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Doctrine & Covenants 30-36 Part 1 • Bro. Mark Beecher • April 7 - 13 • Come Follow Me
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- [00:00]
Hank Smith
Coming up in this episode on Follow him.
- [00:04]
Mark Beecher
And we got an email from Elder Patrick Kieran's secretary asking us to come in. It was sacred moments. I don't want to share anything that I ought not to. I'll share this portion. There's a lot of questions to be asked and a lot of thinking. And Elder Kieran, I think we've all immediately fallen in love with him as an apostle. I mean we just adore him and his messages that he's given us already about the church for joy and God is in relentless pursuit of you. And as I just sat in his office and my wife and I were going through these interview questions, he paused and he just said, I believe you know where we are in the interview process. Would you like me to continue or would you like a moment?
- [00:53]
Hank Smith
Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of Follow Him. My name is Hank Smith. I am your host and I'm here with John. By the way, who has John accepted the gospel with singleness of heart. That's Doctrine Covenants 36, verse 7 describes you perfectly, John.
- [01:10]
John Bytheway
I fulfilled all of my eligibility as a young single adult. I did, I.
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Mark Beecher
Yes.
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John Bytheway
And then entered the transfer portal and became a mid single and well, John.
- [01:20]
Hank Smith
You can be married and still embrace the gospel with singleness of heart.
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John Bytheway
Oh, I like that.
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Hank Smith
Yeah.
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John Bytheway
Like single minded, single eye.
- [01:29]
Hank Smith
John. We are joined by our good friend Mark Beecher today. A prolific teacher has done so much in his career. Welcome, Mark.
- [01:38]
Mark Beecher
Thank you. It's great to be here with you too.
- [01:41]
Hank Smith
This is exciting. The church is now well established. We're going to hit the road. We are going to go do some missionary work. So when you think of early missionary work, John, what do you think of?
- [01:51]
John Bytheway
One of the things that's so inspiring to me is that these names that we know so well, like Parley P. Pratt and Thomas B. Marsh and stuff, they're called on missions and they. What was it he read 16 pages of the Book of Mormon and that was enough. And how little they knew, but they were so filled with the spirit that they were willing to travel with knee deep in snow and everywhere and go on these missions.
- [02:17]
Hank Smith
There was little missions happening, but this first big mission from Peter Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, partly pupra, that's a ways away. It's like going to the moon. I mean it is so far away. Mark, as you've looked at these sections, where do you want to go? What are you seeing?
- [02:33]
Mark Beecher
Thanks, Hank. There's so many, as you mentioned, early missionaries of the church, early names that we get exposed to here for the first time to be able to see them learn as they begin to follow the directions of the Savior, to share the gospel. There's just such great, great content here. They're young and inexperienced and I really think it gives all of us so much hope that we can accomplish whatever the Lord wants us to be able to accomplish. We all have daunting tasks in front of us. There's a lot of examples here that we can focus on today.
- [03:03]
Hank Smith
And you, do you have a big daunting task in front of you as well?
- [03:06]
Mark Beecher
Wow, thanks for bringing that up. It's true. Yeah. My wife and I have been called to serve as mission leaders in St. Louis, Missouri. We're going to be heading out here in June and it feels pretty big. It really does.
- [03:19]
Hank Smith
Yeah. So all of our listeners out there in St. Louis, I bet we have a few. Make sure you welcome the Beechers when they join you pretty soon. John, quick story for you. I was speaking for a group of superintendents, school superintendents in St. George. I'm coming back up here to Provo. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Haven't you done that, John? Like, oh, today is a good day. When my 10 year old truck that I love, but it is old, broke down on i15 and it's been a long time since I broke down on i15. I ended up limping into Parowan, Utah and I just have to do a shout out, John, to Mark and Melinda Berg of Parowan, Utah, who are kind enough to say, what's the problem here? I said, I don't know, Mark, just incredible guy got under my truck and started looking at it and he told me what was wrong. We took it over to a mechanic and these two, John, they drove me towards my wife who was coming down to pick me up. And so Mark and Melinda, thank you for taking this stranger in your car. It was really kind. I just have to say thank you, John. In fact, we were recording the next day and I thought, I'm not going to be there. I'm going to have to record from Para one. But I made it back because of Mark and Melinda Berg.
- [04:33]
John Bytheway
Wow. So many good people out there.
- [04:36]
Hank Smith
John, Brother Beecher has not been with us before on the podcast. You and I have been friends with Mark for a long time. In fact, your wife has been friends with Mark for a long time. So can you give a little introduction to our listeners?
- [04:50]
John Bytheway
Yes, and thanks for saying that, Hank. My wife Kim had seminary at Olympus High School and Brother Beecher was one of her teachers. She speaks so highly of you to this day. Thanks for having that impact. And she was excited you'd be on today.
- [05:05]
Mark Beecher
That's very kind and also very dating. Thank you.
- [05:09]
John Bytheway
Yeah, that was a while ago. Brother Beecher grew up in southeastern Idaho. He served a Navajo speaking mission. And Hank, I don't know about you, but how often have you heard Navajo, Finnish, and I think Mandarin, some of the hardest languages to learn? Mark speaks Navajo, served in Arizona on his mission. Brother Beecher has degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. He spent his career teaching seminary for 37 years, retired a couple of years ago as a region director. He's worked with EFY and FSY and Education Week, and he's now teaching third grade at American Heritage School in America.
- [05:50]
Mark Beecher
Wow. Shout out to my third graders at American Heritage, American Heritage School.
- [05:57]
John Bytheway
He and his wife Kim, have been married 39 years. They have five children and 10 soon to be 12 grandchildren. And Hank, as you mentioned, soon to be a mission leader in St. Louis, that has a special place in my heart because my mission president, still Alive, lives in St. Louis. And Menlo Smith has had an impact on St. Louis, helping to get the land for the temple and some other things there. So we're just really glad to have you.
- [06:21]
Mark Beecher
Brother Beecher, it's great to join you today and all the listeners.
- [06:25]
Hank Smith
Yeah.
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John Bytheway
And I have to add one more thing. Mark and Rob Eaton and other guests that we've had on the podcast wrote a book years ago called Becoming Great Gospel Teachers. And I have the book and the CD that really blessed my teaching, Mark and Rob. So I really want to thank you for that contribution.
- [06:44]
Mark Beecher
Very kind of you, Mark.
- [06:46]
Hank Smith
Let's let you just do a quick message, talk to the Saints in St. Louis. What would you say? They're going to greet you here in a couple months.
- [06:54]
Mark Beecher
Wow. I'll start with this. We have had an opportunity, my wife and I, to have a couple of zoom conversations with the current mission leaders there president, Sister McKay. And I'll just never forget at the end of that first conversation where they said, we will ask the missionaries to begin to pray for you. It just hit me like so hard. And I've got to tell you, I've been feeling those prayers. We were blessed to have a niece who served in St. Louis in this mission. She just returned about a year ago. She knows the McKays and she just said they are the finest saints you'll ever meet anywhere. We're just thrilled to be able to have this opportunity to go to St. Louis, I've never been there. I've never seen the arch. I've never done anything in that area. I've been to the church history sites. They're just outside the mission boundaries. But my goodness, it's an incredible blessing to be able to be there and to meet these saints and to rub shoulders with amazing people like they are.
