The sons of Mosiah are truly converted to the Lord. They are filled with charity. They cannot bear that any human soul should perish and endure endless torment. This thought causes them to quake and tremble. When we are truly converted, we feel like the sons of Mosiah. We have an overwhelming concern for the welfare of others. We seek to serve and bless lives (see Mosiah 18:8–9; D&C 108:7; Matthew 25:40).
“That They Might Go Up to and Impart the Word of God to Their Brethren, the Lamanites—for They Could Not Bear That Any Human Soul Should Perish”
The words of the sons of Mosiah concerning their deep concern to save souls is a classic missionary scripture. Like their colleague Alma, the sons of Mosiah, following their conversion, have a great desire to share the gospel with all people—especially the Lamanites. As a result, they dedicate their lives to preaching the gospel, and continue, even today, by their example, to radiate an influence for good in the ongoing process of building up the kingdom of God. President Ezra Taft Benson shares the following words concerning a member’s responsibility to share the gospel:
Early in this dispensation the Savior placed on the Church the responsibility to share the gospel. On November 1, 1831, He said: “The voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days. And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:4–5.)
Again, on December 27, 1832, He commanded: “Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor. Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:81–82.)
When the Saints came West, President Brigham Young declared: “We wish the brethren to understand the facts just as they are; that is, there is neither man or woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life. This is the mission of every Latter-day Saint” (Journal of Discourses 12:19). (Come unto Christ [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1983], 89)
In our day President David O. McKay pronounced a mandate that has become our watchword concerning missionary work:
Every member is a missionary. He or she has the responsibility of bringing somebody: a mother, a father, a neighbor, a fellow worker, an associate, somebody in touch with the messengers of the gospel. If every member will carry that responsibility, and if the arrangement to have that mother, or that father, or somebody meet the authorized representatives of the Church, no power on earth can stop this Church from growing. And personal contact is what will influence those investigators. That personal contact, the nature of it, its effect depends upon you. And that’s one thing which I wish to emphasize. There’s one responsibility which no man can evade, and that’s the responsibility of personal influence. What you are thunders so loud in my ears, I cannot hear what you say. And what you are is the result of a silent, subtle radiation of your personality. The effect of your words and acts is tremendous in this world. Every moment of life you are changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world. (Address to the North British Mission, 1961).
More recently, we received this counsel from President Spencer W. Kimball:
We are still just scratching the surface of the needs of our Father’s other children who dwell upon the earth. Many still hunger and thirst after truth and are kept from it only “because they know not where to find it.” (Doctrine and Covenants 123:12.) There are still more places to go than there are full-time missionaries and organized missions to serve them. There are still millions more being born, living, and dying, than are hearing testimonies borne to them by the servants of the Lord.
All of this means, quite frankly, brethren, that we cannot share the gospel with every nation, kindred, tongue, and people with [our present number of] missionaries (as wonderful as they are), but we must have several million more to help them. We must, therefore, involve the members of the Church more effectively in missionary work. Member-missionary work is the key to the future growth of the Church, and it is one of the great keys to the individual growth of our members.
Leaders and members alike need in their lives the special renewal and enthusiasm which comes from regular personal involvement in missionary work. If personal missionary work is something someone has always been meaning to do, but has never gotten around to, then something very important and rewarding is missing in that person’s life.
Good neighbors are best suited to bringing to others the good news of the gospel, just as righteous members, living the gospel by example, as well as by precept, are the Church’s best advertisement. (Regional Representatives Seminar, October 3, 1980; italics added).
These statements summarize the responsibility the Lord has laid upon us to share the gospel with all of our Father’s children. We cannot avoid it. Let no man or woman think that because of where we live or because of our place in society or because of our occupation or status, we are exempt from this responsibility.
Membership in the Lord’s church is a gift and a blessing that the Lord has given us in mortality, and He expects us to share that blessing with those who do not have it.
We need to live the gospel. When we live the gospel, there is a spirit that emanates from us, and good people will be attracted by that spirit. Though nothing may be said about the Church, there will be an affinity between those who have the truth and those who love truth. That is the principle of attraction to which President McKay was referring. I know it is true. (Ezra Taft Benson, Come unto Christ [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1983], 89–91)