As a returned missionary, I often think of things I wish I had learned, or was taught before I went on my mission, or even earlier on my mission. These things would have changed how I taught, and my approach to my missionary work.

1st. Learn how you learn and how others learn, than teach them how they learn.

Studies show that around 60-65% of people learn visually. I never connected this. I always thought I was different, and most people were auditory learners. So I find out, that when you start teaching someone, it is good to begin with saying “Our desire is to help you learn, and understand what we are teaching about Jesus Christ and His Gospel, how do you normally learn best?”

Right off the bat you know what you need to do, you know if you need to use hands on lessons (Tactile learning), or maybe you need to use object lessons or analogies (Visually learning), or if reading right out of the scriptures, and teaching them orally is best (Auditory learning).

It is VITAL that you teach them how they learn. Countless people on my mission remembered next to nothing of what they had been taught, because they were taught in a different manner than they learn.

2nd. Don’t forget how you feel the Spirit.

Many missionaries felt the Spirit for the first time via music, during a EFY or something like that. Many of them when you ask stories of when they felt the Spirit also tell stories of powerful songs.

However, for some reason when we become missionaries we don’t use music??? I learned on my mission, the POWER of sacred music. I can’t tell you how many times singing a song like “O My Father” has brought someone to tears. If you can’t sing, don’t worry. God always uses imperfect servants!
President Grant Said the following:

“It is not the eloquence that you possess which will carry conviction to the hearts of the people, but it is the Spirit of Almighty God that is burning in your hearts, and your desire for the salvation of souls… …the singing of the songs of Zion, though imperfectly, with the inspiration of God, will touch the hearts of the honest more effectively than if sung well without the Spirit of God. Sing with the Spirit of God. Love the words that you sing. I love the songs of Zion.” 1

Take this story for example:

“Elders J. Golden Kimball and Charles A. Welch, neither of whom claim to sing well, while on a mission in the Southern States, were about to baptize some converts; a mob had assembled, and the brethren were given to understand that if they carried out their intentions of baptizing that the mob would throw them into the river. The brethren determined to go ahead no matter what the result might be. Before doing so, however, they sang a song. The song seemed to have such an effect upon the mob that they were almost transfixed. The brethren proceeded with their baptisms, and then went some distance to attend to confirming the baptized. A message came from the mob asking them to come and sing that song again, and the request was complied with. The leader of the mob, Joseph Jarvis, afterwards joined the Church, and he stated to Elder Kimball that the sentiments of the hymn, and the inspiration attending the singing, as above related, converted him to the Gospel.”1
Never underestimate the power of hymns, and songs, like “O My Father”2, I remember my mission president sharing a story, that they surveyed people at Temple Square about what they enjoyed the most, and they said how they felt when the choir sung, and the overwhelming song that most people remembered and loved was “O My Father”.
Read the rest at My Life By Gogogoff.