Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

1. Perfect the Saints -- helping members live the gospel – Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matth. 548 And Paul wrote “And he gave some, apostles and some, prophets and some, evangelists and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 411-13

Beginning with myself, spiritually I read the scriptures daily, study the gospel especially on Sundays, including participating in Church classes, and preparing talks on gospel topics, and make corrections in my life as needed. In helping others become better, I share my beliefs and feelings about the gospel, visit and strengthen members – especially several specific families, serve the youth to strengthen and prepare them for life, careers & physical challenges. I also chair a committee that helps members be prepared for emergencies and disasters.

2. Proclaim the gospel -- gather Israel through missionary work – Because God has restored the gospel in its fullness, and we enjoy great blessings, and because Christ commanded “... go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 1615, we need to share these things with our brothers and sisters.

As many 19-year-old young men in our church, I was able to serve a 2 year full-time mission abroad – mine was in German-speaking Switzerland. Since then I’ve had opportunities to serve as a part-time missionary, and to visit part-member families, and answer questions by interested friends and colleagues, and through the internet -- e.g., my blog on Faith linked here, and this site.

3. Redeem the dead – The prophet Malachi said, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, ...” Malachi 45,6

I organized an extended family organization, one of its purposes being to preserve family history and genealogy. We believe those who died without the opportunity to hear the gospel or receive ordinances of salvation have that opportunity after this life. Peter wrote, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison” 1 Peter 318,19 and Paul wrote, “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” 1 Cor. 1529 We can vicariously perform ordinances for them in temples using genealogical information. I go at least monthly to the temple to serve.

4. Caring for the poor and needy – “For the poor shall never cease out of the land therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” Deuteronomy 1511
“And remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple.” D&C 5240

We are encouraged and given opportunities in many ways that I have participated in. Donations in cash to the Church -- tithing, Fast offerings on our monthly fast Sunday, humanitarian aid, perpetual education fund & goods clothing & other items to Deseret Industries. Service projects include canning food at the Bishop’s storehouse in the Church welfare system, organizing youth service projects, participating in Mormon Helping Hands, homeless shelter volunteer, visiting the sick and giving blessings., etc., Also, neighborhood, work & church preparedness to help each other not become needy, and to better be in a position to help those in need.