- [07:46]
Hank Smith
I bet they're looking forward to it. I bet it's fun to every three years get a new mission president and welcome them to the area. Mark, let's get started here. I'm going to read from the Come follow me manual and then let's get into these sections and talk about missionary work. It starts this way. Parley P. Pratt had been a member of the church for about a month when he was called into the wilderness to preach the gospel. Thomas B. Marsh had been a member for even less time than that when he was told, the hour of your mission is come. Orson Pratt, Edward Partridge, and many others had likewise barely been baptized when their mission calls came. Perhaps there's a lesson in this pattern for us today. If you know enough to accept the restored gospel by baptism, you would know enough to share it with others. Of course, we always want to increase our gospel knowledge, but God has never hesitated to call upon the unlearned to preach his gospel. In fact, he invites all of us. Open your mouth. To declare my gospel. And we do that best not through our own wisdom and experience, but by the power of the Spirit. Oh, I love it. Man. These missionaries, can you imagine? You've been a member of the church for a whole week. Time to go on a mission. So, Mark, with that, where do you want to go from here?
- [09:02]
Mark Beecher
It's not too different, honestly. My wife and I have had the opportunity to serve at the missionary training center where I was branch president there for three years. Ish. Those missionaries, they walk in and many of them have just decided literally within the last couple of months, I'm going to go on a mission and to watch them as they come in. I listened to section four that you taught. If you have desires to serve God, you're called to work. Just to take that desire and wow, the Lord magnifies that. And to watch them change in just a matter of a few days, most from there, about 12, 13 days at the MTC, if they're speaking English and to watch them change, it was a phenomenal experience to watch this literally hundreds of times where they just had only a desire to serve. And the Lord said, that's enough. I can take it. And I Can work with it.
- [09:46]
Hank Smith
That's awesome. Do we need to catch everybody up in the history?
- [09:51]
Mark Beecher
Yeah, let's do take a few minutes here as we start section 30. These sections are a great focus on missionary work. Section 30 begins with. Originally was three revelations, right? David Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, John Whitmer. I think your section heading says by the time 1835 edition came around, they were all combined into one sister Ulrich that you had when you did sections 12 to 17, covered section 15 and 16, and just did a beautiful job teaching these sections. June of 1829, they're told that the most important thing you can do is to declare repentance unto this generation. And I heard you all expound on repentance and the beauty of it. And it seems that now we get to section 30, it's just a few months later. They're not doing that. They've not been following the directive the way they ought to have done. And so there's some correction from the Lord which he's kind enough and doesn't pull any punches to give us when we need that kind of correction to put us on the right track.
- [10:49]
Hank Smith
A little divine discontent, I think it's been called.
- [10:53]
Mark Beecher
It seems that as we begin section 30, that hyrum page from back in section 28 has had quite an influence and is persuaded a little bit of David Whitmer's direction and focus. And so the Lord wants David and all of us to know about the problem of fearing man and not relying on the strength of the Lord and having our minds more on things of the earth than on the Savior. Valuable counsel here. Could we look at verses one and two of section 30?
- [11:20]
John Bytheway
Absolutely. Behold, I say unto you, David, that you have feared man and have not relied on me for strength as you ought, but your mind has been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me, your Maker, and the ministry whereunto you have been called. And you have not given heed unto my spirit and to those who are set over you, but have been persuaded by those whom I have not commanded in my scriptures.
- [11:45]
Mark Beecher
I have that broken down into these five things. One, you feared man. Two, you've not relied on me for strength as you ought. Three, your mind's been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me. Four, you've not given heed to my spirit and what you've been called to do, and to those who are set over you. And five, you've been persuaded by those that I've not commanded As I look at that, I have to admit that it's something that I think all of us can fall into in a hurry. I mean, when you read those verses, you have to go, is he talking to me?
- [12:18]
John Bytheway
That's exactly what I thought.
- [12:19]
Mark Beecher
Today I'm going to share with a verse from the Book of Mormon. It's kind of one of my new favorite verses. Teleman 4:13 says this, and because of this, their great wickedness and their boastings, in their own strength, they were left in their own strength. That's a pretty sobering thought. Sometimes, if you think I can just go it alone. And I think the Lord says, well, then go it alone and see how that works. The Lord's just saying, you've not relied on me the way that you ought to have done. I just find myself on a Sunday very committed to keeping my covenants. And as the week goes on, I get weighed down with the things of the world, and it's just not too far distant from who I am that I've got to be more intent on keeping my covenants. And I really think that's why President Nelson and his incredible messages on keeping covenants is just so pertinent to all of us today.
- [13:13]
John Bytheway
It's so funny that all three of us looked at verse two and went, that's me. Sometimes I've lost sleep over financial concerns. I don't think I've lost sleep over things that I probably should lose sleep over. Right? Yeah, but it's easy to do that. I like this reminder. I think throughout the rest of my life, I will need constant reminders. What did you say at the beginning, Hank? Singleness to keep our eyes single to one thing.
- [13:42]
Hank Smith
Singleness of heart.
- [13:43]
John Bytheway
There's other things we've got to do on this temporal earth to take care of our families and our homes and house payments and everything. I'm reading this going, that's me.
- [13:54]
Hank Smith
When I read it, I thought of the parable of the sower, where the Lord says, hey, the soil is good, but there's just too many other things competing.
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John Bytheway
You've got weeds in there.
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Hank Smith
You've got weeds in there. Yeah, it looks like you don't have time for me in this verse. The things of this earth, the persuasions of those who I've not commanded. You've got a good heart, David. You got a good heart, Hank, but you're not weeding your life. You've got to get some of that other stuff out of there. And then, John, this last part, you've been persuaded by Those whom I have not commanded. Remind me of how Sherry put this. Last year we talked about prophets. She talked about how, think of all the people that you'd rather take advice from, John. Can you remind me of that? I know you know it better than me.
- [14:39]
John Bytheway
It was kind of a who would you rather have in charge of your life? You mean you're looking at social media influencers. And I loved her little statement that why not go to sources that only speak truth? There's so many that are out there that that might be true. There's a chance that's accurate, maybe. What if we went to sources that only speak truth? And yeah, seriously, who else would you rather have in charge of your life than the influence of the Holy Ghost? The giving heed to the Spirit.
- [15:10]
Hank Smith
Listen to this quote. My dear friends, this is Sherry. To whom do you listen? Where does the living prophet rank in the list of those you turn to for advice? How many blind guides whose myopic vision of life is no better than yours are you following on podcasts and TikTok? Don't let blind guides obscure your vision of seers who see around corners. I remember she talked about most every other person who has a voice, wants something from you, has an agenda, wants your money, wants your likes. But prophets, she said, they have one goal in mind, to bless your life. We often are persuaded by those who God has not called.
- [15:51]
Mark Beecher
So many great things there. Should we just say one more thing about the timing of this section as well? In 1829, these men weren't baptized and now they are. Things have changed for them. So the Lord's saying, I'm expecting a little more from you. You've got to up your game just a little bit. This portion where we think about the covenant relationship that we have. I've been just completely blown away with President Nelson's talk that he gave. It's recorded in the October 2022 Liahona. It's not a general conference. He gave it to leaders. It's called the Everlasting Covenant. It's one of the most fabulous talks on covenants that I think we'll ever read. I'm just going to quote one paragraph from that talk. Once you and I have made a covenant with God, our relationship with him becomes much closer than before our covenant. Now we are bound together because of our covenant with God. He will never tire in his efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust his merciful patience with us. Each of us has a special place in God's heart. He has high hopes for Us. It's just so comforting to me to think about that, with how the Lord feels about us in the covenant relationship.
