12 Misconceptions About Missionary Work

Are any of the 12 misconceptions about missionary work holding you back from sharing the Gospel? Here are 12 misconceptions about missionary work. We either tell ourselves these things, or we’ve been told them by others. Once we understand these are misconceptions, we can overcome them, and receive the blessings of sharing the Gospel. And, once we are true member missionaries, we truly will unleash an army that would make hell itself shake in fear.

1. It’s the missionaries’ job, not mine.

This is the most common misconception, “It’s not my duty, it’s the missionaries.'” It has taken hold in the culture, and stems from the idea that missionaries do the missionary work. But the doctrine is they are to help us do our missionary work.

When I was a missionary, I was talking with a ward mission leader and he asked, “What is your goal in this area Elder Goff?” and I replied, “We are here to help the members in their missionary duties” He replied “That is a nice propaganda line” I replied “That’s the doctrine” he replied “where does it say that?” I told him “April 2008 Elder Bednar.”

This Ward Mission leader was humble, and he read the talk, then the following fast Sunday he stood up and bore his testimony about our conversation he then told the congregation (paraphrasing) “It is not propaganda, it is doctrine, I’ve had it wrong my whole life, we’ve all had it wrong, let’s do our duty”

Here is what he read that changed his mind.

“A common element in many of our prayers is a request that the missionaries will be led to individuals and families who are prepared to receive the message of the Restoration. But ultimately it is my responsibility and your responsibility to find people for the missionaries to teach. Missionaries are full-time teachers; you and I are full-time finders. And you and I as lifelong missionaries should not be praying for the full-time missionaries to do our work!”

Elder David A. Bednar April 2008

Sharing the Gospel is every member’s duty.

2. We are “helping” the missionaries, in “missionary work”.

When the missionaries ask for help teaching a lesson, or for a ride, we often think to ourselves “Do I have time to help the missionaries?” Often the reply is nope, I am too busy. We should be rethinking this to “Do I have the time to keep my covenants? Do I have time to help hasten Salvation?” or “Do I have time to teach my family I am a disciple of Christ?” When we approach the work of Salvation as a covenanted duty we find added measures of the spirit to help us in all other endeavors of life.

I’ve seen marriages mend, children embrace the gospel, finances turn around, and people and families find greater joy and happiness. Do you want those things? Then, put your shoulder to the wheel of the work of Salvation.

3. I must be perfect to share the Gospel, or I am a hypocrite.

No one except Christ is perfect. The thought we must be perfect to share the Gospel comes from Satan. He’s afraid of the good we will do, and is trying to stop us. The thought that one should wait to get better before going to the hospital makes no sense. The key with sharing the Gospel, we just need to be trying, and say, “Come with me, as I try to be better”. If we are trying, then the Spirit will validate our words, and we will find chances to share the Gospel, and we will be genuine.

One of the best member missionaries I’ve ever known was a lady named Ruth. She struggled with smoking and drinking, and never came to church. We started teaching this lady and she started trying to keep the commandments, she stilled smoked, drank, and rarely came to church, but she was trying. She realized living the Gospel alone is hard, jokingly I said then get your friends to do it also. And she did. She started inviting all of her friends to join with her! From this one less active lady over 15 referrals, and four of her friends were baptized!