Lessons on Missionary Service
Lesson No. One
Willing Obedience – The First Law of Missionary Service
Willing obedience is the first law of Missionary Service – The Lord said, “ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20). The Lord uses the word “broken” to mean “obedient.” It is the same as when we say that a horse is broken what we mean is that it is obedient. Willing obedience is the sacrifice the Lord asks of us.
Willing obedience is the only real sacrifice that we can give because it is the only thing we have to offer the Lord that is not already his. He will never compromise our agency by forcing obedience, but willing obedience is the thing he desires most from us.
Missionary service is one of the great opportunities of life to learn obedience and experience sacrifice. Missionaries put aside or sacrifice their temporal pursuits and focus on being willingly obedient to the commandments and the mission rules. As a result, they experience the blessings and spiritual strength that come from obedience and sacrifice. Obedient missionaries learn by experience an eternal principle that being in the Lord’s service is never a sacrifice as they receive back far more than they ever gave.
Our work in life and the mission field is obedience – In May 1829 the Lord gave Hyrum Smith (Hyrum was one of the great men of this dispensation) a revelation through his brother the Prophet Joseph. In this revelation the Lord told Hyrum three times to “keep my commandments” (D&C 11:6, 9, 18). Then by way of emphasis and further explanation the Lord said “Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea with all your might, mind and strength” (D&C 11:20). In a very important fundamental way the work of missionaries is to keep the commandments with all their might, mind, and strength.
The Lord told Saul, “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). For the disobedient missionary service is miserable, like kicking against the pricks. Saul repented and at the end of his mission this great missionary, now known as Paul, rejoiced in obedience: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (been obedient)” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Missionary service is a wonderful way to learn and practice obedience.
President Ezra Taft Benson
“When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.”
Willing obedience brings spiritual power – President Ezra Taft Benson taught a profound doctrine when he said: “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power” (“Obedience – Life’s Great Challenge,” Ensign, May 1998, p. 82).
Spiritual power is the greatest need of all missionaries. It is only available to anyone through willing obedience.
The Lord promises eternal life to the willingly obedient – “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness (obedience) shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23).
Testimony – Willing obedience is not only the best way, but it is also the easiest way. We have experienced the reality of the Lord’s invitation and promise when he said: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11:28-30).