- [17:04]
John Bytheway
I'm trying to change because of statements like that and others I've heard recently. I'm trying to, in my mind, not think of a covenant as a contract, but think of it as a relationship. Because you heard that phrase covenant relationship that's alive and that's living in. A relationship involves loyalty. And a relationship means I have access to that other party's strengths. And that's so helpful to realize I'm weak. I'm not strong. But the Savior is strong. The Savior may be strong or I'm not. And if I have a covenant relationship with Him, I have access to that strength.
- [17:43]
Mark Beecher
Love that John, Section 84, where it talks about the oath and covenant of the priesthood. It starts with, for whoso is faithful. And oftentimes we think of that faithful as, oh, I better be more righteous. I need to obey better. But think of it instead, like you just described it, John, faithful like a spouse. To be loyal, to be true, to be committed to them. I think that's what the Lord's speaking of, is that we put him preeminent in our lives, even though we are not very righteous, even though we continually make mistakes. But my heart is given to him. I'm loyal to him 100%.
- [18:16]
Hank Smith
Sounds like that in verse two, doesn't it? You could take this as the Lord is upset with David for not doing something where he might be saying, david, I want to bless you. I want you to give heed to my spirit. I want your mind on the things of me so I can give you all that I want to give you.
- [18:34]
Mark Beecher
I've got all these blessings in store for you. Let me hand them to you. That's right, verse five. That phrase to Peter Whitmer, fear not. Verse eight. Be diligent in keeping my commandments. Verse 11, with all your soul, not fearing what man can do me. This theme really carries throughout this section, of giving yourself over completely, of not being too concerned about the moment, but instead being able to have an eternal perspective and to keep it with us all times. The Lord wants you to have that, and he'll magnify you as you keep him at the forefront of your mind and your efforts.
- [19:08]
Hank Smith
I noticed in verse 11 a little bit of a hint to Peter Whitmer. Your whole labor shall be in Zion. I don't think he knows that's actually where he's going to end up on this mission, close to where you're Headed on your mission, Mark, Close to where we're going.
- [19:24]
Mark Beecher
That's right. That's right.
- [19:26]
Hank Smith
Your whole labor shall be in Zion. I'm sure Peter Whitmer's going, oh, that sounds great. And the Lord's going, you don't know.
- [19:31]
Mark Beecher
Actually, you don't know what that means, but you will.
- [19:34]
John Bytheway
Yeah, yeah. Verse 11. Again, the Scriptures use such strong words. Can you imagine if it said, and most of your labor shall be in Zion? No, it's your whole labor and labor with a high percentage of your soul. No, with all your soul. It reminds me going Back to Section 4 with all your heart, might, mind and strength, and how if you're only with half your heart, half your mind, half your strength, then you'll stand half blameless. So it's an all in type of a message there, isn't?
- [20:06]
Mark Beecher
It really is.
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John Bytheway
It makes me feel like I need to step it up when I read it.
- [20:11]
Hank Smith
Yeah.
- [20:12]
Mark Beecher
Should we move to section 31?
- [20:15]
Hank Smith
Do it.
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Mark Beecher
Thomas B. Marsh, he was something. He's one of the great characters, I think, in all the scriptures. I really do appreciate Thomas B. Marsh. He'd had some amazing opportunities. If he'd kind of continue in the direction he was going, we'd probably have to rewrite a little primary hymn. This is why I'm not a primary hymn writer. Latter day prophets are kind, not harsh. Joseph Smith and Thomas B. Martin.
- [20:40]
Hank Smith
Okay.
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John Bytheway
Yeah.
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Mark Beecher
He would have been number two. He was the president of the Quorum of the twelve. For a portion of his.
- [20:47]
Hank Smith
Of his time, instead of a Y on the mountain, there'd be this big M right up there in Provo.
- [20:53]
Mark Beecher
That's right. I think most people are familiar with the story of the strippings of milk his wife was involved in. And I heard on one of your podcasts earlier this year, Hank, when you told the story of one of your colleagues, that was funny, but probably wanted to forget that story. It wasn't a great moment for him. There's plenty of stories that I really don't want to have retold about me. This is maybe one where we sometimes dwell a little bit much on Thomas B. Marsh and his wife and some mistakes that he made along the way. But I love him in so many ways because of his diligence. He accepted some really hard assignments. He did a good job with him. Yes, he had some problems, but he dies in the faith like most of these characters we're going to study. He's got some failings. He's got some pride. The Lord's going to give some Pretty strong warnings to him in his life. For me, it gives me hope to say, ah, some of these more gray characters in church history might sometimes be a little bit more like I am day to day. I know that I can be able to still have fine favor with the Lord and accomplish his purposes as frail and foolish as I can be from time to time.
- [22:04]
Hank Smith
Mark. I think that is such an important principle and I hadn't even thought of it. But we do sometimes hang on to people's worst moments and perpetuate those stories. Just a couple of weeks ago, Sister Ford was here. John. She said she Learned this from Dr. Melissa in a way. But I love how Sister Ford related it, that redeeming the dead in part can be saying good about them, talking good about them, not just doing their temple work. Redeeming maybe some of the mistakes they've made. I think Mark showed us how to do that. What are we going to focus on when we think of someone?
- [22:40]
John Bytheway
The idea of redeeming their reputation. The other night our family was trying to do our. Come, follow me. And we're talking about Section 19. And of course, Martin Harris. Oh, what do we remember about him? We talked about. Listen, this whole thing with the the Lost and Garrett Dirkmaat would say stolen manuscript happened before he was baptized. Well, do we believe baptism for the remission of sins or don't we extend some grace to these people like we would like grace extended to us?
- [23:16]
Hank Smith
Yeah. Mark, isn't there a reason that Thomas B. Marsh is called to be the first president of the 12?
- [23:22]
Mark Beecher
Yes, I think there's some great reasoning behind this. Maybe just a little bit of background on Thomas B. Marsh, which I have to insert here. 4 years ago on your podcast, the person who covered these sections was Robert B. Millet. What are you thinking having me come here? When Robert Millett did them four years ago, I could never fill his shoes. He's incredible.
- [23:46]
Hank Smith
Brother Millet is out in Southern Virginia University. Now. We don't know if he's listening, but Bob, we love you.
