Stories: Notes to be Referred to Daily by Missionaries
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from Francis M. Lyman.
Each missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is endowed with the Holy Priesthood of God, and is sent forth as a minister of the restored Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He is believed to be morally clean and upright, and should keep himself pure, sweet, and unspotted from the sins of the world. He should avoid and resist the very appearance of evil, and after performing an honorable mission, should return to his home with clean hands and a pure heart.
Among the many items of counsel given by the authorities of the Church before his departure for the mission field, he should have the following indelibly stamped upon his mind and heart:
1. Keep a brief, daily journal of your life's labors, especially of all your official acts.
2. Do all things with a prayerful heart; pray vocally morning and evening, oftener when necessary, and pray secretly every day. Make each prayer appropriate to the occasion, as those for the Sacrament and Baptism are.
3. Invariably keep the Word of Wisdom, refraining from the use of tea, coffee, tobacco and intoxicating drinks.
4. Guard against familiarity with womankind. There must be no sparking, kissing, or embracing of woman---your kisses should be for home consumption, and be brought home to your loved ones, where they belong. Kissing and hugging aside from this lead to immorality, and a fallen brother not only crucifies himself, but brings misery and woe to the kindred of both parties. Immorality is the bane of missionary life. There is little more enticing, and nothing more dangerous and deadly.
5. Build up and portray the excellencies of the Gospel, but do not tear down any man's religious structure. Grant sincerity of mind, as you claim it for yourself. Discover and recognize all things praiseworthy about you.
6. Be charitable to unfortunate conditions, and be sympathetic with the afflicted.
7. Bless, but do not curse.
8. Be genteel, and pattern after best in manly manners. Do not engage in rowdy or undignified sports, but follow in the demeanor of a dignified and manly minister.
9. Be pleasant and cheerful, but do not indulge in nonsense, ridicule and unseemly jesting.
10. Defend and justify the right, but contend with no man.
11. Be candid and sincere.
12. Hold sacred and do not use commonly such names as God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Ghost, Apostle, Prophet, Seer and Revelator. Elder or Brother are the common titles for members of the Melchizedek Priesthood. President and Bishop may be used where they belong.
13. Write your first name in full, or abbreviate, as "Geo." for George, "Wm." for William. Intitials fail to determine the sex, or to specify clearly which person is meant.
14. Study the Scriptures carefully---the Jewish, Nephite and Latter-day revelations. Store your minds with knowledge of the truth, and the Spirit of the Lord will bring it forth in due season. As the Savior said: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."
15. Be cleanly in your person and clothing, spend as little money as possible, leaving the world and your brethren to assist you in the things that are needful, thereby proving that they are disciples of the Lord.
16. Lodge, feed and pray with the people as much as possible.
17. You are sent out to preach the first principles of the Gospel, and to call all men unto repentance. You are sent to teach and not to be taught by the world.
18. Leave your visiting and sight-seeing until your mission is completed.
19. Proper living and serving the Lord and consequent growth and development of strength and stability at home will aid you in the mission field, and, on your return home, you will be better prepared thereby to continue your labors and keep from backsliding.
20. Be careful of what money you may have; see that you do not get robbed.
21. Do not borrow money of Saints or strangers.
22. Do not make promises to write or do other favors when you get home, wait until you get home, and then do all you reasonably can.
23. Do not praise the beauties of Zion, or magnify the virtues of the Saints. Fortify the people for the trials they must meet, as they will be tried in the furnace. Urge the people to stay and maintain the work abroad in the earth, by their works and their means. Thus they will gain strength to be able to stand when they do gather to Zion. If they must apostatize, it is better that they do so in their native land.
24. Start right, by avoiding all evil habits; never say in public or in private that you do not know the Gospel is true.
25. Get an understanding of the Gospel, and teach it as the spirit directs.
26. Get the spirit of your mission and keep it.
27. Seek learning by faith as well as by good study. If deficient in good English, acquire a knowledge thereof so as not to betray ignorance; but do not depend upon fine words or upon the learning of the world.
28. Live near the Lord, so that you can approach and appeal to Him on all occasions.
29. Let all your talents, affections and power be centered on the work of the ministry.
30. Seek to know the will of the Lord, and to do it. When success attends your labors, give God the glory.
31. In going and in returning, and while sojourning, remember that the Church and the Saints will be judged by your actions.
32. Your duty to yourself and to your God is to do your very best, and to do it always.
33. Be appreciative of favors, and leave your blessing with the deserving.
34. Do not enter into debates with each other or with anyone else over obscure points and passages; nor should you seek to advance beyond what the Lord has revealed.
35. Honor the laws of the country in which you labor.
36. Observe strictly the rules of the Mission and conference Presidents.
37. Be punctual, that the Spirit of the Lord may not be grieved by the unseemliness of tardy attendance.
38. Your lives are precious; care well for your health. Excesses are wrong and bring disaster. You should not walk too much, talk too much, fast too much, eat or drink too much, or attempt too much to do without needful things. Wisdom is one of the greater gifts.
39. Your ambition to make converts should not lead you to baptize those who are unworthy. Never baptize a married woman without the consent of her husband, or children under age without their parents's consent.
FRANCIS M. LYMAN,
In behalf of the Council of Twelve Apostles |
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