Lessons on Missionary Service
Lesson No. Three
Bearing Testimony is the Key to Conversion
Introduction – While we were serving in the Kentucky Louisville Mission I received a call from Elder Loren Dunn of the Seventy who asked if I would pick him up at the Lexington Airport and take him to a meeting with the president of a small liberal arts Christian college near Lexington. Elder Dunn had met this man during their service on a national committee to promote religious education and cooperation. Elder Dunn flew thousands of miles intending to reach out in a friendly, cooperative, ecumenical way.
When we got to the college the president was not available. The secretary made some feeble excuse about a misunderstanding, but the reality was that Elder Dunn had been stood up. We both sensed that it was because he was a Mormon. Elder Dunn remained composed and kind, and we left.
The Holy Spirit will confirm our testimony if we will open our mouth – The rejection by the college president gave us extra time before his return flight. Elder Dunn suggested that we go to the Lexington stake center. It was there and then that he taught me the key to conversion found as in D&C 100.
Headnote – Joseph and Sidney had been called on a mission, and they were concerned about their families. (Apply the following verses as if you are the missionary the Lord is speaking to)
Vs 1-2 – The Lord calls us his friends and assures us that He will bless our families while we are on our mission. We must follow Him and listen to His counsel.
Vs 3-4 – The Lord teaches us that we have been called to our mission “for the salvation of souls." He will open the door for the gospel to be taught in the mission where we are called.
Vs 5-6 – The Lord will reveal what we should teach in the very moment it is needed. (This assumes we are prepared through study and prayer to receive the promised guidance)
Vs 7-8 – We are to testify in the name of the Lord and with quiet dignity. If we do that then the Lord promises that the Holy Ghost will confirm that what we have testified to is true.
The Lord is able to accomplish his own work, often in ways we don’t expect – Some may conclude that Elder Dunn’s trip was a failure, but I believe that the work of the Lord was further advance by the time he spent with me than if he had met with the president of this college. This is because we taught our missionaries and many of them applied the doctrine found in D&C 100.
These missionaries learned by personal experience that if they were humble, prepared, and willing to open their mouth to testify, the Spirit always confirms their testimony in the hearts of those who are truly seeking the truth.
Fast forward twenty years – Shortly after we returned to Kentucky to serve in the temple I related my experience with Elder Dunn at a Lexington Stake Conference. I observed that in the last twenty years there is now a temple a little over one hour away from Lexington. There are now two stakes in the Lexington area. Many previous branches are now strong wards. LDS seminaries and institutes in the Lexington area have more students enrolled as does the college where Elder Dunn was rejected.
We know by personal experience that bearing testimony is the key to missionary work – If we are humble, prepared, and willing to open our mouth and testify, the Holy Ghost will confirm our testimony in the hearts of those we teach. This is a sure way to identify sincere seekers of truth, and it is the key to conversion. The adversary cannot counter or nullify this sure witness of the Holy Spirit.
It will be exciting to see the growth of the Church throughout the earth in the coming years. We are confident that it will be far greater than we now expect. This growth will continue as long as the Lord’s people are humble, prepared, and willing to testify. Our testimony will be confirmed, by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the hearts of those who seek the truth “with a sincere heart, with real intent, and having faith in Christ” (Moroni 10:4).