My testimony of Missionary work.

I think that as Latter-day Saints we have become confused with what missionary work is. It isn't about knocking doors all day or talking to people in the streets. It's not even about going out teaching with the missionaries or going on a full-time mission yourself. Missionary work is ALL about invitation and love. Missionary work is not just for those who are not members of the church. It is for every single person on the earth. It is about working together to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End! This is our purpose as members of the family of God. A key word in that purpose is "receive." What does it mean to receive something? Well if I were to write you a card and give it to you, would you just take it and throw it on the counter and leave it there forever? I hope not! To receive something means that we read it, that we really take it in and that we ACT. Many of us have received the restored gospel in our lives. We have exercised faith unto repentance and we have been baptised as a witness that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Christ and always remember him and keep his commandments. We have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost and we are striving to endure to the end.  The gospel of Jesus Christ enables us to use these principles as a rewarding pattern of living. We should be constantly exercising faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repenting, partaking of the Sacrament, and striving to keep the Spirit in our lives. This would be Ideal. But, human nature sometimes gets in the way of idealism and we sometimes get stuck at the beginning, middle, or end of the pattern. Some may be struggling to have faith in the Saviour. Others may be stuck in the process of repentance. Maybe someone you visit teach hasn't been coming to church for a while and therefore is missing out on the renewal that comes from partaking the sacrament. Or perhaps there is a mature sister in the ward that just lost her husband and is struggling to "endure to the end." Wherever we may be in our individual progress, each of us needs the support of one another. This is where missionary work comes in. We fulfill our missionary responsibilities as we invite others to come unto Christ! We can do this in many different ways. We can visit that sister in the ward who hasn't been to church in a while and invite her to come and sit with us. We can invite that friend who we've known for a long time to come and see what Christ can do for them. Maybe our invitation will be more simple. Maybe it will come through acts of service to those who are in need. As others see our light and goodness, they will want to partake as well! Invite the missionaries over to your home for a meal or maybe even invite them to use your home as a place for investigators to be taught. Whatever your invitation may be, you need not be afraid. Remember the Lord's promise that says, "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up." I know that that promise is real. As we go about this great work, always remember that we are standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's greatest and most perfect missionary. Of this I know and testify.