Becoming a Missionary not Going on a Mission - Donny Osmond

Elder Bednar gave a talk in October 2005 Priesthood Session entitled "Becoming a Missionary".

http://lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/becoming-a-missionary?lang=eng

He makes several comments about common phrases church members use that miss the mark and do not explain what we need to do. Here's a few paragraphs from the talk:

In meetings with young members of the Church around the world, I often invite those in attendance to ask questions. One of the questions I am asked most frequently by young men is this: “What can I do to prepare most effectively to serve as a full-time missionary?” Such a sincere question deserves a serious response.

My dear young brethren, the single most important thing you can do to prepare for a call to serve is to become a missionary long before you go on a mission. Please notice that in my answer I emphasized becomingrather than going. Let me explain what I mean.

In our customary Church vocabulary, we often speak of going to church,going to the temple, and going on a mission. Let me be so bold as to suggest that our rather routine emphasis on going misses the mark.

The issue is not going to church; rather, the issue is worshipping and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to or through the temple; rather, the issue is having in our hearts the spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord’s house. The issue is not going on a mission; rather, the issue is becoming a missionary and serving throughout our entire life with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. It is possible for a young man to go on a mission and not become a missionary, and this is not what the Lord requires or what the Church needs.

My earnest hope for each of you young men is that you will not simply go on a mission—but that you will become missionaries long before you submit your mission papers, long before you receive a call to serve, long before you are set apart by your stake president, and long before you enter the MTC.

As some of you may know, there is a fairly well-known story that only one family/person has ever been asked to not serve a full-time mission, the Osmonds. The story often says that they were told by the prophet that they were serving their mission. This story has been used at times by people to excuse not going on a mission because you can serve a mission in other ways. Unless the prophet excuses a young man, I do not agree with using this excuse.

However, it's important to remember that a bigger question for members of the church, particularly priesthood holders, is whether or not they have become missionaries. This is what the Lord expects and the Church needs, as Elder Bednar explains. In some ways, "becoming a missionary" has nothing to do with going on a mission.

Well, Donny Osmond is a missionary. In looking at a search query someone had used to come to this blog, I noticed that Donny Osmond's website was also ranked. I have since looked around the site and noticed that he's made a large effort to explain many, many principles of the gospel and has included many conversion stories related to his family and answered dozens of questions people have asked him. He is a tremendous missionary and an example in missionary work for all of us. Very cool to see that the one person I know of that wasn't asked to serve a mission has become a great missionary and done the Lord's missionary work as much as nearly any member.

I appreciate the example...