...The Standard of truth has been erected; No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
— The Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.
Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.
— D&C 4:3
Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
— Matt. 4:19
I've studied carefully and prayerfully some who are remarkably faithful and effective witnesses of the Savior and His Church. There is no single pattern in what they do. There is no common technique. Each has prayed to know what to do. They each seem to get a different answer, suited especially to them and to the people they meet. Pray for the chance to encounter people who sense there could be something better in their lives. Pray to know what you should do to help them. Your prayers will be answered.
— Henry B. Eyring, "A Child and a Disciple," Ensign, May 2003.
We can also pray daily for our own personal missionary experiences. Pray that under the divine management of such things, the missionary opportunity you want is already being prepared in the heart of someone who longs for and looks for what you have. "There are many yet on the earth... who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." Pray that they will find you! And then be alert, because there are multitudes in your world who feel a famine in their lives, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord.
— Jeffrey R. Holland, "Witnesses unto me," Ensign, May 2001
None of us should be like the fisherman who thinks he has been fishing all day when in reality he has spent most of his time getting to and from the water, eating lunch, and fussing with his equipment. Fishing success is related to how long you have your line in the water, not to how long you are away from the apartment. Some fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for ten hours. Other fishermen are away from home for twelve hours and have their line in the water for only two hours. This last type may wonder why they do not have the same success as others.
The same principle applies to missionaries, whom the Master called 'fishers of men.' A missionary's line should drop into the fishing water the moment he or she leaves the apartment.
— Dallin H. Oaks, seminar for new mission presidents, June 20, 2000
... Member-missionary work is one of the great keys to the individual growth of our members. It is my conviction that member-missionary work will raise the spirituality in any ward where applied.
— Ezra T. Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 208-9.
True Christianity is love in action. There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for your fellow men. This is the spirit of missionary work.
— David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals [1954], 129
Because we love the Lord, we should be spiritually sensitive to moments when the powerful and important truths of the gospel can be shared with others. Perhaps more importantly, however, we should seek at all times to purify ourselves and to lead such worthy lives that the Light of Christ emanates from us in all that we say and do. Our day-to-day lives should stand as immutable witness of our faith in Christ.
— M. Russell Ballard, "How is it with us?", Ensign, May 2000
Some of you may feel guilty that you are not giving much help to the missionaries. Today I invite you to relax and set aside your concerns and focus instead on your love for the Lord, your testimony of His eternal reality, and your gratitude for all He has done for you.... The Savior Himself showed us the way when He invited His disciples to "come and see... where he dwelt, and [they] abode with him that day" (John 1:39).... Similarly, our homes can be gospel-sharing homes as people we know and love come into our homes and experience the gospel firsthand in both word and action. We can share the gospel without holding a formal discussion. Our families can be our lesson, and the spirit that emanates from our homes can be our message.... Creating a gospel-sharing home is the easiest and most effective way that we can share the gospel with others.... From every indicator we have, there is nothing more effective that any of us can do for our friends than to say "come and see" by joining with us in sacrament meeting. Far too many do not know they are welcome to worship with us.
— M. Russell Ballard, "Creating a Gospel-Sharing Home", Ensign, May 2006