The Work

D&C 4:3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to do the work.

"It is not necessary for you to be called to go into the mission field in order to proclaim the truth. Being on the man who lives next door by inspiring confidence in him. By inspiring confidence in him, by inspiring love in him for you because of your righteousness, and your missionary work has already begun." -Elder George Albert Smith (In Conference Report, Oct. 1916, pp. 50-51.)

Desire. What an interesting word. A desire of the heart is more than just a mere wish—it is a sincere longing. I feel as though the desires of one’s heart and their willingness to act upon their intentions often go hand in hand. A lie that circulates in the church is that the only work to be done is that of formally called missionaries. However, if one simply has the desire to serve the Lord, then there is work for you... and you can be a missionary of sorts. A missionary doesn’t have to be preaching the doctrine of the church all of the time. That is not to say that a disciple of Christ should turn down opportunities to share the gospel… but some of the work that needs to be done requires more than just preaching. There are far too many members who come to church feeling lonely. There are far too many members of our community that feel alienated from their “Mormon neighbors” because of their religion. How do we bridge these gaps? How do we soothe these troubled souls? We reach out to them. We love them. We share with them the love of their Heavenly Father. Not only by informing them of it, but by showing them love. We instill in them the confidence they need to feel like they are no longer an outcast: neither in the place they call home, nor in the place they come to worship. Is full-time missionary service important? Undoubtedly. But that is not the only work to be done. Anyone who has the desire love, to care, to share any small truth of the gospel has been called. The work is not only informing people about the gospel, it is helping them along the way.