I was reading in Preach My Gospel (PMG) the other morning and learned something new.  Maybe I shouldn’t say I learned something new.  A better way to put it would be to say I thought of something I already knew in a new and different way.

I was reading chapter 6 entitled “How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?”  The first paragraph in the chapter mentions Christ calling to Peter and Andrew and stating “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” (Matthew 4:19; see also Mark 1:17).    I’ve heard and read that phrase dozens of times.  In thinking of it, I always thought of it in association with Christ selecting those men that would later become apostles.  However, this time, the import of that phrase took on a much broader meaning for me. 

In a narrow sense, Christ was talking specifically to Peter and Andrew and calling them to his service.  In a broader sense, however, He was talking to everyone of us.  As members of the church, we are asked to follow Christ in the same way Peter and Andrew were.  Indeed, when we were baptized and then each week when we partake of the sacrament, we make a commitment to take upon us the name of Christ and keep his commandments—in essence, we make a commitment to follow him every time we take those sacred sacramental emblems. 

As I pondered about being a follower of Christ, another thought occurred to me. President David O. McKay, in April 1959, issued the now famous phrase, “every member a missionary.”  Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 states “ . . . whether by my own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”  In light of that scripture, we can extrapolate and say that just as we have been called by Christ to follow him, so to have we been called by Christ to be “fishers of men.”

Again I pondered this new thought, as I had the previous one, my mind was filled with wonder, and an almost overwhelming self-doubt as I contemplated the great responsibility the Lord has given us.  How can I, a weak, and far to often foolish, man ever help in so great a task.  What do I have to offer?  My self-doubt was short lived, however, as I read the following statement, a couple of paragraphs further into the chapter and was reminded of the Lord’s tender mercies.

“The restored gospel enables you to become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior has shown the way. He has set the perfect example, and He commands us to become as He is (see 3 Nephi 27:27). Learn of Him and seek to incorporate His attributes into your life. Through the power of His Atonement, you can achieve this goal and lead others to achieve it also,” (PMG, p. 115)

Reading this paragraph fills me with hope because of the promises it contains.  First, we are promised that we can reach a personal goal to incorporate the Christlike attributes we need to have in our lives to be successful member missionaries.  This correlates with 1 Nephi 3:7 in which Nephi teaches us that the Lord doesn’t give any commandments without preparing a way for us to fulfill them.  We’ve been commanded to become like God and Christ.  Through the Atonement of Christ we can become like them.  The grace of Christ is an enabling power and as we humbly seek for His guidance and exercise faith in Him, He, through His grace, can make “weak things become strong,” (Ether 12:27).  

Second, the above statement fills me with hope because of the promise that not only can we reach our own personal goal of acquiring Christlike attributes; we can also help others to attain the same goal in their lives.  What a wonderful promise.  We can be instruments in the Lord’s hands in helping others draw nearer to him. 

As I contemplated the thought of helping others, another wonderful Book of Mormon scripture found in Alma 26:22 came to mind.  It reads:

Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.

The bolded words indicate the things we must do in our lives if we would be powerful missionaries.   The bolded, italicized words indicate the wonderful promises about what we can do if we will implement the counsel given.  What wonderful blessings we can receive and help others to receive.  Then we can rejoice with them, even with that joy which surpasseth all understanding, which only God can give.

I have a firm testimony that these things are true.  I know Christ lives and that He loves us.  I know that the cleansing power of the Atonement is real.  I know that through Christ’s grace we can do all things that He has commanded, even as He turns our weaknesses in to strengths.  I know that we can become the great missionaries He expects us to be, if we will.

Tags: Missionary Faith Grace Weak Strong Enable

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