An Example For Missionaries- As displayed by Paul

Paul gives an exceptional account of the ideal ways of a missionary in first and second Thessalonians, I especially like 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, 1-6's description of the mind set and goal of a true missionary. Paul doesn't appeal to anyone in these chapters except God. When he teaches the Gospel he teaches what God would have him teach, not what would be pleasing unto men or what would keep him from being thrown in jail. No, he teaches for the glory of God.

• He does not seek glory for himself from anyone. Not his friends his foes or anyone else. Like Christ he does his work in the glory of God.
• Paul conducts himself as a saint. That is to say that he does nothing of reproach, he lives his life according to what he is teaching and he lives as righteous a life as he can.
• He works hard. He works to support himself and asks no one to support him. He cannot teach others to labor if he is not doing it himself.
• He teaches by the Spirit. This aspect was mentioned earlier, in saying that he teaches what God would have him teaches but it is also important to recognize that he is also letting his words be guided constantly by the Spirit.
•  Paul does not use flattering words. True missionaries do not ooh and ahh the people they teach by refined vocabulary but rather they put it how it is. They teach the Gospel.
• Missionaries like Paul served others. Paul taught them the Gospel but he also served them in other ways. Selflessness is key here for missionaries. When giving service one cannot be thinking about the return one might attain, a baptism count for example, rather service should be done selflessly with the person being served in mind.

This information was brought to you from the words of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians as written in the King James Bible. The Bible can be found at http://lds.org/scriptures, at a library, or from LDS Missionaries near you.