President Steve Peterson, president of the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, told the audience at a recent devotional that the most important duty Latter-day Saints have is to preach the gospel.
"Because of the covenants we have made and the blessings of the gospel we have received, we are under obligation to help all of God’s children enjoy the ordinances of salvation," he said.
Peterson explained that members start to meet their obligation to share their beliefs through example. "The joy we find in the restored gospel is reflected in the light emanating from our eyes. It is felt, spirit to spirit, by friends, neighbors, and classmates. It will cause them to inquire as to why we seem so at peace in a very unpeaceful world," he stated.
Though the term "missionary work" often makes people think of young men and women and a few older couples wearing black name tags, Peterson emphatically declared that missionary work is much more effective with the help of everyday members. To illustrate this point, he shared recent experiences of converts on Oahu. These converts were introduced to the beliefs of the Church after becoming acquainted with faithful Church members. Peterson also suggested that reactivation work is just as valuable as any other kind of missionary work.
"We often undersell our ability to be an influence for good in the lives of those around us who don’t have the gospel in their lives. As we live the gospel and our everyday lives reflect the joy, happiness and love that we feel as members of this church and kingdom, it will cause others to take notice."
When a missionary's full-time service does come to an end, this time should be viewed as a beginning, Peterson counseled. "You may have been released from full-time missionary service, but I don’t believe you are ever released from shepherding those sheep who came to know and trust your voice in your field of labor. I would encourage you to maintain contact with them throughout your life and do all in your power to help them continue to cling tightly to the iron rod."
Through personal accounts and other stories of missionary successes, President Peterson illustrated that though missionary work can be challenging, its blessings are great. "As promised in the revelations, when you engage in missionary and reactivation work, '[He] will go before your face. [He] will be on your right hand and on your left, and [His] Spirit shall be in your hearts, and [His] angels round about you, to bear you up.'" (D&C 84:88)