Mission Statements
I like mission statements. Most successful businesses, and many successful people, use mission statements. The hope is that a mission statement will provide the vision which will guide the decisions that are made.
Organizations with which I have worked in my profession take mission statements very seriously. Several drafts are made and modified, where each word is carefully considered. There is a constant seeking for a specific word which can be used to convey the correct vision, or increase the impact of the statement.
Several years ago I thought about making a mission statement to guide my teaching of the gospel. I made a few drafts before settling on what I thought accurately portrays the vision that I had for gospel teaching. I’d like to share my mission statement with you (hint: it’s the title of this post), and go over each part.
Teach individuals the Gospel of Jesus Christ, from the scriptures, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Teach
Our calling is to teach. Teaching indicates learning. It hints at more than just lecturing, or asking people to read a few paragraphs from the manual. “Teachers teach what the preachers preach,” was a phrase that I heard often in a seminary preservice class (a story for another day, but I considered full time CES teacher as a career). This was explained to mean that we as teachers are not to make up the doctrine, but to explain the doctrine as revealed to prophets of God.
Individuals
The gospel is administered on an individual level. Living the gospel has a lot to do with how we interact with others, but it is our personal agency in action, and our own sins that need repenting of. Jesus paid for our sins individually.
The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
While there are a lot of good and worthwhile things to learn about, the church is designed to teach the principles of salvation and exaltation. Our teaching should not be reduced to positive messages or nice quotes. There is substance to the doctrine, which is centered around the saving grace we access through the Atonement of Jesus Christ; His suffering, death and resurrection. Faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost are the foundational principles and ordinances of the gospel.
From The Scriptures
The primary source for our learning and teaching are the standard works. Repeatedly, the Lord and His servants have advised us to focus on His words as found in the scriptures. There is power to be found in the word of God. When we use sources other than the scriptures, we are drinking water that is further downstream.
By The Power Of The Holy Ghost
Conversion takes place only by the power of the Holy Ghost, and true conversion can not take place by any other means. As we open our hearts and learn to recognize the whisperings of the spirit, we use our agency to allow our hearts to be changed. No amount of external gospel teaching or church attendance can take the place of this spiritual internal process. In all of your teaching efforts, your goal is to invite and allow the spirit to be present.
Conclusion
So that’s my mission statement. Is there anything that you would change? Do you have a mission statement for your gospel teaching? Comment below!