I can remember getting mad when people wouldn’t listen to our message. They would slam the door on us, or completely ignore us as we were street contacting. I guess it’s easy to say when not in the situation, but I wouldn’t let those rejections bother me so much now. Hard work was never something I lacked on my mission, so I would work just as hard, but if I had it to do again, I would work with more faith, humility, patience and trust in the Lord.

President Spencer W. Kimball made the following definition of humility which I have always loved: “If the Lord was meek and lowly and humble, then to become humble one must do what He did in boldly denouncing evil, bravely advancing righteous works, courageously meeting every problem, becoming the master of himself and the situations about him and being near oblivious to personal credit.” (Humility, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, Provo, 16 Jan. 1963, pp. 2–3.  Quoted in the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual.)  President Kimball continued, “How can I remain humble? the brilliant missionary asks. By reminding one’s self frequently of his own weaknesses and limitations, not to the point of depreciation, but an evaluation guided by an honest desire to give credit where credit is due.”

The Lord himself spoke from the Heavens to the prophet Joseph Smith and said that humility was one of the most important characteristics missionaries should possess.  “Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh…That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers” (D&C 1:17–19, 23).

When you are humble you are teachable and the Lord is able to use you as an instrument in His hands.  The Church sends out armies of young, inexperienced missionaries every year, and yet the work doesn’t falter, in fact it flourishes.  And perhaps this is why the work is so successful, because this army, weak in the eyes of the world, has little recourse but to rely on the arm of the Lord.  And when the Lord is on your side, “nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1: 37)

Missionary Characteristics: Humility is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

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“There are many excellent men but very few really good missionaries. The characteristics of a good missionary are: A man who has sociability—whose friendship is permanent and sparkling—who can ingratiate himself into the confidence and favor of men who are in darkness. This cannot be done offhand. You must get acquainted with a man, learn him and gain his confidence and make him feel and know that your only desire is to do him good and bless him; then you can tell him your message, and give him the good things you have for him, kindly and lovingly. Therefore, in selecting missionaries, choose such as have sociability, who have friendship and not enmity towards men; and if you have not any such in your ward, train and qualify some young men for this work.” -Gospel Doctrine, Joseph F. Smith, page 356

It is interesting that President Smith says that sociability is a skill that can be learned. Certainly sociability is something that comes more naturally to some than others. I, for one, am not exactly an extravert, therefore it was something I had work at. In the first area I was assigned as a missionary in Argentina, there was a little girl in the branch who called me Elder Serious. I never liked this moniker. I always thought of myself as a happy person, but the adjustment to being dropped in a foreign country must have been a little overwhelming and it showed in my facial expressions. Realizing I didn’t want the name to stick, I worked at being a happier missionary and letting it show. I think by my third or fourth area, I had made significant progress. am one of those to whom it comes less easily, though I still think I was a pretty effective missionary. Perhaps my other characteristics of hard work, faith, and knowledge helped compensate.

Elder L. Tom Perry, in his 2007 talk called Raising the Bar, also discussed the need for missionaries to have good social skills.  Said he, “Prospective missionaries also must be prepared with the social skills needed to serve a mission. More and more, young people are isolating themselves from others by playing video games; wearing headphones; and interacting through cell phones, e-mail, text messaging, and so on instead of in person. Much of missionary work involves relating face-to-face with people, and unless you set the bar higher in the development of your social skills, you will find yourself underprepared.”

Photo Above: My brother Paul Smith Jr. in the Italy Catania Mission.

Missionary Characteristics: Sociability is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep

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