Found in reading 1 Corinthians 9 http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/9?lang=eng
Paul is an apostle and has seen our Lord Jesus Christ. He loves teaching the gospel and he knows that if he doesn’t teach the gospel he will be in big trouble. Paul not only taught the people he became one of the people he was teaching, he didn’t look down upon them he didn’t think he was better than them. He became weak himself, and helped others grow along with him. He showed true empathy to understand and take the time to listen to others and took the time to get to know them, and truly cared for them.
This is a great example for us in missionary work. We should follow his example to show empathy instead of ignorance, to become one of them instead of looking down on them. Related to 1 Cor 9:22 Bruce R. McConkie said “ Paul here says he made himself all things to all men in an effort to get them to accept the gospel message; that is, he adapted himself to the conditions and circumstances of all classes of people, as means of getting them to pay attention to his teachings and testimony. And then, lest any suppose this included the acceptance of their false doctrines or practices, or that in any way involved a compromise between the gospel and false systems of worship, he hastened to add that he and all men must obey the gospel law to be saved.”
Things we can learn to become better missionaries
· Become one with the people
· Do not look down on the people
· Try to understand individual people
· Take the time to listen
· Live the way you want them to live
· Teach them why they should love the gospel, don’t just tell them to live it
· Become their friend
· Serve and minister to the sick and the needy as the Savior would
· Understand that we are all children of God and none of us are better than the other
· Learn from the people
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