”

3. Building the Kingdom for the Second Coming: “Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come.” (D&C 65:2, 6.)

4. Memorable Experiences: “President Kimball has referred to missionary service as high adventure. He did so because the work is stirring and exciting.”

5. Establishing Abiding Friendships: “The friendships we establish in the mission field with companions and converts become eternal.”

6. Loving and Understanding of People: “Missionaries gain a love and understanding of others through their service.”

7. Rendering Service: “He doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you.” (Mosiah 2: 23–24.)

8. Being a Peacemaker: “If every member of this Church would …become missionaries in very deed, we could contribute more to the cause of peace than all the power that might be gathered together by all the governments.”

9. Developing and Polishing Character: “The fundamental character of our manhood and womanhood [is] improved” though missionary service.

10. Forgiveness of Sins: “In the acceptance of the mission call and the dedication of yourself to the work, the Lord will forgive you of past transgressions.”

11. Growth of Testimony: “Missionaries teach and testify… Each time they do, they invite the Spirit, and the truths they proclaim become more and more deeply ingrained in their own souls.”

12. Companionship of the Holy Spirit: “Of all the companionships established in the mission field, the most cherished is the companionship of the Holy Spirit.”

13. Closeness to the Lord: “No one will ever fully understand the Savior’s work until he has invested in the business of saving souls, for that was the Savior’s role.”

14. Growth in Faith: Mission “experiences plant seeds of faith in their hearts.”

15. Knowledge of the Gospel: “Missions are schools of gospel learning, even schools for the prophets.”

16. Peace of Conscience: Missionary work brings “peace and happiness beyond all understanding.”

17. Joy: President Heber J. Grant testified: “[I] had more joy while in the mission field than ever before or since.”

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Why I have a Wheat Field on my website and cover of my book

• “For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.”– Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

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7Aldo, Gabriela, and Their Family, September 1996

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Homework: What you can do now to gain a desire to serve a mission.

• Talk to your dad, mom, or other friends who have served a mission about their experiences

• Learn about who you are as a child of God and a member of the chosen generation

• Learn about the Savior and his atonement• Study the words of the living prophets• Pray for a testimony of all these things

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Questions?

• Tell your friends about our upcoming webinars• Next Mission Prep Webinar– Preparing to Serve, Jan 27th at 6pm MST– Receiving the Call to Serve, Feb 3rd at 6pm MST– Gearing Up to Serve, Feb 10th at 6pm MST

• Register and watch video recordings at MormonMissionPrep.com/Webinar