Team Work in the Lord's Work

My first zone in Khabarovsk at a sports activity
with some english club members and investigators.

           I have always been impressed with the missionary teamwork demonstrated by the sons of Mosiah, especially in the conversion of King Lamoni’s father (King of all the Lamanites).  King Lamoni’s father’s first encounter with missionaries was rough to say the least.  King Lamoni’s father ran into the converted Lamoni and Ammon on the road as they traveled to free some of Ammon’s brothers.  The King was thoroughly bothered by the King Lamoni’s absence at a his feast, and even more upset that Lamoni was traveling with a Nephite.  In the heat of the moment he tried to kill Ammon.  He failed, and Ammon had a perfect opportunity to kill him, or take half his kingdom, but surprised the king by only demanding that his brothers be released from prison and that Lamoni be allowed to retain kingdom and not lose his father’s favor.  Ammon’s surprising selflessness and love for Lamoni softened the king’s heart.  Later Aaron, Ammon’s brother, met King Lamoni’s father.  Having thought much about his encounter with Ammon, King Lamoni’s father had many questions and was ready to be taught the gospel. Aaron taught him, and he was converted.

            Sometimes, it takes a whole team of missionaries to bring people to Christ, each helping a little.  When I was a brand new missionary I was riding on a bus and invited someone to English club.  The next time English club met, I saw her in the sisters’ beginner group.  Before they left the city the sisters started teaching her, but then I got transferred and heard nothing more of her progress.  Toward the end of my mission I was in Vladivostok and saw a girl at church who looked incredibly familiar.  I asked around and found out that it was the same girl I had talked to on the bus almost a year and half ago!  I don’t remember all of the details, and probably never had all of the details, but she had moved from Khabarovsk (my first city) down to Valdivostok sometime after the sisters had left.  A missionary serving in Vladivostok found her, and she was ready to continue learning the gospel and ready to be baptized. 

            I share this story for a number of reasons, and one of them is not to claim credit for her conversion.  I can’t claim credit at all.  I share this to show first that great things do come to pass by small and simple means.  When people talk about “seeds being planted in people’s hearts” that isn’t just something we say to make ourselves feel better about what sometimes feels like failure.  Every little invitation, every effort to teach and cry repentance is not in wasted.  Also, I share this to show that missionary work is teamwork.  I shared in an earlier post a quote that is worth repeating.  A missionary’s football coach used to say, “It’s amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.”  When missionaries are competing to have better statistics than the next missionary, they make the work harder on themselves.  When missionaries work together with a spirit of love and unity, lifting each other as they strive for a common goal, then miracles happen.  Of coarse the credit really goes to Jesus Christ, the team captain, who masterfully orchestrates every miraculously coordinated play.

            I wish I had understood that principle of teamwork in missionary work early in my mission.