Lesson: Be Thou an Example of the Believers

Be Thou an Example of the Believers, Russell M. Nelson
Taught by Jill Fairchild

Whether full-time missionaries or members, we should all be good examples of the believers in Jesus Christ.

 

Full-time missionaries

From time to time we need to remind ourselves why we have missionaries. It is because of a commandment from the Lord, who said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

This commandment is one of many that have been renewed because the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fulness.

Full-time missionaries, some 52,000 and more, serve in 340 missions around the world. They are believers and devoted servants of the Lord. 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.” 5

Missionaries serve to make life better for God’s children. Heavenly Father loves every one of His children. After all, He is their Father. He wants to bless them with His greatest gift, that of eternal life.

We need more missionaries—more worthy missionaries.

Member Missionaries
Paul’s counsel, “Be thou an example of the believers,” applies equally to members.

Your good works will be evident to others.

The Apostle Peter so counseled, “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” Let your response be warm and joyful. And let your response be relevant to that individual.

You may invite your friend to attend church with you. Many of our friends do not know they are welcome in our Church buildings.

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.

You can invite a friend to read the Book of Mormon. Explain that it is not a novel or a history book. It is another testament of Jesus Christ.

Another way that you can share the gospel is to invite friends to meet with full-time missionaries in your home.

Now in this day of the Internet, there are new and exciting ways you can do missionary work. You can invite friends and neighbors to visit the new mormon.org Web site. 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. Each profile includes an expression of belief, an experience, and a testimony.

Each exemplary follower of Jesus Christ can become an effective member missionary. Members and full-time missionaries may walk arm in arm in bringing the blessings of the gospel to cherished friends and neighbors. Many of them are of Israel, now being gathered as promised. This is all part of the preparation for the Second Coming of the Lord.

He wants each of us truly to be an example of the believers.


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