Preach My Gospel

One of the most repeated subjects of the Doctrine and Covenants is missionary work. In the first section the Lord declared, “And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days…. That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:4-5, 23). In another revelation He commanded, “Go ye, go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of your voice” (Doctrine and Covenants 80:1). To another individual He said, “You are called to preach my gospel as with the voice of a trump” (Doctrine and Covenants 36:1). To James Covel He declared, “Thou shalt preach the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days” (Doctrine and Covenants 39:11). He invited Stephen Burnett in these words, “Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss” (Doctrine and Covenants 80:3). Many other invitations to preach the gospel are found in the revelations He has given in this dispensation, confirming that His final invitation to His disciples in the Old World is still in force for us: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).

                The Doctrine and Covenants is also full of many promised blessings for participating in missionary work. First, He has promised to give us words to speak as we open our mouths: “Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say” (Doctrine and Covenants 100:5-6). He similarly said on another occasion, “Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness” (Doctrine and Covenants 33:8). He will fill our mouths as we speak for Him. He has also offered us forgiveness of our sins if we will share the gospel: “For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:61). He similarly said, “Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you” (Doctrine and Covenants 62:3). As we bear testimony of Him, He forgives our own sins. One of my favorite promised blessings is found in what He told Oliver Cowdery: “And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men” (Doctrine and Covenants 24:12). Surely we all need that kind of strength from the Lord, and I believe this promise is for all of us as we open our mouth to declare His gospel to others. Lastly, we are ultimately promised salvation as we preach the gospel and remain faithful to the end: “For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:4). He told John and Peter Whitmer, “And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father” (Doctrine and Covenants 15:6). As we bring souls to Him, we inevitably bring ourselves to the kingdom of the Father as well. He similarly told Oliver Cowdery, “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:15) We will find joy in the kingdom of the Father if we labor all our days to cry repentance to this people. He similarly made this promise to the faithful who declare His word: “Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your might—Lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, proclaiming the truth according to the revelations and commandments which I have given you. And thus, if ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life” (Doctrine and Covenants 75:3-5). In other words, His greatest blessings are promised to those who will in mortality preach His gospel.