Dear Sisters and Elders –
We have been urged by the First Presidency to “use [Preach My Gospel] daily in [our] personal and companion preparation, and in [our] district meetings and zone conferences” (PMG, v). Why is this so important? There are many reasons, but I will mention two in particular:
First, Preach My Gospel defines the way the Lord wants us to share His gospel. Preach My Gospel was edited, approved, and endorsed by each member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. From Preach My Gospel we learn:
- Our missionary purpose
- What to teach and how to teach it
- How to qualify for and follow the Spirit
- How to use the Book of Mormon
- How to use our time most effectively
- How to find people to teach and to lead them to conversion
- How to work productively with local leaders and members
When we follow the principles and concepts in Preach My Gospel, we are entitled to divine help and assistance. Used together with the scriptures, we do not need any other teaching aids. “Preach My Gospel is intended to help you be a better-prepared, more spiritually mature missionary and a more persuasive teacher” (PMG, v).
Second, studying and applying Preach My Gospel is critical for our own conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained: “[Preach My Gospel] was created to convert the missionary before we…convert the investigator… It is supposed to get in your bones, it is supposed to be down in…your soul. The most important contact and conversion, investigator and baptism you will ever have is yourself” (Missionary Training Center devotional, January 13, 2009).
Preach My Gospel will prepare us to be more successful once we return home. “Probably the greatest benefit of Preach My Gospel will be seen in the lives of returned missionaries, who will be stronger parents, more able Church leaders, and better professionals because of the growth that comes from understanding and applying its inspired content” (Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Preach My Gospel,” General Conference, April 2005).
I invite each of us to make Preach My Gospel an integral part of our daily personal and companion study. Identify ways that you and your companion can use Preach My Gospel more effectively. Leaders, please determine ways that you can use Preach My Gospel more powerfully in district and zone meetings. As we study the principles in Preach My Gospel and apply them more effectively in our lives, we will become more powerful missionaries and gain a deeper conversion to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
With love and respect,
President Pingree