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Motivating missionaries toward greater spirituality

Achieving greater spirituality in missionary work:

Only to the degree that we are spiritual can we be successful in this missionary work.  We should first focus on our own spiritual growth, always doing the things that will bring us to a close unity with the Lord.

  • Things that are destructive to spiritual growth:
    • Competition for attention, recognition, leadership, etc.
    • Seeking recognition and approval.
  • The missionary needs to make a strong commitment.
  • Missionaries need to serve each other.
    • Express appreciation for your companion.
    • Take responsibility for your companion and help him or her become stronger.
    • Give your companion an opportunity to participate on an equal basis.
    • Do small, unexpected things for your companion.
  • Missionaries must pray together constantly.
    • Discuss feelings and seek for unity in prayers.
    • List the things that are the most urgent needs.
    • Make a commitment as you seek the Lord’s help.
  • Spirituality and the law of the harvest — no shortcuts.
    • Give unselfish service to companions, members, investigators
    • Place full and complete confidence in the Lord
    • Visualize oneself as a true servant with power and authority.
  • Sacramental covenants (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77)
    • Willing to take upon ourselves the name of the Savior
    • Willing to always remember Him
    • Willing to keep his commandments which He has given us.
  • “The true aim in life is seeking for spiritual development rather than the physical pleasures or the accumulation of wealth.”  President David O. McKay
  • The starting point for all achievement is the selection of true aims, purposes, and goals, and these must be written down.  98 out of 100 people never define their goals.
  • Missionaries, after determining their true aims, automatically begin to develop:
    • Self-reliance and self-confidence
    • Personal initiative
    • Imagination
    • Enthusiasm
    • Self-discipline
    • Concentration of effort
  • Any dominating idea, aim, or purpose held in the mind through repetition of thought and backed by faith and a burning desire is taken over by the subconscious mind and acted upon immediately.  The power of thought is the only thing over which any human being has complete, unquestionable control.  Every brain is both a broadcasting station and a receiving set for the vibrations of thought, a fact which explains the importance of moving with definite aims instead of drifting, since the brain may be so charged with definiteness of purpose that it will begin to attract the physical appearance of that purpose.
  • Spiritual development begins with spiritual aims followed up by spiritual plans and spiritual commitments.
  • Purpose –“To the degree that we are spiritual can we be successful in this work.  We should first focus our own spiritual growth to do the things that will bring us a close unity with the Lord.”  “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.  Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.  Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you; cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you.”   Doctrine and Covenants 88:67-69
  • Plan — 
    1. Define clearly personal spiritual aims and write them out.
    2. Pray for help to achieve the aims.
    3. Study and ponder.
    4. Reaffirm commitments daily.
    5. Work persistently 
  • Fruits of spiritual development — Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, faith, self-control
    Galatians 5:25 “LIve in the spirit, walk in the spirit
    1. GIve unselfish service to companions, members, and investigators
    2. Place full and complete confidence in God
    3. Visualize yourself as a true servant with power and authority.
    4, Radiate – 90% of learning comes from seeing, 9% from hearing, and 1% from other senses.
  • Aims of physical pleasures and the accumulation of wealth are destructive to spiritual growth
    1. Galatians 5:26 – “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
    2. Any type of immoral thought and action is destructive.
    3. Disharmony with companonis and leaders as a result of personal ambitions is contrary to the missionary program. 

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