1st Time Speaking in Sacrament Meeting

Be a Missionary Now - August 9, 2015

Intro:

My name is Mackay Hall.  I have chosen to speak to you today about being a Missionary.   

I have seen a quote on people’s walls that says:

“A missionary is someone that leaves their family for a short time, 

so others can be with their families for Eternity.”  

I have 2 cousins who are doing that right now.  They’ve left their homes, studied and prepared, learned a language, put on a name tag, and traveled to foreign lands.  They are now helping other families become eternal.   

I know that although it is hard to leave everything behind, they are following a commandment to share the gospel.  In Doctrine & Covenants 43:15 it says: 

“Again I say, hearken ye elders of my church, whom I have appointed: Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit;”

As they have been missionaries, it’s been cool to see how their lives are changing.  It’s also cool to read about the families they are teaching and the happiness they feel because of the gospel.   

My sister is 18 years old and all of her friends have been getting their mission calls.  My mom and dad both served missions.  So when Kenzie’s friends come over to our house, I listen to my mom talk to them about their missions.  Some are really excited to go and I can tell others are a little nervous.  But one by one they are leaving to go serve the Lord.

I am almost 14 years old and obviously can’t serve a mission for awhile, but it has made me think about what it will be like when I can be a missionary.  

1. Prophets

President David O. McKay said;  “Every member a missionary.”  

President Spencer W. Kimball encouraged us  

“...to lengthen our stride in missionary service.”   

These two quotes teach me that I don’t have to wait until I am 18 or 19 years old to be a missionary?  I should be a missionary now. 

But how can I do this?   

I know bearing our testimonies to our friends is scary.  And sometimes we are afraid we will offend our friends or that they won’t be our friends anymore if we invite them to church, but I know that inviting someone to church or to hear the discussions is not the only way to be a missionary.   

We are “lengthening our stride in missionary service”  by doing small and simple things like:

Introducing ourselves to the stranger.  

Including the one that is left out. 

Inviting everyone to play the game or go to the movie.  

Simple acts of service and kindness can go a long way.  But I think by being a TRUE friend to someone is being a missionary.  

1. Missionaries Change

We have had many people in our ward serve missions.  It’s cool to see how much missionaries change.  They come home from their missions better because they have shared the gospel.  So why should we wait to start to make that change.  If being a missionary makes us happy and helps make others happy, then I think we should all start now because “every MEMBER is a missionary.” 

Conclusion

I hope we will all remember President David O McKay’s words and not wait until we receive a call to be a missionary. 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.