Preach My Gospel

By Brother Keith L. Brown

The following Sacrament talk was delivered to the congregation of the Annapolis Maryland Ward, Annapolis Maryland Stake of Zion, on Sabbath Day morning, 19 March 2006.

In keeping with the theme that has been chosen for this month’s Sacrament meetings, “Preach My Gospel”, I should like to take just a few minutes this morning to address the subject of why each of us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the responsibility of sharing the Gospel with everyone we meet. All of us, not just those who have been called to serve full time missions, but each and every one of us, are called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Savior emphasized the vital importance of sharing the gospel when He said to His disciples: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15, 16). I submit that this charge was not given merely to the disciples that were present at that time, but that this charge was given to everyone who is a believer in and a follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore, as Disciples of Christ, that charge is given to you and to me. We are all called to go forth into the entire world and preach His Gospel.

President Spencer W. Kimball reminded us that, “We are the messengers, and we have the acceptable message.” And, President John Taylor reminded us that, “When men go forth in the name of Israel’s God, there is no power on earth that can overturn the truths they advocate” (JD, 12:396). President Taylor taught us further that, “When men go forth possessing the truths of the everlasting gospel which God has revealed, they have a treasure within them that the world knows nothing about. They have the light of the revelation, the fire of the Holy Ghost, and the power of the priesthood within them – a power that they know very little about even themselves, which, like a wellspring of life, is rising, bursting, bubbling, and spreading its exhilarating streams around.”

Why do we do missionary work? We do missionary work because the very purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to invite, encourage, and assist all of God’s children to come to Christ, and “lay hold upon every good gift” (Moroni 10:30) and “receive a remission of [their] sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that [they] may be numbered with [His] people who are of the house of Israel” (3 Nephi 30:2).

In 2 Nephi 2: 6-8, Lehi taught his son Jacob: “Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.”

The Prophet Joseph Smith also understood the charge of God to share truth with the world. During the most difficult times of his life, he sent forth his loyal supporters to proclaim the gospel when they were urgently needed to support him. In the midst of the trial and deprivation of Liberty Jail he said: “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it— Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12. 17).

So, what exactly is this Gospel that we are to proclaim to the world? Allow me to briefly share with you an easy way to explain the G-O-S-P-E-L.

1. Good News. The word Gospel literally means good news. The good news of the Gospel is that Christ came to be the Savior of the world.
2. Opportunity. The Gospel means opportunities for all. Christ is not a respector of persons. All souls are precious in His sight.
3. Salvation. The Gospel means salvation from sin. Christ came to destroy Satan’s works and set all men free from the bondage of sin.
4. Peace. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings lasting peace.
5. Everlasting. Houses, land, silver, gold, beauty, and youth will all fade away. However, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is everlasting.
6. Love. In John 3:16-17 we read these words: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but t the world through him might be saved.” Love is the basis for the good news of the Gospel. Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He gave His son. Christ loved so much that He gave Himself. We, as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ must also love one another as we are taught in 1 John 4:11, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard warns us that, “As disciples of Christ, we need to feel genuine charity for one another. As we do, new light will come into our own lives. This charity is essential in missionary work, but we must never allow ourselves to treat our neighbors only as potential converts. We must not be so anxious to share the gospel that we become insensitive to the feelings of others. If [nonmember friends] are not interested in the gospel, we should show unconditional love through acts of service and kindness, and never imply that we see an acquaintance only as a potential convert.” (Ensign, November 1988, p.30.) 

May I share with you five things to consider and to remember when sharing the gospel with others?

1. Be Friendly. We must be friendly, cordial, hospitable, and warm hearted if we are to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2. Be Forgiving. We must forgive others, holding no grudges or resentments. If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us as we are taught in Matthew 6:14-15.
3. Be Fearless. In Isaiah 44:8 we are taught, “Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it?  ye are even my witnesses.  Is there a God beside me?  yea, there is no God; I know not any.” As we go forth to proclaim the “good news” we must be willing to take a bold stand against the adversary who will try to defeat our efforts by placing obstacles in our path in an effort to persuade us not to share the gospel. We must learn to ignore the voice of the adversary and heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit and then act in faith in sharing the gospel. When the Spirit is present, we will find that people are more open and responsive to our sharing the gospel.
4. Be Fervent. Christ was not discouraged, despondent, or depressed. He taught the great truths of His salvation with enthusiasm and zeal. We should also be fervent in spirit as we share the message of the gospel with others.
5. Be Faithful. In Revelation 2:10 we read these words, “. . .be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Christ was faithful unto death, thus making salvation possible for all mankind. We should be faithful to the tasks that have been set before us. For if we are faithful to the end, a crown of life awaits us.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught us, “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the gospel” (TPJS, p. 113), however; brothers and sisters, none of us can effectively teach the gospel if we do not live it. The first act to qualify ourselves to be missionaries is to live the principles that we teach. Christ said, “Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world.  Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.  Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed” (3 Nephi 18:24). Our task is to “hold up” to the world that which Christ has done for man: the atonement, the example that He set, and the teachings that He has given us personally and through His Prophets, both ancient and modern. The Savior also taught us: “Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14 -16).

As we preach His gospel, the message that we bring to the world is one that testifies of the fact that God still loves the world and that He has spoken again as an indication of that divine love. He has restored precious truths lost over the centuries of Christian persecution, dark ages, and years of confusion – truths that are essential to our peace and happiness – truths so essential to our eternal salvation that our loving Heavenly Father has restored them in their fullness.

President Gordon B. Hinckley further clarified the purpose of missionary work when he said, “The work of the missionary is everlasting in its consequences. Acceptance of the gospel at the hands of a true and dedicated teacher affects not only the recipient, but also generations who are to come after the recipient” (Ensign, May 1983, p. 85). Missionary work affords us the opportunity to manifest our love of the Savior. It also affords us the opportunity to express our love to all mankind. It further affords us the opportunity to testify of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Redeemer of the world as well as an opportunity to build our own faith in Christ and to teach His saving and comforting doctrine.

I close with the words found in Doctrine and Covenants 38:40-41: “And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that every man, both elder, priest, teacher, and also member, go to with his might, with the labor of his hands, to prepare and accomplish the things which I have commanded. And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness.” That we all may be found faithful servants laboring in our Heavenly Father’s vineyard, bringing the world His truth is my humble prayer this day. In the sacred name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Tags: Gospel Truth Restoration Jesus Christ