Having been converted to Christ in the previous chapter, the four sons of Mosiah express a desire to do missionary work in Mosiah 28. Their choice of preaching the gospel to the Lamanite people is somewhat surprising though, considering that:

• Their lives will be in danger. (The Lamanites hate the Nephites.)
• They will have virtually no credibility. (Why would the Lamanites even listen to them?)
• Their likelihood of success will be extremely slim. (The Lamanites are not the type of people who will look to God under any circumstances.)

On the other hand:

• They won’t be greeted with a response of “We already have a church.”
• They recognize that they themselves were vile sinners and God was merciful to them.
• They consider the Lamanites their brethren, so they would love to see their lives changed by knowing the Lord.

And, finally, there is the overriding reason that should drive any of us who are believers in Christ to desire to share the gospel with others:

“They could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.” (Mosiah 28:3)

I remember a missionary in our church who used to say, “I became a missionary the minute I walked out of the waters of baptism.”

In Lehi’s dream, as recorded in 1 Nephi 8, as soon as Lehi tasted of the tree of life, he immediately had a desire to share it with his family.

It’s what should happen to each of us when we experience God’s forgiveness for our sins, receive the Holy Ghost, and begin our walk on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. We should then have a desire to share this amazing experience with others so they can also experience it. We should be missionary-minded.

Are we missionary-minded? If so, what are we doing about it? It’s good to have a missionary mind, but it needs to translate into some type of action in order to bring about actual results.

The Church has a great need for missionaries today. As Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.” Opportunities exist in the U.S. and in other countries to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Although it’s true that you can share the gospel in your own neighborhood, there’s nothing quite like going on a missionary trip. For the time that you are on the trip, you are completely focused on the work of the Lord, free from the distractions that surround you in your day-to-day life. The power of God is evident. If you read the reports of our missionaries, you will get a flavor of what God does to direct, aid, and protect the missionaries as they labor in the field. If you are missionary-minded, consider being involved in missionary travel — the Church will benefit and you will be greatly blessed.

Are there other ways to be involved if you are missionary-minded and for whatever reason cannot go on missionary trips? Of course! Donating much-needed funds that will pay for missionaries to travel is always welcome, as is prayer and fasting on behalf of the missionary work of the Church. Within your own branch of the Church, you can be active in outreach efforts and in sharing your testimony with people you know, inviting them to experience The Church of Jesus Christ.

Regardless of what type of missionary action is most suitable for you, it begins with being missionary-minded. If you have an appreciation for what the Lord has saved you from, having a desire to share that with others is a natural next step. The stronger that desire is, the more you will be compelled to do something about it. We have something valuable in our possession that can change the world — let’s be missionary-minded and find a way to be part of the changing of the world.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.