- [23:52]
Mark Beecher
We sure do, Brother Millet. Thank you. Thomas B. Marsh. He's born in 1799 or 1800, depending on what you read. He runs away from home at the age of 14, supports himself doing various odd jobs until he's married in 1820, and then he moves to Boston and joins the Methodist Church. Like most of these people that we'll talk about today, they have a very strong spiritual inclination to try to figure out what does the Lord want for them and how can they go about it. And many of them join other churches and have other pathways to get to the restored gospel. He still feels unsettled. He's been a printer's apprentice. He goes to these different churches. None of them just seem to be preaching the gospel, though, that he found in the Bible. He had this belief that there would be a new church that would arise that would teach the restored truth. And so in 1829, Thomas felt led by the Spirit to travel hundreds of miles from his home, from Boston to western New York. He stays in the area about three months before returning toward home, uncertain why he traveled so far. I just love that, you know, he's just going, all right, I thought, this is what I should do. And maybe, maybe, maybe not. And then at a stop along the way, he has a host that he stays with that asks him if he's heard of Joseph Smith's Golden Bible. And Thomas told the woman that he had not. And then he felt compelled to learn more. She connected him to Martin Harris and directed him to Palmyra. And that's when Thomas B. Marsh goes there, right? And he goes. And he actually finds Martin at Grandin's print shop. And not only there, but Oliver Cowdery's there as well. And the printer hands him the 16 pages of the book. If you've been to Grandin's press, there's this big sheet of 16 pages. So he gets handed these 16 pages of the Book of Mormon, and that's what he reads, and that's what he joins the church with. He's reading 16 pages of the Book of Mormon and shares them with his wife. And she reads the pages and she believes they're the word of God as well. And Thomas is baptized September of 1830. The power of the Book of Mormon, just so amazing to me to see this and to be able to feel this incredible journey that he took to get his early start in the church. It's kind of also worth to note Elizabeth's story. Her determination grew out of her conversion. She believed the Book of Mormon was the word of God, but she wasn't baptized right away. And after giving birth to a son in Palmyra, she asked the Lord for a witness if the gospel was true. And a short time later, she received that testimony and she joined the church. This quote from her, I think, is powerful as well. There was a great change taking place with me, both in body and mind. I felt a desire to be thankful for what I had received and to still look for more. I think that's pretty awesome that they both start off this Way right, with enough to kind of step ahead, but they're going to keep looking for more. It's enough to get me started, but I've got to continue to press forward and keep going. Thus we get this revelation in section 31 for Thomas where he's going to get more specific direction for him and his early faith as he's going to be asked to go out and to serve. Section 31 as it opens. Verses 3, 4 and 5 might be some of the most frequently quoted scriptures for all missionaries in this dispensation. We use them at the MTC frequently with missionaries. I know young missionaries as they go out. There's some power there. Hank, do you want to read 3, 4 and 5 and then let's just talk together about those verses and what they seem to give to us for all missionaries and really all of us as we have a work to perform in the Lord's kingdom.
- [27:42]
Hank Smith
You got it. Section 31, 3, 4 and 5. Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come and your tongue shall be loosed. And you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation. You shall declare the things which have been revealed to my servant Joseph Smith Jr. You shall begin to preach from this time forth. Yea, to reap in the field which is white already to be burned, therefore thrust in your sickle with all your soul and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back. For the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore your family shall, shall live.
- [28:19]
John Bytheway
I have always loved verse three. Now when I look back, I think more of that time. I don't think there's a day that goes by that I don't at some point reflect on something on my. On my full time mission to the Philippines. I more and more understand. Hey, rejoice. The hour of your mission has come and it feels like an hour. It goes by so fast. You know, I have a son who's just come home. Hank has a son who's just been called. And I think we've been thinking a lot about that, haven't we, Hank? This little portion of your life where you get to devote full time to that.
- [28:51]
Hank Smith
As I read these verses, Mark, I thought of how much missionary work blesses the missionary. I think it was President Hinckley who said what appears to be a sacrifice ends up being an investment that pays you dividends for the rest of your life. As the Lord talks about it here, there's not a lot about the People you're going to bring in. But what's going to happen to you as a missionary? You will be laden with sheaves upon your back. The laborer is worthy of his hire. Your family shall live. Just blessings for the missionary.
- [29:23]
Mark Beecher
Wow. I love all that. You are both just so spot on, I think my wife and I had this incredible privilege of being called as mission leaders. We had a little pre screen interview with Elder Takashi Wada, who's a member of the 70, and he asked some questions to us. It was fun. We got done. My wife said, so now what? And he said, well, you might hear in two days or in two weeks or in two months or in two years or never. So he said, okay, you know, you just wait and see. And we got an email from Elder Patrick Kieran's secretary asking us to come in. It was sacred moments. I don't want to share anything that I ought not to. I'll share this portion. There's a lot of questions to be asked and a lot of thinking. And Elder Kieran, I think we've all immediately fallen in love with him as an apostle. I mean, we just adore him and his messages that he's given us already about the church for joy and God is in relentless pursuit of you. And as I just sat in his office and my wife and I were going through these interview questions, he paused and he just said, I believe you know where we are in the interview process. Would you like me to continue or would you like a moment together? And it was, it was a pretty amazing moment. My wife and I looked at each other and said, if it'd be okay, we'd just like a moment together. I thought of these verses because he left us in his office for just a few minutes. It was just so sweet. Lift up your heart and rejoice for the hour of your mission has come. We had a lot of tears and thinking about what this was going to mean for us. I couldn't help but think of thousands, thousands of young men and young women and senior couples and people who make this decision every year, every month, every week of their lives, every day to say, I'm going to submit these mission papers and go. My wife and I have had a privilege of. We've already talked with a couple of people who are in our ward and they've already turned in their mission papers. They're going to come with us and serve in our office. And you're just like, wow. People just saying, yeah, we'll come if that's what you need. I'm just floored by this. Of people who just say, I can lift up my heart and rejoice. I can trust that the Lord's call for me is to go and do his work. And the blessings, the compensation, well, we jokingly will say, right, it's out of this world. The pay is out of this world. It really is phenomenal. I've already begun to feel it just a little bit. And anybody that I've spoken to who's done this as a mission leader just says it's the most demanding and rewarding thing you'll ever do in your entire life.
- [32:11]
John Bytheway
I just love how consistently in the scriptures the gospel is described as glad tidings of great joy. And glad tidings means good news and gospel means good news. I love how consistent that is when critics speak of, oh, toxic perfectionism and legalism and all of that. But when the scriptures speak of the gospel, it's the church of joy, isn't it? I think I choose to want to describe it that way, the way the scriptures do.
- [32:43]
Hank Smith
I'm reminded, John, you could tell this story better than I can. I think we've done this for Follow him favorites McKay Christensen, do you remember?
- [32:52]
John Bytheway
Yeah. Million Dollar Missionary.
- [32:54]
Hank Smith
The million dollar missionary, who's one of the best high school baseball players in the state of California, is getting offers not just from colleges but from major league baseball teams offering him a lot of money to come and play after high school. And when he tells some of these teams in colleges, I'm going to go on a mission, most back out except for one team. Do you remember, John? Offered him a million dollars? This is back in the 1900s, offered him a million dollars if he would give up the mission and come play for them. And do you remember what he said? It was just beautiful. He said, that's awfully gracious of you. My mission is not for sale. Just an awesome statement from a young man who's doing what you said, Mark. Making the choice. Here we go.
- [33:45]
John Bytheway
And you guys both know Brother S. Michael Wilcox. He has taught that the Lord tends to call us when the nets are full. So as soon as Peter gets the biggest catch ever, he's like, okay, drop it and follow me. McKay Christensen is an example of that. Brother Beecher is an example of that. And I don't want to forget those young men and young women who are not hugely accomplished perhaps, and are even a little bit afraid. I'm not good at talking to people who are willing to go for them. It's very difficult, too, because I Used to think that maybe if we just talk about the rightness of going on a mission or the doctrine of it, but then there's young people out there that are afraid they don't have what it takes. And for them, it's very hard too, to submit those papers.
- [34:36]
Hank Smith
It is.
- [34:37]
John Bytheway
Wow. And they do it.
- [34:40]
Hank Smith
I think verse seven can give you comfort. It's not your job to convert. Right. Mark, I will open the hearts of the people.
- [34:47]
Mark Beecher
Isn't this amazing? And see this from a Book of Mormon perspective, as the Lord sort of expands on this idea of him doing all the heavy lifting for us if we'll let him. Alma 16:15, 16 John, do you want to read for us?
- [35:01]
John Bytheway
And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who had been chosen for the work to preach the Word throughout all the land. And the establishment of the church became general throughout the land, in all the region, round about, among all the people of the Nephites. And there was no inequality among them. And the Lord did pour out his spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the Word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming.
