--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Bird, R. Leo collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 4 number: 5 published: 1901-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'R. Leo Bird, "Training and Equipment of Missionaries: Spiritual and Moral Qualifications," *Improvement Era* 4, no. 5 (March 1901): 342–344.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0405unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0405unse start_page: 342 end_page: 344 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1901-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0405unse publication_year: 1901 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1901, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Training and Equipment of Missionaries: Spiritual and Moral Qualifications 843 IMPROVEMSm ERA. lose sight of the fact, or for one moment forget, that spiritual train- ing is paramount in qualifying one for success in life, and especially 80 in the preparation for actual missionary labor. Some one has very wisely remarked, that "The greatest man is he who chooses right with the most invincible determination, who resists the sorest temtations from within and without; who bears the heaviest burdens cheerfully; who is calmest in storms, and most fearless under menaces and frowns; whose reliance on truth, on virtue, and on God, is moat unfaltering." SPIRITUAL AND MORAL QUALIFICATIONS.* BY ELDER R. LEO BIRD. The financial outlay by the Latter-day Saints in preaching the Gospel, approaches close on to a million, dollars a year, everything considered. If, then, the work of preaching is of sufficient importance to justify this great outlay, is it not necessary that the time of these young men, who are sent out as missionaries, be used to the best possible advantage? Those who have been in the field and are acquainted with the work of the elders, know how few are prepared to be put right into the harness, and how many are compelled to spend from six months to a year before they are at all prepared to do the work required at their hands. Why do we not take steps to prevent this great loss of time? Such a loss in business would be carefully guarded against. If a young man desires to become a book-keeper, he must learn how to manipulate a set of books before he applies for a position; a printer must learn all about type-setting and the running of printing presses before he commences business; a school teacher must take a course in normal training before he will be given a position, and a lawyer must study law before he will be admitted * Selections from an address before a class in the Brigham Young Academy, Prove. TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT OF MISSIONARIES. 348 to the bar. No one doubts the need of preparation in the various lines of work I have mentioned; yet when it comes to representing the Lord, many contend that no preparation is necessary. We maintain that it is necessary, and that a matter in which nearly two thousand young men in our Church are continually engaged, is of sufficient importance to warrant a great deal of thought concerning how best to prepare for carrying on this great work. In order to tell how the efforts of these young men can be expended in the best possible manner, let us first briefly refer to the missionary's spiritual and moral qualifications, and afterwards treat of bis intellectual equipment and preparation. It is only necessary, as an introduction, to mention his physical qualifications, which really stand first. Without a strong body, little work either mental or physical can be performed. Hence, the importance of good physical training — of splendid health. When a missionary is called into the world, he goes with a knowledge that his life will be one of trials and privations a great : deal of walking, sleeping in the open air, irregularity in diet, hunger and fatigue. In order to endure these hardships, perhaps better say enjoy them, he must have a strong, healthy, well-preserved body. Ill The comparatively few who are health means inaction. compelled to return home on account of illness, show that in a physical way, "Mormon" missionaries are well prepared for their work. The first in importance, in a missionary's spiritual qualifi- cations, is that he shall have an abiding conviction of the truthfulness of the cause he represents. No amount of knowledge and training can take the place, even in a small degree, of this personal living testimony, which comes from God. Herein is the great difference between our young men and the preachers of the Christian world in general, and this is the secret of our marked success. The elder speaks from the heart those things which he knows to be true, and although his sermons may lack elegance of style, they are alive, and the Spirit of the Lord accompanies the words, and carries conviction to the hearts of honest hearers. Take the testimony of the Gospel from our unlearned, uncultured elders, and they would accomplish nothing. S44 IMPROVEMENT ERA. This living testimony is of first importance, and if an increase of the intellectual would cause a decrease in the spiritual, then I say, let them remain unlettered; but I maintain that the more learning of the right sort, the greater the faith. The "Mormon" elder must understand that his strength is in the Lord, and not in man. He must realize the efficacy of fasting and prayer; and must seek the Lord humbly, fervently, and continually; for a knowledge of what he should do, and for wisdom and strength to do it. He must, in short, understand that he is dependent upon the Lord; and that that dependence and the carryout of his duty to God will make him independent of the world. He will then be able to face all forms of opposition with a meekness, yet firmness and fearlessness, unknown to those who have estrayed themselves from the Spirit of God. Where duty calls, there he will be found. If necessity should require, he will willingly lay down his life for the work; and those who oppose him will know that he is not afraid to die. Such are some of the qualifications of the preacher of righteousness. Now as to morals: It is imperative that a missionary be a man of high moral character, if he expects to succeed well as an expounder of the word of the Lord. "The Spirit of God will not dwell in unclean tabernacles." an Elder wishes to succeed in If his work, he must keep himself pure in thought, in word, and in deed. His life must be of such a high moral tone that people will not only see good in his actions, but his very presence will be a testimony of righteousness. Tea, coffee, and spirituous liquors, he will not drink, and his person and breath will be free from the odors of tobacco. He must ever be ready to see good in others, and not be continually finding fault with the conditions that surround him. When he sees a good quality in the people to which he is sent, he should not hesitate to mention it, because it is found in them. He will make friends more readily by speaking of good qualities than by enumerating faults; and generally, he will do a man much more service by showing where he is right and encouraging him along that line, than by finding fault with him. As stated above, it is quite as necessary that his thoughts be pure as that his acts be free from sin. If one be possessed of these