Lessons on Missionary Service
Lesson No. Nine
Teach and Testify of Christ
The charge to all missionaries is to do three things:
- Teach and testify of Christ
- Teach and testify of the Restoration
- Invite all to come and be baptized unto repentance that they also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life. (See Alma 5:62)
Missionaries should always look for opportunities to bear testimony of these three things, and the best way to do it is to use the Book of Mormon.
Effective missionaries teach and testify of Christ by using the Book of Mormon – The Book of Mormon continually teaches and testifies of Christ and his gospel. On most pages there are usually several names which refer to the Savior.
The two stated purposes of the Book of Mormon, as found in the last sentences of its Title Page, are “that [we] might know the covenants of the Lord…. And also to the convincing [of the whole world] that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations”.
He has manifested himself unto me as I have studied and prayed about the Book of Mormon, and He will do the same for anyone who will sincerely read and pray about the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ – In 1982 the subtitle “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” was added to the title of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon, better than any other scripture, teaches and testifies of Christ. President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity. Unlike the Bible, which passed through generations of copyists, translators, and corrupt religionists who tampered with the text, the book of Mormon came from writer to reader in just one inspired step of translation. Therefore, its testimony of the Master is clear, undiluted, and full of power. But it does even more. Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior. They question His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection. The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and unmistakable terms about the truth of all of those. It also provides the most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement. Truly, this divinely inspired book is a keystone in bearing witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ” (Ensign, Oct 1986).
“The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ through two basic means. First, it tells in a plain manner of Christ and His gospel. It testifies of His divinity and of the necessity for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in Him. It bears witness of the Fall and the Atonement and the first principles of the gospel, including our need of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a spiritual rebirth. It proclaims we must endure to the end in righteousness and live the moral life of a Saint.
"Second, the book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrine and lays down contention. (See 2 Nephi 3:21) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrine of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon is similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time” (A Witness and a Warning, p. 3)
Baptizing in the Lord’s way is the primary purpose of missionary service – This is consistent with Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service which was written for both full time and member missionaries. The first chapter is entitled What is My Purpose as a Missionary? The answer: “Baptizing and confirming the people you teach is central to you purpose. Dallin H. Oaks said: ‘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 invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this.’”
Testimony – If the Book of Mormon is true then Jesus is the Son of God as He claimed to be, and everything else about the restoration is also true. If investigators will not read and pray about the Book of Mormon then they will not likely be baptized or remain strong. You should teach and testify of Christ, and the Restoration, and the Book of Mormon as often as possible. The Holy Spirit will confirm your testimony. The elect will receive your testimony and join the Church.