- [35:32]
Mark Beecher
The Lord prepares the heart. Yeah, he's the one who does. Again, all the heavy lifting. All I've got to do. We'll see right away here. Coming in section 33 is I have to open my mouth. But the Lord opens the hearts, he opens the minds. He prepares everything that needs to be done to have his work be accomplished. If we'll just do our little minor part.
- [35:54]
Hank Smith
I really love that because that can give you confidence as you move forward in your role and his role. Because maybe someone doesn't accept the gospel and you think, what did I do wrong? It might be. Well, that's not one the Lord was opening the heart of, at least not right now.
- [36:13]
Mark Beecher
But you continue to do what you do. We had a missionary in the MTC who was from the south and his dad had enjoyed as a non member, having the missionaries over and kind of hitting them pretty hard with some Bible passages and questions and asking them for proof and things like that. And he'd done this with several sets of missionaries. The area was then, we would call it whitewashed. They changed out, the missionaries. They changed out elders. They put sisters in. They arranged a time to come and meet with him and he gladly welcomed them, I think believing that he was going to have a similar experience with these sisters. They just simply said as they sat down with him, they said, we know that you're very knowledgeable. We wouldn't even think to challenge you and your knowledge because you're so knowledgeable. We just invite you to do one thing. Will you read the Book of Mormon? Because we know you won't be deceived by anything in the book. You're wise and you're learned, so just give the book a try. It would never persuade you away from what you believe. Well, he literally read to 1 Nephi chapter 8 and called them back and said, I need to join your church. He was a seeker of truth, much like these early leaders, and converted by the Spirit. He had to put himself in a position where the Lord could then say, all right, now, your heart. I can open your heart, and the change will come as it needs to.
- [37:34]
Hank Smith
Mark, I'm glad that you brought in the Book of Mormon here. It's almost as if the Lord knew we were going to be doing a lot of missionary work, because there is a lot of missionary work in the Book of Mormon. And for this book that's going to bring me to Christ, it sure shows me how to bring others to Christ.
- [37:52]
Mark Beecher
The Book of Mormon is by far and away the most powerful tool. In fact, here in my notes, I'll just share a few thoughts with you from Preach My Gospel. I've got to tell you, as a mission leader, one of the things that you get early on is you get a missionary portal, and it has, no joke, 85 tasks that you have to accomplish before you go. That's the number, and the minimum amount of time for each one is 20 minutes. There's some podcasts that use about 20 podcasts you listen to, but some of them are chapter three of Preach My Gospel, which is all of the lessons. I mean, it's four or five hours of study. But one of these is to immerse yourself in Preach My Gospel. And there's a chapter there on the power of the Book of Mormon. One of the great things that Preach My Gospel teaches about the Book of Mormon is that it leads to lifelong conversion. So listen to these citations that I've discovered from Preach my gospel, page 42. Studying the book of Mormon is essential for enduring conversion. Page 113. The Book of Mormon combined with the Spirit is your most powerful resource in conversion. An essential part of conversion is receiving a witness by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true. Page 120. Emphasize that reading the Book daily is a key to progressing towards baptism and lifelong conversion. I mean, throughout you Hear the power of the Book of Mormon in lifelong conversion. I just know that these missionaries, it's written as much for them as it is for people who are joining the church. As you stay close to the Lord, as you stay in burying yourself each day, immersion in the Book of Mormon, you are guaranteeing lifelong conversion. I've seen it many times over and I've watched missionaries do it. And the three of us all know that's completely true.
- [39:49]
John Bytheway
Was it Boyd K. Packer that talked about being out at a stake and the stake has all these problems, what should I do? And at the time, someone counseling Elder Packer said, just tell them to read the Book of Mormon. And I discovered as a bishop, too, that the prescription for so many problems is get the Spirit into your life and the answers will present themselves. And one of the best ways to do that is to read the Book of Mormon.
- [40:18]
Mark Beecher
It's absolutely true. Great power there. And the missionaries are taught that over and over again and preach my gospel. And it has to continue throughout the rest of our lives that the Book of Mormon is a central message for all of us.
- [40:30]
Hank Smith
And the Lord himself, doesn't he say this in Third Nephi? We all love the first day that Jesus spends with the Nephites, but not a lot of us can quote that second day. Almost the entire thing is about the gathering of Israel in the latter days. And he basically says, this is the sign that you'll know the gathering of Israel has begun. This is the Book of Mormon. This is 3rd Nephi 21. And it's the tool of the gathering.
- [40:57]
Mark Beecher
I just don't think that the role of the Book of Mormon can be overstated. We learn as missionaries early. Your I purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. That doctrine is taught so clearly in the Book of Mormon more than any other place. I've often wondered, why would we start with a story that we do in the Book of Mormon where it's about a family who's going to leave, but first we got to chop off this guy's head, change our clothes, and sneak out with the plates. That story might be better buried in Alma somewhere. You can't think of a better way to start. You're going to uproot your spiritual lives. We're going to ask you, as you join our church, to leave behind everything, to give your heart over to God. To grab a hold of these plates and to let them become the thing that's going to guide you in your wilderness as you step forward as a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ. The story is the perfect one for all of us being led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand that which we should do.
- [42:14]
Hank Smith
Yeah, it's almost a stumbling block or a sieve. How badly do you want this? You hit that first roadblock and you go, do I really want to keep going? Some say, no thanks, I don't want this book. But others, they venture into the book and they find out it's a mansion. I noticed in section 31, verse 9. And it does come up in the Book of Mormon as well. I think it's Alma 17, where the Lord says, be patient in afflictions. That's part of missionary work, is going through difficulty and being patient. I got this story from a friend, Allison Jones. She says, during one part of my mission in Brazil, my companion and I were having a difficult time finding people to teach. That never happens, does it, you guys? It was my companion's last transfer and we had gone many weeks with no success. On a certain day, we had knocked dozens of doors with no luck. We were exhausted and discouraged. In frustration, I turned towards the sky and half pleaded and half yelled at God, please just send us one person. As soon as these words left my mouth, we saw a young man walking on the other side of the street with his head hanging down. We decided to go talk to him. We learned that his name was Matthew and that it was his birthday. We agreed to come visit him the next day with a small birthday present. We began to teach him and fell in love with this sweet young man and his family. He was 16, but as there was no father in the picture, he was the man of the house and he had to drop out of school to provide for his many young siblings. He was really interested in the Gospel, carried his Book of Mormon around with him everywhere and asked what he had to do to be baptized. We were overjoyed when someone says, can I be baptized? Why, sure. One night as we left his home, we were halfway down the street when we heard a loud whistle behind us. We turned around and we were surprised to see Matthew running towards us. He looked emotional as he approached us. How do you guys do what you do? He asked. What do you mean? We said. He proceeded to tell us that the day we had approached him, he was on his way to his own birthday celebration, but was terribly distraught because he had just learned that his best Friend had been killed in a motorcycle accident. Thank you so much, he said. You guys changed my life. I want to do what you guys do. How do I serve a mission? She said. I was amazed when I walked away from that conversation, but even more so when my companion began to sob and told me through her tears, remember, this is her last transfer. My dad came from a similar situation, she said. He worked from a young age to provide for his family. He found the gospel as a teenager and was baptized. Right before I left on my mission, my dad told me that I would find a young man just like him whose life would be completely changed by the gospel the way my life's dad was. I have been praying every day of her mission for that moment. She said, now I know the Lord has accepted my mission. Now I know. Isn't that just beautiful that the Lord says, be patient in afflictions. I will open the hearts of the people. It wasn't as if this is happening every day. What did she say? Many weeks with no success. Be patient in afflictions.
