Instrument in God’s Hands
Ammon, a great missionary from the Book of Mormon, talks about being an instrument in God’s hands.
“And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.” (Alma 26:3)
Our missionaries are a prime example of this and as I was studying 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, I learned more about what being an instrument in God’s hands looks like.
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
Paul and Apollos worked diligently as missionaries for Jesus Christ and the ancient church. Although they worked separately, they were united in purpose as they partnered with God as his husbandry, (or farmers) to cultivate and gather followers for the Savior. Even though these missionaries were vital and did a lot of work, only God, through his Spirit, has the power to convert or ‘to give increase.’ It is the same for our missionaries today, they must rely on the Spirit of God in order for their friends to be converted.
In the Lord’s work, a missionary’s role is different from God’s role. Missionaries must work hard to love and support those they teach and do all they can to invite the spirit when they teach them in order to help their friends have a desire to be baptized. The missionaries are promised to receive their own joyful reward based on their obedience, diligence, and hard work, as stated in verse 8.
This is expressed well by Ammon again in Alma 26:11-12:
11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Ye, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
I testify that I often have this great joy as described by Ammon as I serve my Heavenly Father as a missionary, but I don’t have it in every moment. We all have days when we try our best, and nothing seems to work out. This is when we need to remember our partnership is with God and after we do our part, we need to wait patiently for God to do His part, when he ‘giveth the increase’ in his timing, and not ours. This is described well in D&C 123:17:
Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.
The greatest reward that we have is when we see the salvation of God, and his arm is revealed. That is when ALL are edified and converted by the spirit of God. Both those who gather, like the missionaries, as well as those who the missionaries gather. This is the imagery that is used in the last phrase of our original scripture in 1 Corinthians where it says, “ye are God’s Building.” The Salvation of ALL men and women is what God is building! He is building ALL of us at the same time and the joyful rewards are available to ALL who become converted and make covenants with Him as well as those who share that amazing message with others.
I am truly grateful that I am a witness of this beautiful process time and time again as I watch our missionaries change and grow as they bring others to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a joyful process and definitely my favorite part of our service here.
