In preparation to serve a mission myself I have come across a book called “Preparation Precedes Power” from a family member. It has been helpful in strengthening me and preparing me to serve the Lord on a full-time mission. As I have been reading I have realized that we can all be missionaries at any point in our lives. So how do we do that?

Most likely we would all like to be better missionaries by setting good examples and hoping that someone just might show some interest. However, chances are that whenever such circumstances arise and there is even a glimmer of interest, we don’t know exactly how to articulate the Gospel or our beliefs, even if we know them well.

So what are our beliefs? How do we explain who we are and what we know? The following contains several excerpts from the 11th chapter of “Preparation Precedes Power”, where Randy L. Bott gives us a pretty good idea of how to explain what we believe using the Book of Mormon.

“The most comprehensive outline [of the gospel] was given by the resurrected Savior to the Nephites. In 3 Nephi 27:13-21 the Lord defines eight points of what He terms “My Gospel.”

I. The first point defined by the Savior is the Atonement (verses 13-14)

“Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me.”

II. The second is the Resurrection (verse 14) which “second part of ‘My Gospel’ is put into effect because of the first — the Atonement. Without the atonement no one could be resurrected. ”

“That as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father”

“Before we can die, we must be born.. ‘For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection” (2 nephi 9:6).

III. Third is Judgment (verses 14-15)

“That as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.”

“We are born and live to have experiences. We live so we can one day die. We die so we can be resurrected. We are resurrected so we can stand judgment. We are judged to determine what kingdom of glory we have qualified to live in for the rest of our eternal existence.”

IV. The fourth, Faith in Jesus Christ (verse 19)

“And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith”

“As we develop ‘faith in Christ’ we see that He holds the key to our eternal life. By learning of Him, and following Him, we become like Him and therefore able to live eternally in His presence. Our faith motivates us to action.”

V. Repentance (verse 19)

If we are able to teach a little about that Gospel, faithfully, to those who may be interested, or in whom we may be interested. Randy L. Bott explained that if we can explain our beliefs so clearly and desirably, others my be willing to do anything (or give up anything) required to learn more to join the church.

But what’s next?

VI. The sixth definition of the Gospel is Baptism (verse 20)

“Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name…”

“…Baptism is.. the manifestation that God has established as an observable action indicating the inward conviction to follow Christ. Mormon said: ‘Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.’

VII. The Gift of the Holy Ghost (verse 20)

“That ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.”

“The Holy Ghost acts as a Guide to help us detect and avoid the pitfalls placed in our pathway by the devil and his angels. Without that Divine help we are destined to stumble and fall frequently. Remember: ‘The Holy Ghost is a revelator. No man can have the Holy Ghost without receiving revelation’”

“The Holy Ghost will not only lead you away from spiritual traps of Satan but will inspire or prompt you [in teaching the Gospel] and bear witness to the truthfulness of what you are teaching. With the Holy Ghost you cannot fail; without it, you cannot succeed. The Holy Ghost is the Divine influence that ‘fills your soul with joy’.”

VIII. Lastly Endure to the End (verse 16)

Finally we believe that we must press forward! We must endure to the end!

“If he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.”

“Often as continue through life we struggle, sometimes due to our own choices or even the choices of others. We may find ourselves wondering what we need to do and our Savior Jesus Christ has told us just that and asked the very question, “What manner of men ought ye to be-” and responded, “Verily I say unto you, even as I am!”" (3 nephi 27:27)

“Enduring to the end is not difficult — you do it just one day at a time.”

We can all be missionaries, in fact that is one main reason why we are here! I would suggest reading 3 Nephi 27:13-21 to gain a better understanding of what the Gospel is, and to learn how to better teach it.