- [45:32]
Mark Beecher
I think that applies to us as we go about our lives, with work colleagues, with neighbors, with people that we've tried to work with, that perhaps we've tried several different ways or different times, and things just aren't progressing. And so we just think, well, I'm not making any headway, and so why do I keep doing this? But the Lord, he'll open the hearts and we be patient. We continually work on his timetable, and we know that that timetable is his indeed. And it will open people's hearts as they're ready.
- [46:03]
Hank Smith
Yeah, I think that's important. Right. As they're ready. And I think maybe Mark, the Book of Mormon can show you if someone's ready. If someone's taking the Book of Mormon seriously, that might be an indication this person is ready for the message. And if someone's not taking the Book of Mormon seriously, however interested they might be, and other programs of the church, that may be the indication that they're not ready.
- [46:26]
Mark Beecher
To your point, it can be a sifter for sure, you know, Hank, a little further in verse 9. Govern your house in meekness and be steadfast. Thomas B. Marsh has given some direction here. It even gives him a little bit more caution there in verse 12, to pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward. Thomas is cautioned early on to just be careful of pride and to be more meek and to be more willing to do what the Lord wants. Again, sort of knowing the end of the story, that there Are some things with Brother Marsh that the Lord knows ahead of time and is going to give him the right counsel and the right guidance. He's got to be ready and willing to receive it in all his circumstances that day and into the future, whenever that becomes even a little bit more pertinent. Like all of us, there's counsel that I've received that became more clear years down the road. And that's certainly true for Thomas B. Marsh as well.
- [47:19]
Hank Smith
The Lord knows his weaknesses here.
- [47:22]
Mark Beecher
Section 112 is also given to Thomas B. Marsh. Verse 10, kind of a famous verse. Be thou humble, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers. Thomas B. Marsh is excommunicated in 1839. And it's not as simple as the strippings of the milk. There's some other events that come about. There's some fallout with Sidney Rigdon and the Salt sermon. Some things that happened, a conflict at Gallatin in Missouri. These all contributed to Thomas B. Marsh separating from the prophet Joseph Smith. It's kind of a hard road that he goes. He's out for a while. Thomas B. Marsh leaves. But then he does come west to Utah in 1857. He's rebaptized. As he comes back, he spoke of his split with the prophet Joseph. He says, about this time, I got a beam in my eye and thought I could discover a mote in Joseph's eye. Though it was nothing but a beam in my eye, I was so completely darkened that I did not think on the Savior's injunction. Thou hypocrite, why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye when a beam is in thine own eye, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to get the mote out of thy brother's eye. All seriousness, third graders, I tell them all the time, worry about yourself. They're looking at somebody else. Why does he get this? Or how come that I'm saying, who are you supposed to worry about? Me. But as I tell them that every time, I honestly think, am I worried about me and keeping my life and myself in check rather than trying to worry about something else? That isn't my concern.
- [48:59]
John Bytheway
What you just read was referenced in the Revelations in context, which we've mentioned before. And our friend Stephen Harper wrote that book called Doctrine and Covenants Contexts also that has things like this in it. I love that Thomas Bemar spoke about this. Later I heard someone call it the Lord's law. Of learning. Of learning by your own experience. You can tell people things, but some people have to experience it before they learn it. Continuing where you were talking about the moats and beams, this is what Thomas Bemar said. I talked with Brother Brigham and Brother Heber and I wanted them to be mad like myself. And I saw that they were not mad and I got madder still because they were not. But I love the part that you said at the beginning I overlooked everything that was right. I spent time in looking for the evil. And then when the devil began to lead me, it was easy for the conalman to rise up. If you want to find faults in people, you can. You will of course, if that's what you're looking for. I love that Thomas B. Marsh came back and is willing to share with us. Yeah, I messed up.
- [50:12]
Hank Smith
And that's such a hard lesson. It's sad to see. But it's also a hopeful lesson for those who have seen people walk away from the faith. That Thomas B. Marsh, he comes back. I'm sure the Lord had his eye on Thomas B. Marsh the entire time when he was in, when he was out and when he came back.
- [50:31]
Mark Beecher
That's right.
- [50:32]
Hank Smith
So Mark, just a quick question for you. Doctrine and covenants 31 3. Lift up your heart and rejoice for the hour of your mission is come. Your tongue will be loosed. You'll declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation. Mark, as you're preparing for this three year mission, you and your wonderful wife Kim, what gets you excited? What are you thinking about that says the hour of our mission has come?
- [50:58]
Mark Beecher
Well, I'll tell you one of the things honestly that we have access to that I feel a little bit like cheating. I've listened to the 2024 Mission Leaders seminar. So the one from this last June 20 talks from our church leaders, an amazing amount of knowledge there of these leaders. The thing that I get the most excited about is thinking about these missionaries that I, I've been trained and taught a lot. The missionaries will be able to have their converts are the people that they'll be teaching. But for you teachers, your converts are going to be your missionaries. You're going to want to hang on to them and you're going to want to be able to do all you can to help them, to stay in the gospel, to keep them firm in the faith and to keep them progressing forward. It's exciting, it's overwhelming. It's a little bit much sometimes to think about it and go, wow, that's kind of a lot on your shoulders. But at the same time, those who've served missions, you all remember moments. I remember moments from my mission president, from just the experience of when you're out giving of yourself in the Lord's service and probably for the first time in your life, figuring out the world isn't all about me. The 1819 year old person that there's a lot of other people out there who are way different, who have come from backgrounds that are so much more difficult than what you and I have experienced. And they have been searching and needing purpose and meaning that the gospel brings to them. That excites me and keeps me feeling like I'm thrilled to be able to have this opportunity to go work with the missionaries and watch them as they work with people who join the church.
- [52:39]
Hank Smith
The idea that you might wake up today and change a family tree for eternity, that'll get you out of bed in the morning. Today might be the day and it might not be and you might be tired and exhausted and then you get up the next day, right? And go, I'm going to try this again. There's something tiring and wonderful about. Sounds exhausting. You're on the edge of your seat almost the entire time.
- [53:09]
Mark Beecher
As I've been studying all these things that we've been asked to be ready for for this mission, Preach My Gospel is laser focused on the missionary purpose. Throughout the book, throughout any of these seminar talks that I've talked about, they just continually talk about the missionary purpose to be able to invite others to come into Christ by helping them to receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ. This remaining focus on our commitment to Jesus Christ and to our missionary purpose, not the outward results, is what's going to bring that success. That feeling of comfort, that feeling of accomplishment. We've heard many times, people, how many baptisms did you have? What did you do? Right, I'll just share this piece from Preach My Gospel. Your success is determined primarily by your desire and commitment to find, teach, baptize and confirm converts. Your desire and your commitment to do those things not by others agency but by your desire and commitment. And that again, thinking about that, Hank, as you mentioned, that's what gets you out of bed, right? The desire and the commitment to be able to say this is what the Lord wants me to focus on. And I know that's where I can have my success as I continually keep that at the forefront of my mind.
- [54:28]
John Bytheway
I love that the missionary purpose that you stated is bringing people to Christ. Do you remember Hank, when we had Stephen Harper, we were talking about the worth of souls, and he said, how sad if we turn souls into just baptisms. And I think that's what you were saying there. Mark is no, our object is to bring people to Christ. The natural result of that, we hope, is that they'll be baptized. But our desire is to bring people to Christ. To your question, Hank, you've heard the Jeremiah 16:16 verse, I'll send forth hunters, and they shall hunt them, and fishers, and they shall fish. What Mark just defined for us there. Your success is your desire and your commitment. It's not a quantifiable goal of baptisms because like we've joked, Hank, if I could set goals for things that were outside of my agency, I would set goals that my favorite football team would win every game. But how could that be my goal if I have nothing to do with the outcome? If my goal is to have my desire and commitment, that's something I have some control over.
- [55:37]
Mark Beecher
That's right.
- [55:39]
Hank Smith
I love what you both brought up here. This is not about numbers. It can't ever be about numbers. I think you're going to be frustrated as a missionary if it is more about numbers than about souls. We just talked earlier about covenants. Covenants are not about numbers. It's not about signing a contract. It's not about clicking a button and saying, okay, there's one more. We are inviting people into a relationship with God. That I think you're right, Mark. Many people want. They're missing that in their life. What does Joseph Smith write later? Many are kept just from the truth because they know not where to find it.
- [56:22]
Mark Beecher
Hank, I just love that the scripture that you just quoted is actually quoted, I think, on page one and two of Preach My Gospel. But this is how chapter one begins. You are surrounded by people. You pass them on the street and travel among them. You visit them in their homes and connect with them online. They are all children of God, your brothers and sisters. God loves them just as he loves you. Many of these people are searching for purpose in life. They are concerned for their future and their families. They need the sense of belonging that comes from knowing they are children of God and members of his eternal family. They want to feel secure in a world of changing values. They desire peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. That opening, you just say, that's what it's about, is being able to help people find the eternal purpose that they need here.
- [57:09]
John Bytheway
And that focus, it reminds me of the statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith, a man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race. That's a different kind of motive. It reminds me, too, of the prayer of Enos, who prays for his own soul, and then his soul expands and I pray for my brethren, and then, well, I'm going to pray for the Lamanites and maybe even our enemies, the way they'd been treated at the time. And then it was, well, if. If they won't listen, please preserve the records so that they'll read them one day. And you see, that exact thing Joseph Smith talking about has expanded his love and care for the whole world. And that came from a man filled with the love of God, which is getting down to our best motives for serving. I probably serve for a variety of reasons. Well, my dad went and he joined the church when he was 24. I should probably go. My brothers went, I know I should go. I believe it's true. I believe it's wonderful. I love the Savior. I've heard that people will want to date you, all these mixed reasons for going. But then we can't just say, well, I'm going to wait until my motives are perfect before I do this or before I minister or anything, because you'll never do anything. It's a great idea to go and have the Lord help you refine your heart and your motives.
- [58:35]
Hank Smith
Yeah, I think it's, get yourself out there. Let the Lord do wonders with you. I think your motives change over time. I've heard many missionaries say, I cried when I landed in that mission, and I cried when that plane took off to take me home again.
- [58:53]
Mark Beecher
From one of these talks that I just had been listening to from President uchtdorf from the 2024 seminar Mission Leaders. He says, if the Lord's work appears difficult, don't worry. If you go and do, the Lord will provide a way. Remember, it is his work. There's another quote that may help. If things start to seem difficult, start by doing what's necessary. The missionaries need to learn that, too. Then do what's possible. And suddenly you're doing the impossible. I just like that progression that you just do what's necessary and then maybe what you can, that's possible. And then all of a sudden you'll find that you're doing things that are impossible.
- [59:30]
John Bytheway
That's awesome.
- [59:31]
Hank Smith
Move forward. The idea of God can't steer a parked car. Let's move forward in faith, whatever that faith looks like. As John said, whatever that motive looks like, get started, and the Lord can do something about that. John, you're the one that introduced me to this story that I'm about to tell here a couple of years ago. I don't think we've told it in a while. I'll bet you'll recognize it really quick. This is from President Faust. Those of us who have served missions have seen the miracle in the lives of some we have taught as they have come to realize, that they are sons and daughters of God. Many years ago, an elder who served a mission in the British Isles said, at the end of his labors, I think my mission has been a failure. I have labored all my days as a missionary here, and I have only baptized one dirty little Irish kid. That is all I baptized. Years later, after his return home to Montana, he had a visitor come to his home who asked, are you the elder who served a mission in the British Isles in 1873? Yeah. The man went on, and do you remember having said that you thought your mission was a failure because you had only baptized one dirty little Irish kid? He said, yes. The visitor put out his hand and said, I would like to shake hands with you. My name is Charles A. Callis of the council of the 12 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am that dirty little Irish kid that you baptized on your mission. That little Irish boy came to the knowledge of his potential as the son of God. This is President Faust. Elder Callis left a lasting legacy for his large family, serving as a mission president for 25 years. Mark, that makes three years not seem so bad, right?
- [61:05]
Mark Beecher
Right.
- [61:06]
Hank Smith
Serving as a mission president for 25 years in his apostolic ministry for 13 years, he blessed the lives of thousands. I feel privileged, Elder Faust says, to have known this great apostle of the Lord when I was a young man. This can't be about the things I see happening right in front of me. You don't know the seeds you plant and what they will turn into.
- [61:29]
John Bytheway
I was teaching one of my classes, and I mentioned my mission president, President Menlo Smith, and something he had taught me. And this young man came up to me afterwards. He was a Filipino, and he said, my cousin's name is Menlo. I said, what? You're in the Philippines?
- [61:49]
Hank Smith
Yeah.
- [61:49]
John Bytheway
My cousin's name is Menlo. He's named after Menlo Smith, the mission president. I said, really? How did you come into the church? Well, my grandfather was taught by Elder Stoddard, and we tried to, but we don't know how to find him. And I went, I've got Elder Stoddard's contact info right here. We both had a moment where he had been looking so that they could get in contact with Elder Stoddard. I say he's right here. I just saw him at the mission reunion and able to put those guys back together again. It's almost like, Hank, you've quoted Elder Maxwell talking about the Lord putting us in orbits, right?
- [62:29]
Hank Smith
We cross orbits. The same Lord who put the star above Bethlehem does the same thing with us. He puts us in our divine human orbits where we cross each other's paths. Mark, as I read all these sections, this is mostly about finding people who are not members of the church to become members of the church. They don't have really a reactivation work because there's no one to be reactivated. So what role have you seen as you've prepared in reactivation in missionary work? Does that count as missionary work is going out and talking to those who are not active in the church who once were?
- [63:10]
Mark Beecher
It's a great question because it comes back to what we were talking about earlier. Are we only counting baptisms? Is that our only measure of success? We've seen people who need people to reach out to them over and over again. In fact, there's a couple of new key indicators that have been added over the last couple of years. With the new Preach My Gospel that came out in 2024, it was just this last year, one of which is the tracking of a new convert at sacrament meeting for the first year. That's on the missionaries now, you're going to track that they're going to attend sacrament meeting and you want to be able to make sure that they're still doing that and that you're connecting to the people and you're keeping them active and going. We care about souls, we care about people coming to Christ. If someone is less active, if someone is not attending church, we have every bit of an obligation and I believe the same missionary rewards for helping them to come back into the fold of the Savior. Luke 15 with the coin and the prodigal Son. And that all says, go out and get them. Bring them back.
- [64:18]
Hank Smith
I think that's fantastic because in this day that we're reading about, there's not a lot of that work happening. But in 2025, there is a lot of work to be done in that regard. And we can't say, I don't want to go reactivate people. That's not missionary work. It is very much missionary work.
- [64:38]
John Bytheway
It's gathering.
- [64:39]
Hank Smith
Yeah.
- [64:40]
Mark Beecher
You know, maybe as we make a little transition now, we could go to section 32. Because I think there's kind of a principle there along these same lines, Hank, even though it's dealing with people who are coming into the gospel for the first time rather than reactivating. I think the principle is kind of a neat one. In fact, I almost call it the spiritual Karate Kid principle, where the Karate Kid thought he was doing sanding the floor, waxing on or waxing off, but was actually learning karate in a bigger platform. Spiritually speaking. This is exactly what the Lamanite mission was in section 32. They go out and they think, we're going to go out and we're going to gather the Lamanites. They've read the Book of Mormon that talks about the gathering of these people, and they say, we need to go find those who are Lamanites, those who are descendants of Nephi and his family, and we need to bring them in. They are doing this. But the success of that mission, I think, Hank, you've called it like the 24 hour mission before, haven't you? Yeah.
- [65:45]
Hank Smith
And when I teach this in church history, these four, that completely changes the church.
- [65:53]
John Bytheway
Absolutely.
- [65:54]
Mark Beecher
But not in the way that they think it's going to change the church.
- [65:58]
Hank Smith
That's exactly right. You've got Oliver Cowdery, Parley Pratt, Ziba Peterson. Ziba Peterson, however you want to say it, and Peter Whitmer Jr. Who believe. Right, Mark, as you said, they believe they're going to go out on the other side of the Mississippi river and teach the Lamanites. And they get to do that for a whole day. But it's what happens on their way when Party P. Pratt says, let's stop in Kirtland. I used to live here in Kirtland. Yeah. Maybe someone will want to hear us here in Kirtland then. What is it, a couple of days and they double the size of the church.
- [66:29]
Mark Beecher
That's right. 127 converts. Right. With Sidney and the congregation joined the church. It's pretty amazing to see. And so I guess sometimes we think, I'm not doing the Lord's work. I'm not baptizing my colleague that I've talked to about the gospel seven times doesn't really want to listen anymore. I feel like I'm a failure. But you don't know what's happening and what's going to come about with this. Because your job is to open your mouth and then let the Lord be able to make the changes that he's going to make the changes with. And this is certainly what happens to these people in Ohio.
- [67:04]
Hank Smith
It's incredible that Parley P. Pratt. John, you probably know this story as well as anyone that Parley P. Pratt lives in Kirtland. He is a member of Sidney Rigdon's congregation, but then decides to go up to New England with his wife.
- [67:20]
John Bytheway
Awesome. First name, Thankful.
- [67:22]
Hank Smith
Thankful.
- [67:23]
John Bytheway
And then gets this impression, I need to get off the boat in this region for a while. I don't know why, but the Spirit has manifest that to me and comes across the Deacon Hamblin and I love in the movie that the church made. How rare a possession are your views broad enough to accept ministering of angels. And he hands him a Book of Mormon. And Carly P. Pratt stays up all night reading it. Sleep was a burden to me, he says. Thomas B. Marsh got 16 pages, Parley Pratt stayed up all night, read the whole book, then wanted to go back and find his old minister, his friend Sidney Rigdon.
- [68:04]
Hank Smith
Mark, you're exactly right. They think, all right, here we're going to go out to the Lamanites, not realizing that just on a stop, let's stop here for a week or two and maybe someone here in my old town of Kirtland will hear the gospel. And now because of that, I go to Kirtland every summer, this incredible place where the church blossoms. I love that idea, Mark, that they think this is what they're doing and the Lord has completely other plans in mind and you let him do his work. Just be open and available again to.
- [68:38]
Mark Beecher
The Book of Mormon. We know this is the case from the lost manuscript. And then the small plates. Taking this, but maybe just revisiting Nephi's words. I'm going to look at 1 Nephi 9 here. But just look at him as he's keeping two sets of plates and what he says about this, and I think this is poignant for all of us. First, Nephi 9, 5, 6. Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning, wherefore he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men. For behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen. A little bit of all in there, right? The Lord can do it all. We sometimes would limit that or say, is this working? This isn't right. Or why am I doing this? Or how come this isn't coming out with the outcomes that I think I'd like. And the Lord's going, it's a wise purpose and you just need to hang on. And I've got a way to accomplish all that I need to accomplish.
- [69:46]
John Bytheway
Hank, you mentioned earlier the parable of the Sower. I love the imagery of broadcast your seeds. You know, broadcast doesn't come from radio and television, it comes from agriculture. You never know. Reminds me of, is it Mark, chapter five. Jairus says, come see my daughter. My little daughter lieth at the point of death. And on the way what happens?
- [70:07]
Mark Beecher
They have the woman with the issue of blood.
- [70:09]
John Bytheway
The woman with the issue of blood touches him. Boy, be open and available to things that might happen on the way because they might be important too. We thought we were going to the mission to the Lamanites. Well, wasn't it the government Bureau of Indian affairs that kind of shut off the missionaries efforts and that's why it was a 24 hour mission.
- [70:29]
Mark Beecher
The Indian Removal Act, Right, I think is what it was called that they had to do that. Yeah.
- [70:35]
Hank Smith
So they get out there for a whole day. They must have felt like we just walked. Yeah, what 1400 miles.
- [70:43]
John Bytheway
Oh, and it was knee deep in the snow. Seeing the painting, it looks like we give them some snowshoes at least.
- [70:51]
Hank Smith
Poor guys, you know, so much more was going on that they didn't know about. By the way, when they're told, hey, you got to go back and get a permit to teach Native Americans. You have to go to St. Louis, Mark. They had to go.
- [71:07]
Mark Beecher
That's where we're going.
- [71:10]
Hank Smith
And they had to talk to General Clark, who is the General Clark of Lewis and Clark.
- [71:16]
Mark Beecher
So as we wrap up section 32, I just had this thought from Elder Richard G. Scott. I have to just preface it before I read it by just telling you that if you pinned me down and asked me my all time favorite quote of every general authority, it would be this one. So no expectations, right? Don't set the bar high. I just love what he teaches and I think it's so applicable of this idea that sometimes we think we're about doing this or about doing that. Just understand it's all part of the Lord's plan. And you can rest assured that he's got a way provided forward for all of us regardless of our situations. Here's what it says. It's From October of 99. The Lord has placed currents of divine influence in your life that will lead you along. The individual plan he would have you fulfill here on earth. That's quite a line in and of itself. Currents of divine influence to lead you along an individual plan. Seek through the spirit to identify it and carefully follow that direction that the Lord has put in your life. Align yourself with it. Choose willingly to exercise your agency to follow it. Do not be overcome by concentrating solely on today with its challenges, difficulties and opportunities. Such preoccupations must not totally capture your attention so as to consume your life. Oh, how I would encourage you to weave deeply into the fabric of your soul the recognition that your life now is part of a much bigger plan the Lord has for you. You lived part of it in the premortal existence. You were valiant there and came here because you wanted to grow and enjoy greater happiness. What you decide to do now will affect how well you fulfill that divine personal plan he has for you. It strikes me to just see that all these things come together. The Lord's got it. He says in the Book of Mormon, I'm able to do mine own work. I've got this. I've got it handled. You lean on me. You were there in the premortal life. It's here in mortality. It's all going to work together. You just keep going about doing what you know I'd have you to do, and that plan will unfold as it needs to.
- [73:23]
John Bytheway
Please join us for part two of this podcast.